Learn Hardcore Greek: Ο γιατρός γράφει φάρμακο και δίνει συμβουλές χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα. - The doctor prescribes medicine and gives advice without speaking fast.

γράφει φάρμακο = he prescribes (some) medicine, not a specific, previously known medicine
δίνει συμβουλές = he gives (some) advice / advice in general, not specific, identified pieces of advice

You could say:

γράφει το φάρμακο = he is writing the medicine (a specific one you both know about)
δίνει τις συμβουλές = he is giving the advice (already mentioned / known)

But that would slightly change the meaning to something more specific. The version in the sentence is more general and typical.

Does γράφει φάρμακο literally mean “the doctor writes medicine”?

Literally, yes, γράφει φάρμακο is writes medicine.
In context, though, it is understood as prescribes medicine.

Greek often uses γράφω (write) with φάρμακο or συνταγή (prescription) to mean:

ο γιατρός γράφει φάρμακο = the doctor prescribes medicine
ο γιατρός γράφει συνταγή = the doctor writes a prescription / prescribes

So you should understand γράφει φάρμακο as prescribes medicine, not as literally writing the word on a piece of paper.

What is the difference between δίνει συμβουλές and συμβουλεύει?

Both can translate as gives advice.

δίνει συμβουλές = literally gives advice (plural)
- Focuses a bit more on the act of giving individual pieces of advice.
- Slightly more everyday-sounding in this exact phrase.
συμβουλεύει = advises
- A single verb, more compact.
- Maybe a bit more formal or neutral.

You can rewrite the sentence as:

Ο γιατρός συμβουλεύει χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα. = The doctor advises without speaking quickly.

The original gives you the idea: he prescribes medicine and gives advice.

What does χωρίς να mean, and why do we use να μιλάει here?

χωρίς means without.
When χωρίς is followed by a verb, Greek normally uses χωρίς να + verb in the subjunctive:

χωρίς να μιλάει = without speaking
χωρίς να τρέχει = without running
χωρίς να τρώει = without eating

This να + verb construction often corresponds to English -ing forms after words like without, before, after etc.

So:

χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα = without speaking quickly

English would not say without to speak quickly, but Greek needs the να here. It marks this verb as a kind of “subordinate” form (subjunctive / non-finite function).

Why is it μιλάει and not μιλά? Are both correct?

Yes, both μιλάει and μιλά are correct forms of the same verb μιλάω (to speak).

For verbs in -άω, there are often two common present forms for 3rd person singular:

μιλάει
μιλά

They mean exactly the same: he / she / it speaks.

μιλάει often feels slightly more colloquial / everyday, and μιλά slightly more compact or a bit more formal, but in practice you will hear both all the time. In this sentence you could also say:

…χωρίς να μιλά γρήγορα.

with no change in meaning.

Why is it γρήγορα and not γρήγορος?

γρήγορος is an adjective: fast / quick (describes a noun).

ο γρήγορος γιατρός = the fast / quick doctor

γρήγορα is an adverb: quickly / fast (describes a verb).

μιλάει γρήγορα = he speaks quickly

In this sentence, γρήγορα modifies the verb μιλάει, so we need the adverb form, not the adjective. That’s why it is γρήγορα, not γρήγορος.

Is the Greek present tense here more like “speaks” or “is speaking”?

Greek present tense (γράφει, δίνει, μιλάει) can usually cover both English:

The doctor writes / prescribes medicine and gives advice…
The doctor is writing / prescribing medicine and is giving advice…

Context decides which English tense sounds more natural.

In this sentence, English would most likely say:

The doctor prescribes medicine and gives advice without speaking quickly.

But if you imagine a scene happening right now, you could also translate it as:

The doctor is prescribing medicine and is giving advice without speaking quickly.

In Greek, you don’t need to change the form; the simple present works for both readings.

Why is it Ο γιατρός with the article? Could we just say Γιατρός γράφει φάρμακο…?

In Greek, you normally use the definite article with a singular countable noun when you are talking about a specific person or thing, even when English often drops the:

Ο γιατρός = the doctor (a specific doctor, or “the doctor” in general as a role)

Saying Γιατρός γράφει φάρμακο… without the article sounds incomplete or very stylistic / headline-like (e.g. in a newspaper title). In normal speech or writing, you would use Ο γιατρός.

So:

Ο γιατρός γράφει φάρμακο… is the natural normal sentence.

What gender is γιατρός? How do you say “female doctor”?

The noun γιατρός is common gender in modern Greek: its form is the same for male and female, and the gender is shown by the article (and possibly adjectives).

ο γιατρός = the (male) doctor
η γιατρός = the (female) doctor

Examples:

Ο καλός γιατρός = the good (male) doctor
Η καλή γιατρός = the good (female) doctor

So the form γιατρός itself does not change; the article ο / η and any adjectives show if it is a man or a woman. In your sentence, Ο γιατρός suggests a male doctor.

What cases are φάρμακο and συμβουλές in, and how can I tell?

Both are objects of the verbs (γράφει, δίνει), so they are in the accusative case.

φάρμακο
- Dictionary form (nominative singular): το φάρμακο
- Accusative singular: το φάρμακο (same form)
- It is neuter; many neuter nouns have nominative = accusative.
συμβουλές
- Dictionary form: η συμβουλή (advice, a piece of advice)
- Nominative plural: οι συμβουλές
- Accusative plural: τις συμβουλές (again, same form as nominative plural)

In the sentence:

γράφει φάρμακο → φάρμακο is what he writes / prescribes → accusative singular
δίνει συμβουλές → συμβουλές are what he gives → accusative plural

You recognize the accusative here by function (direct object) and the typical plural ending -ες for many feminine nouns like συμβουλές.

Could I change the word order, for example: Ο γιατρός, χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα, γράφει φάρμακο και δίνει συμβουλές?

Yes, Greek word order is quite flexible, especially for adverbial phrases like χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα.

All of these are grammatical and natural, with only small differences in emphasis:

Ο γιατρός γράφει φάρμακο και δίνει συμβουλές χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα.
- Neutral order; the “without speaking quickly” comes at the end.
Ο γιατρός, χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα, γράφει φάρμακο και δίνει συμβουλές.
- Slightly more emphasis on the way he does these actions.
Χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα, ο γιατρός γράφει φάρμακο και δίνει συμβουλές.
- Strongest initial focus on without speaking quickly.

The meaning stays the same: the doctor prescribes medicine and gives advice, and he does this without speaking quickly.

Can we say χωρίς να μιλήσει γρήγορα instead of χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα?

You can say χωρίς να μιλήσει γρήγορα, but it changes the aspect slightly:

χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα (imperfective aspect)
- Emphasizes the ongoing manner of speaking:
- without speaking quickly (i.e. his general style is not fast)
χωρίς να μιλήσει γρήγορα (perfective aspect)
- Emphasizes the completion of a possible action:
- without ever speaking quickly (even once) during that time / event

In your sentence, μιλάει (imperfective) fits better, because it describes how he normally speaks while prescribing and advising.