Questions & Answers about Δεν βρίσκω το τηλέφωνό του.
Why is there no word for I in Δεν βρίσκω το τηλέφωνό του?
Greek usually omits subject pronouns because the verb ending shows who the subject is.
βρίσκω is first person singular, so it already means I find / I am finding. With δεν, it becomes I don’t find / I can’t find.
If you really want to emphasize I, you can add it:
- Εγώ δεν βρίσκω το τηλέφωνό του. = I can’t find his phone (but maybe someone else can).
So the basic sentence without εγώ is the normal, neutral version.
What exactly does δεν βρίσκω mean here: I don’t find or I can’t find?
Literally, δεν βρίσκω means I do not find.
In practice, when you are talking about looking for something right now, Greek uses the simple present and English usually translates it as I can’t find:
- Δεν βρίσκω το τηλέφωνό του.
→ Natural English: I can’t find his phone.
If you wanted to stress ability with can, Greek often uses μπορώ:
- Δεν μπορώ να βρω το τηλέφωνό του. = I can’t (am not able to) find his phone.
But in everyday speech Δεν βρίσκω… commonly corresponds to I can’t find….
What is the function of δεν? How is it different from μην and from δε?