Breakdown of Φυσικά θα βοηθήσω τη συνάδελφό μου σήμερα.
σήμερα
today
μου
my
θα
will
βοηθάω
to help
φυσικά
of course
η συνάδελφος
the female colleague
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Questions & Answers about Φυσικά θα βοηθήσω τη συνάδελφό μου σήμερα.
What does the particle θα do, and what tense is θα βοηθήσω?
Θα marks the future. Θα βοηθήσω is the simple future (συνοπτικός μέλλοντας), expressing a single, completed action in the future: “I will help (once/at some point).” It’s formed with θα + aorist subjunctive stem (here: βοηθήσω).
What’s the difference between θα βοηθήσω and θα βοηθάω/θα βοηθώ?
- Θα βοηθήσω: simple future → one-off, completed action (“I’ll help [and be done]”).
- Θα βοηθάω/θα βοηθώ: future continuous → ongoing, repeated, or habitual help (“I’ll be helping / I’ll help regularly”).
Do I need the preposition “to” (σε) after βοηθάω/βοηθώ, like in English “help to” someone?
No. In Greek, βοηθάω/βοηθώ takes a direct object in the accusative: βοηθώ κάποιον (“I help someone”), not “βοηθώ σε κάποιον.” You can add σε for the thing you help with: βοηθώ κάποιον σε κάτι (“I help someone with something”).
Why is it τη and not την before συνάδελφό?
Modern spelling often drops the final -ν of the feminine article before most consonants. Keep -ν before a vowel or the consonants κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, γκ, μπ, ντ, τσ, τζ. Since σ isn’t in that list, you write τη συνάδελφό. Writing την here isn’t wrong in very formal or conservative styles, but τη is the norm.
Why does συνάδελφό have an accent on the last syllable as well?
Because of the enclitic μου that follows. When a proparoxytone (accent on the third-from-last syllable), like συνάδελφος, is followed by an enclitic, it takes an extra accent on the last syllable:
- Without enclitic: τη συνάδελφο
- With enclitic: τη συνάδελφό μου
Why is συνάδελφος feminine here even though it ends in -ος?
Συνάδελφος is a common-gender noun: it can refer to a man or a woman. The article shows the gender. Here τη (feminine accusative) indicates a female colleague. There is also η συναδέλφισσα (fem.), but in contemporary usage η συνάδελφος is very common for women too.
Do I need the definite article with a possessive like μου? Why not just say “my colleague” without it?
Greek typically uses the definite article with possessives: η/τη συνάδελφός/συνάδελφό μου = “my colleague.” Without the article, it sounds unusual or changes meaning.
How do I say “one of my colleagues” instead?
Use the indefinite article: θα βοηθήσω μια συνάδελφό μου (“I’ll help one of my colleagues”). The article μια signals “one/some.”
What case is τη συνάδελφό μου, and why?
Accusative singular feminine. It’s the direct object of the verb βοηθήσω (“I will help [whom?] my colleague”).
Can I move σήμερα elsewhere in the sentence?
Yes. Common options are all fine, with slight differences in emphasis:
- Σήμερα θα βοηθήσω τη συνάδελφό μου. (Today is what’s highlighted.)
- Θα βοηθήσω σήμερα τη συνάδελφό μου.
- Θα βοηθήσω τη συνάδελφό μου σήμερα.
If I replace “my colleague” with “her,” where does the object pronoun go?
Clitic object pronouns go before the verb in finite clauses with θα:
- Θα τη βοηθήσω σήμερα. (not “θα βοηθήσω τη σήμερα”)
How is βοηθήσω formed and pronounced?
It’s the aorist-subjunctive stem used for the simple future: present βοηθώ/βοηθάω, aorist βοήθησα, aorist subjunctive βοηθήσω, future simple θα βοηθήσω.
Pronunciation: vo-ee-THI-so (the “η/ει/οι” letters here all sound like “i”; β = “v,” θ = “th” as in “think”).
Is a comma needed after Φυσικά?
Often yes in careful writing: Φυσικά, θα βοηθήσω... Many omit it in informal text. Both are seen.
What’s the difference between Φυσικά and Βέβαια or Εννοείται?
All can mean “of course.”
- Φυσικά / Βέβαια: neutral, common.
- Εννοείται: very colloquial, literally “it’s implied/it goes without saying.”
Could I say να βοηθήσω instead of θα βοηθήσω?
Not for a plain future statement. Να βοηθήσω is subjunctive, used after certain verbs/particles or in offers/requests: Θες να βοηθήσω; (“Do you want me to help?”). Θα βοηθήσω states a future action.
Why isn’t it βοηθάω here?
Βοηθάω/βοηθώ is present. To express future, use θα βοηθήσω (simple future) or θα βοηθάω/βοηθώ (future continuous), depending on aspect.
Can Greek use the present for future like English sometimes does?
Yes, for scheduled or near-certain events: Σήμερα βοηθάω τη συνάδελφό μου. This sounds like a plan/arrangement. Θα βοηθήσω is the neutral future.
Where does μου go, and can I put it before the noun?
As an enclitic possessive, μου follows the noun: η/τη συνάδελφό μου. For emphasis you can use the strong form: η δική μου συνάδελφος (“my own colleague”).