Όταν κάνω λάθος, το σκέφτομαι και μετά προσπαθώ πάλι.

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Breakdown of Όταν κάνω λάθος, το σκέφτομαι και μετά προσπαθώ πάλι.

• μετά: then
• πάλι: again
• όταν: when

Questions & Answers about Όταν κάνω λάθος, το σκέφτομαι και μετά προσπαθώ πάλι.

Why is it «Όταν κάνω λάθος» with the verb in the present, even though it refers to any time I make a mistake, including future situations?

In Greek, the present tense is very often used for:

• general / habitual actions, and
• future events in time clauses introduced by words like όταν (when).

So «Όταν κάνω λάθος» means:

• “Whenever I make a mistake” (habitual), and also
• “When I make a mistake (in the future)”.

Greek does not normally use θα after όταν in this kind of clause, so:

• ✅ Όταν κάνω λάθος, το σκέφτομαι…
• ❌ Όταν θα κάνω λάθος, το σκέφτομαι… (ungrammatical in standard Greek)

Technically, after όταν the verb often has a subjunctive-like value for future time, but in the first person singular the present indicative and present subjunctive look the same (κάνω), so you just see κάνω.

What exactly does «κάνω λάθος» mean, and why not say something like “I am wrong” with another verb?