Θέλω να είμαι υγιής και δυνατός, γι’ αυτό προσέχω τη διατροφή μου.

to be

Breakdown of Θέλω να είμαι υγιής και δυνατός, γι’ αυτό προσέχω τη διατροφή μου.

• θέλω: to want
• και: and
• να: to

Questions & Answers about Θέλω να είμαι υγιής και δυνατός, γι’ αυτό προσέχω τη διατροφή μου.

What does να είμαι mean here, and why do we need να after Θέλω?

The phrase θέλω να είμαι corresponds to English “I want to be”.

• θέλω = I want
• να is a particle that introduces a verb in the subjunctive (it usually expresses wishes, intentions, possibilities, etc.)
• είμαι = I am (1st person singular of είμαι)

In Greek, after verbs of wanting, wishing, planning, etc., you usually use να + verb:

• Θέλω να πάω. = I want to go.
• Θέλω να φάω. = I want to eat.
• Θέλω να είμαι υγιής. = I want to be healthy.

So να είμαι is literally “to be” (in a subjunctive-like form), and θέλω να είμαι = “I want to be”.

Why is it είμαι and not είναι?

Είμαι and είναι are different forms of the verb είμαι (to be):

• είμαι = I am (1st person singular)
• είναι = he/she/it is or they are (3rd person singular or plural)

The subject here is I (the speaker), so we must use είμαι:

• Θέλω να είμαι υγιής. = I want to be healthy.
  Not: Θέλω να είναι υγιής. (That would mean “I want him/her/it to be healthy.”)

Why don’t we say εγώ (I)? Why is the subject missing?