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
• όταν: when
• νιώθω: to feel
• άρρωστος: sick

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?

Both are possible, but they are slightly different:

• νιώθω άρρωστος = I feel sick
  Emphasizes your subjective feeling. Maybe you feel symptoms, even if you’re not diagnosed.

• είμαι άρρωστος = I am sick/ill
  Sounds more like a state/fact, as if it’s more clearly established that you are ill.

So:

• Όταν νιώθω άρρωστος… = When I feel sick / whenever I feel unwell…
• Όταν είμαι άρρωστος… = When I am sick (as a state)…

Both are grammatically correct; the original just highlights your personal feeling.

Why is ά̓ρρωστος masculine? What changes if the speaker is a woman?

Άρρωστος is an adjective meaning “sick / ill”. Adjectives in Greek agree in gender and number with the noun (or pronoun) they describe.

Here, the subject is (εγώ) νιώθω άρρωστος:

• If the speaker is male:
  νιώθω άρρωστος (masculine)
• If the speaker is female:
  νιώθω άρρωστη (feminine)

Plural:

• Group of men or mixed group: νιώθουμε άρρωστοι
• Group of women only: νιώθουμε άρρωστες

So the adjective changes form depending on who is talking.

Why is there no “I” (εγώ) written? How do we know it means “I feel sick”?

Greek is a “pro-drop” language: subject pronouns (εγώ, εσύ, αυτός, etc.) are often omitted because the verb ending shows the subject.

• νιώθω = I feel
  The -ω ending indicates 1st person singular.

So:

• (Εγώ) νιώθω άρρωστος.
  and
• Νιώθω άρρωστος.

mean the same thing. Adding εγώ just adds emphasis, like saying “I (personally) feel sick”.

Why do we say δεν πηγαίνω and not put δεν after the verb?

Δεν is the standard negative particle for the indicative mood in Greek, and it always comes immediately before the verb it negates.

Correct:

• δεν πηγαίνω
• δεν νιώθω
• δεν καταλαβαίνω

Incorrect:

• πηγαίνω δεν στο γραφείο
• νιώθω δεν άρρωστος

So δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο literally = I-do-not-go to-the-office.

What is the difference between πηγαίνω and πάω here? Could we say δεν πάω στο γραφείο?

Yes, you could absolutely say:

• Όταν νιώθω άρρωστος, δεν πάω στο γραφείο.

The differences:

• πηγαίνω – slightly more neutral/formal, clearly “go” as a process or habit.
• πάω – very common in everyday speech, shorter, a bit more colloquial.

In many contexts they are interchangeable in the present:

• Πηγαίνω στο γραφείο κάθε μέρα.
• Πάω στο γραφείο κάθε μέρα.

Both mean I go to the office every day.

What exactly is στο? Why not σε το γραφείο?

Στο is a contraction of:

• σε (in/at/to) + το (the, neuter singular)

So:

• σε + το = στο

You do not normally say σε το γραφείο in modern Greek; you use the contracted form:

• στο γραφείο = to the office / at the office / in the office
  (the exact meaning depends on the verb and context)

Other contractions:

• σε + τον = στον (e.g. στον γιατρό – to the doctor)
• σε + την = στην (e.g. στην τάξη – to the classroom)

Why does στο γραφείο use the definite article (the office)? Could we say it without?

In Greek, definite articles (ο, η, το) are used more often than in English.

• στο γραφείο literally = “to the office”, but it can be understood as “to the office / to work” depending on context.

You might also hear:

• Πάω γραφείο. (without article)
  This is more colloquial and idiomatic, like saying I’m going to the office / to work in a very compact way.

In standard, neutral speech, στο γραφείο with the article is the safest and most correct version.

Does στο γραφείο mean “to my office” or just “to an office in general”?

Literally, στο γραφείο = “to the office”. It usually means:

• “to my office / to the office where I work” from context, not because of a special word.

Greek often relies on context:

• Δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο.
  → Normally understood as I don’t go to the office (my workplace).

If you wanted to be more explicit, you could say:

• Δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο μου. = I don’t go to my office.

Why is there a comma after ά̓ρρωστος? Is it necessary?

Yes, the comma is standard here. In Greek, when a dependent clause (like the όταν-clause) comes before the main clause, we usually separate them with a comma.

Structure:

• Όταν νιώθω άρρωστος, → dependent (time) clause
• δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο. → main clause

If you reverse the order, you often don’t use a comma:

• Δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο όταν νιώθω άρρωστος.

So the comma isn’t random; it marks the boundary between the two clauses.

Can we say Όταν είμαι άρρωστος, δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο? Is there a difference?

Yes, that sentence is correct too:

• Όταν είμαι άρρωστος, δεν πηγαίνω στο γραφείο.

Nuance:

• νιώθω άρρωστος → when I feel sick (focus on your perception / symptoms)
• είμαι άρρωστος → when I am sick (focus on the state, more objective)

Both express a similar habit, but νιώθω sounds slightly more about how you feel, which can include feeling “off,” not necessarily clearly ill.

How do you pronounce νιώθω and what does the accent mark indicate?

Pronunciation:

• νιώθω is roughly like “NYO-tho” in English:
  • νι
    • ω merge into a “nyo” sound (palatalized n + io)
  • θ is like th in think, not like this.
  • The stress (´) is on the first syllable: ΝΙ-ω-θω.

The accent mark in Greek shows which syllable is stressed in pronunciation. In νιώθω, it tells you to stress the first syllable: νΙώθω.