Questions & Answers about Έχω δέκα βιβλία στο σπίτι.
What does Έχω mean exactly, and what form of the verb is it?
Έχω is the first person singular present tense of the verb έχω (to have).
So:
- έχω → I have
- έχεις → you have (singular)
- έχει → he/she/it has
- έχουμε → we have
- έχετε → you have (plural / formal)
- έχουν(ε) → they have
In modern Greek, dictionaries usually list verbs in this 1st person singular present form (here: έχω), not with an infinitive like in English.
Where is the word for I in this sentence? Why isn’t εγώ written?
The subject I is understood from the verb ending, so it doesn’t need to be written.
- Έχω δέκα βιβλία στο σπίτι.
Literally: Have ten books at home.
But because έχω clearly shows 1st person singular, it means I have.
You can add the pronoun for emphasis:
- Εγώ έχω δέκα βιβλία στο σπίτι.
This means I have ten books at home, with emphasis on I (as in: I have them, not someone else).
Greek is a “pro‑drop” language: subject pronouns (εγώ, εσύ, αυτός, etc.) are often dropped unless you want to stress them or avoid ambiguity.