Ο γιατρός γράφει φάρμακο και δίνει συμβουλές χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα.

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Breakdown of Ο γιατρός γράφει φάρμακο και δίνει συμβουλές χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα.

• μιλάω: to speak
• να: to
• δίνω: to give

Questions & Answers about Ο γιατρός γράφει φάρμακο και δίνει συμβουλές χωρίς να μιλάει γρήγορα.

Why is there no article before φάρμακο and συμβουλές?

In Greek, you often omit the article when you are talking about something in a more general or indefinite way, especially with:

• professions
• languages
• some objects used in a typical, generic way
• plural nouns used in a general sense

Here:

• 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 ?