Breakdown of Μετά το μάθημα πηγαίνω στη βιβλιοθήκη του πανεπιστημίου.
Questions & Answers about Μετά το μάθημα πηγαίνω στη βιβλιοθήκη του πανεπιστημίου.
In Greek, subject pronouns (like εγώ = I) are usually omitted because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.
- πηγαίνω = I go
- The ending -ω tells us it’s first person singular (I).
- So εγώ πηγαίνω is grammatically correct, but πηγαίνω alone is more natural unless you want to emphasize I (as in “I go, not someone else”).
Both are possible, but there’s a nuance in usage:
- Μετά το μάθημα – very common, natural, especially in speech.
- Μετά από το μάθημα – also correct; sometimes a bit more explicit or careful, and often used when the time gap is emphasized.
In modern Greek, when μετά means after (in time), it normally takes the accusative:
- μετά το μάθημα (after the class)
- μετά τη δουλειά (after work)
Μετά από + accusative is also standard, so here both are acceptable.
In modern Greek, when μετά means after (in time), it governs the accusative case:
- μετά το μάθημα – after the class
- μετά την ταινία – after the movie
- μετά το φαγητό – after the meal
So το μάθημα is in the accusative (same form as the nominative for neuter nouns) because μετά requires it in this temporal meaning.
Historically, μετά with the genitive meant with, but in everyday modern Greek, that usage is limited and μετά + accusative = after is what learners usually need.
The Greek μάθημα covers several English meanings:
- a particular class session:
- Έχω μάθημα στις 9. = I have class at 9.
- a school subject or course:
- Το αγαπημένο μου μάθημα είναι τα ελληνικά. = My favorite subject is Greek.
- a lesson in a textbook or teaching unit.
So in Μετά το μάθημα, the context decides whether we understand after the class (session) or after the lesson, etc. English often has to choose between class, lesson, or course, but Greek uses μάθημα for all of them.
The form of σε + definite article depends on the gender of the noun:
- βιβλιοθήκη is feminine:
- nominative: η βιβλιοθήκη (the library)
- accusative: τη βιβλιοθήκη
The preposition σε (to / at / in) + τη contracts to:
- σε
- τη → στη
So:
- πηγαίνω στη βιβλιοθήκη = I go to the library
στο is σε + το, used for neuter nouns:
- πηγαίνω στο σπίτι (house is neuter: το σπίτι).
The preposition σε (to / at / in) always takes the accusative in modern Greek, no matter the meaning:
- στο σπίτι (to/at home) – accusative
- στη δουλειά (to/at work) – accusative
- στη βιβλιοθήκη (to/at the library) – accusative
So βιβλιοθήκη appears in the accusative singular feminine: (τη) βιβλιοθήκη, contracted in the phrase as στη βιβλιοθήκη.
του πανεπιστημίου is in the genitive singular neuter and literally means “of the university”.
- Nominative: το πανεπιστήμιο – the university
- Genitive: του πανεπιστημίου – of the university
In the sentence:
- στη βιβλιοθήκη του πανεπιστημίου
= to the library of the university
= to the university library
So the genitive shows a possessive/relational idea: the library belonging to / associated with the university.
πανεπιστήμιο is neuter:
- nominative: το πανεπιστήμιο (panepistí-mio)
- genitive: του πανεπιστημίου (panepistimíou)
Two things happen:
Ending change (regular neuter pattern):
- -ο → -ου
- το βιβλίο → του βιβλίου
- το παιδί → του παιδιού
- το πανεπιστήμιο → του πανεπιστημίου
- -ο → -ου
Accent shift:
Greek has rules that stop the accent from going further than the third syllable from the end (“three-syllable rule”).
When the ending changes, the accent often adjusts to obey that rule, giving πανεπιστημίου with the accent on -μί-.
You generally have to memorize gender in Greek, but many nouns ending in -η are feminine, and βιβλιοθήκη follows a common pattern:
- η βιβλιοθήκη – the library (fem.)
- της βιβλιοθήκης – of the library
- τη βιβλιοθήκη – the library (object)
Other similar feminine nouns:
- η πόλη (city)
- η κουζίνα (kitchen)
- η τσάντα (bag)
So στη βιβλιοθήκη uses the feminine article τη (contracted to στη with σε).
Both can mean I go, but there’s a difference in formality and nuance:
πηγαίνω
- More “full” or formal form
- Often used in written language or careful speech
- Can emphasize habitual action: I (usually) go
πάω
- Shorter, very common in everyday speech
- Neutral in meaning, just more colloquial
In your sentence, both are possible:
- Μετά το μάθημα πηγαίνω στη βιβλιοθήκη του πανεπιστημίου.
- Μετά το μάθημα πάω στη βιβλιοθήκη του πανεπιστημίου.
The meaning is the same; πηγαίνω just sounds slightly more careful/formal.
The Greek present tense usually covers both English meanings:
- πηγαίνω can mean:
- I go (habitual / regular)
- I am going (right now / in general)
Context gives the nuance:
Κάθε μέρα μετά το μάθημα πηγαίνω στη βιβλιοθήκη.
= Every day after class I go to the library. (habitual)Τώρα τελειώνει το μάθημα και πηγαίνω στη βιβλιοθήκη.
= Class is ending now and I’m going to the library. (right now)
In your sentence, without extra context, it most naturally sounds habitual: After class I (usually) go to the university library.
Yes, Greek word order is relatively flexible. Your alternative is correct:
- Πηγαίνω στη βιβλιοθήκη του πανεπιστημίου μετά το μάθημα.
Both versions are natural:
- Μετά το μάθημα πηγαίνω στη βιβλιοθήκη του πανεπιστημίου.
- Πηγαίνω στη βιβλιοθήκη του πανεπιστημίου μετά το μάθημα.
The differences are mostly in emphasis and flow:
- Starting with Μετά το μάθημα puts more emphasis on time: After class, I go…
- Starting with Πηγαίνω emphasizes the action: I go to the library after class.
Both with and without a comma are seen in practice:
- Μετά το μάθημα πηγαίνω στη βιβλιοθήκη…
- Μετά το μάθημα, πηγαίνω στη βιβλιοθήκη…
In a short sentence like this, Greek often omits the comma after a brief time phrase, especially in informal writing. Adding a comma is more careful or “textbook-style” and slightly emphasizes the pause:
- With comma: clearer separation: After class, I go…
- Without comma: smoother, more continuous flow.
Both are acceptable.