Learn Hardcore Greek: Αν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα, θα πάμε όλοι μαζί στο εστιατόριο. - If we win the match, we will all go together to the restaurant.

Αν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα = If we win the match
- Expresses a real possibility, but not certain.
- The winning is a condition for what follows.
Όταν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα = more like When we win the match
- Sounds as if winning is expected or taken for granted.
- Often implies “at the time that we win”.

In this sentence, the idea is conditional (“if we win”), so αν is the natural choice.

You may also see εάν, which is a slightly more formal/complete version of αν, with the same meaning here:

Εάν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα, θα πάμε…

What exactly is the form κερδίσουμε? Which tense/mood is it?

Κερδίσουμε is:

the aorist subjunctive, 1st person plural, of the verb κερδίζω (“to win”).
It usually appears after words like αν, να, θα, etc.

Why aorist subjunctive?

The aorist here expresses the action as a single, complete event (“win once”).
The subjunctive (after αν) expresses something that is possible/uncertain, not a fact.

So Αν κερδίσουμε literally is “If we (should) win (as a single event) …”.
If you used the present tense (αν κερδίζουμε), it would sound like “if we are winning (as an ongoing state)”, which doesn’t fit normal usage here.

Why is it τον αγώνα and not just αγώνα? What’s the role of τον and the case here?

Τον αγώνα breaks down as:

τον = masculine, singular, accusative definite article (“the”)
αγώνα = masculine, singular, accusative form of αγώνας (“match, game, contest”)

Key points:

Greek usually needs the definite article where English might drop it.
- English: “If we win the match” / sometimes “If we win the game”
- Greek: Αν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα (article is normal and expected)
The accusative case is used because αγώνα is the direct object of the verb κερδίσουμε (“we win what? the match”).

Without the article (κερδίσουμε αγώνα) sounds incomplete or unnatural in standard modern Greek.

What tense is θα πάμε? Why not just πάμε or a different form like πηγαίνουμε?

Θα πάμε is the simple future (“we will go”).

Structure:

θα
- πάμε (subjunctive/“base” form of πηγαίνω)

In modern Greek, the future is usually formed with θα + subjunctive-like form, not a separate future tense as in some older stages of the language.

Why πάμε and not πηγαίνουμε?

Θα πάμε = we will go (once, as a single event) → simple future
Θα πηγαίνουμε = we will be going / we will go repeatedly or habitually → continuous future

In this sentence, going to the restaurant is one specific event, so θα πάμε is correct.

Isn’t πάμε normally “we go” (present)? Why is it used with θα for the future?

Yes, without θα, πάμε can mean “we go” or “let’s go” (depending on context).
But formally, the same form is also used as the subjunctive/base form for many verbs.

Modern Greek uses:

θα + (subjunctive form) for the future

For πηγαίνω:

Present indicative: πηγαίνουμε (“we go / are going”)
Subjunctive/base form: πάμε (“(that) we go”)

So:

Πάμε στο εστιατόριο. = We are going / we go to the restaurant.
Θα πάμε στο εστιατόριο. = We will go to the restaurant.

Same spelling/pronunciation, but different function depending on context and the presence of θα.

Why is there no word for “we” in Αν κερδίσουμε and θα πάμε?

Greek usually omits subject pronouns (like “I, you, we”) because the verb ending tells you who the subject is.

κερδίσ-ουμ-ε → “we win”
πάμ-ε → “we go”

So:

(Εμείς) κερδίσουμε → “we win”
(Εμείς) θα πάμε → “we will go”

Adding εμείς (“we”) is possible but used mainly:

for emphasis:
- Αν εμείς κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα… = If *we win the match (as opposed to others)…*
or to avoid ambiguity in more complex contexts.

In this simple sentence, omitting εμείς is normal and natural.

What does όλοι μαζί add exactly? Where can it be placed in the sentence?

Όλοι μαζί means “all together”.

όλοι = all (masculine plural form, agreeing with an implied “we”/people)
μαζί = together

In θα πάμε όλοι μαζί στο εστιατόριο:

It emphasizes that the whole group will go as a unit, not separately.

Possible positions (all acceptable, with slightly different emphasis):

Θα πάμε όλοι μαζί στο εστιατόριο. (neutral, common)
Όλοι μαζί θα πάμε στο εστιατόριο. (emphasis on “all together”)
Θα πάμε στο εστιατόριο όλοι μαζί. (focus at the end: togetherness is highlighted)

All mean “We will all go together to the restaurant.”

What does στο εστιατόριο literally mean? How is στο formed, and how is it different from σε εστιατόριο?

Στο εστιατόριο literally breaks down as:

στο = σε + το (“in/to + the”) → contracted
εστιατόριο = “restaurant” (neuter noun)

So:

στο εστιατόριο = “to the restaurant” / “at the restaurant” (a specific one in context)

Difference from σε εστιατόριο:

σε εστιατόριο = “to a restaurant / at a restaurant” (nonspecific, any restaurant)
στο εστιατόριο = “to the restaurant” (the listener can identify which one: maybe the usual one, or the one already mentioned)

In this sentence, στο εστιατόριο suggests a particular restaurant known from context.

Why is there a comma after αγώνα? Is it always needed before θα in such sentences?

The comma is there because Αν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα is a subordinate clause (the “if” clause) that comes before the main clause:

[Αν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα], [θα πάμε όλοι μαζί στο εστιατόριο].

In Greek:

When a dependent clause (starting with αν, όταν, επειδή, etc.) comes first, a comma is normally used before the main clause.
When it comes after the main clause, there is usually no comma:
- Θα πάμε όλοι μαζί στο εστιατόριο αν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα.

So the comma is not “because of θα”; it’s because a clause boundary falls there when the if-clause is first.

Can the word order change? For example, can I put the “if” clause at the end?

Yes, Greek allows flexible word order here without changing the basic meaning.

All of these are natural:

Αν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα, θα πάμε όλοι μαζί στο εστιατόριο.
Θα πάμε όλοι μαζί στο εστιατόριο αν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα.
Όλοι μαζί θα πάμε στο εστιατόριο, αν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα.
Θα πάμε στο εστιατόριο όλοι μαζί, αν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα.

The main differences are in rhythm and emphasis, not in basic meaning.
Placing αν κερδίσουμε τον αγώνα first makes the condition feel more prominent from the start.