Θέλω να βγάλω μια φωτογραφία της θάλασσας από την παραλία.

to want

Breakdown of Θέλω να βγάλω μια φωτογραφία της θάλασσας από την παραλία.

• να: to
• από: from
• μία: one

Questions & Answers about Θέλω να βγάλω μια φωτογραφία της θάλασσας από την παραλία.

What is the role of να in θέλω να βγάλω? Is it the same as English to (as in “I want to take”)?

Να is a particle that introduces a subjunctive clause in Modern Greek.

In this sentence:

• θέλω = I want
• να βγάλω = (that I) take / for me to take

So θέλω να βγάλω literally feels like “I want that I take…”, but in English we render it as “I want to take…”.

Important points:

• After verbs of wish, intention, ability, necessity, etc. (θέλω, μπορώ, πρέπει, λέω, σκέφτομαι), Greek usually uses να + subjunctive:

  • Θέλω να πάω. – I want to go.
  • Μπορώ να έρθω; – Can I come?

• Unlike English, να does not change for person or tense; only the verb that follows changes (here: βγάλω).

So να is similar in function to English to in infinitives, but grammatically it marks a subjunctive mood, not an infinitive form.

Why is it βγάλω and not βγάζω after να?