Όταν νιώθω άρρωστος, δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο.

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Breakdown of Όταν νιώθω άρρωστος, δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο.

• δεν: not
• σε: to
• το γραφείο: the office

Questions & Answers about Όταν νιώθω άρρωστος, δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο.

What is the difference between όταν and English when or if here?

Όταν usually means “when/whenever” in a time sense, not if.

In this sentence, Όταν νιώθω άρρωστος… means “Whenever I feel sick…” – it describes a repeated situation and what normally follows it.

If you wanted a more “if/condition” feeling in Greek, you would more naturally use αν (if):

• Αν νιώθω άρρωστος, δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο. = If I feel sick, I don’t go to the office.

The difference is subtle and often both are possible, but:

• όταν → time-based (“whenever this time/situation happens”)
• αν → condition-based (“if this condition is true”)

Why is νιώθω in the present tense? It seems like a general rule, not only “right now”.

Greek uses the present tense for:

• actions happening now, and
• habits / general truths.

So νιώθω and πηγαίνω in the present here mean:

• Όταν νιώθω άρρωστος, δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο.
  → Whenever I feel sick (in general), I don’t go to the office (in general).

English also uses the present simple for habits (When I feel sick, I don’t go…), so the use of present tense in both languages is actually parallel here.

Why is it νιώθω άρρωστος and not είμαι άρρωστος?