Breakdown of Αφού τελειώσω τη δουλειά, έχω τη συνήθεια να περπατάω καθημερινά για λίγη ώρα.
Questions & Answers about Αφού τελειώσω τη δουλειά, έχω τη συνήθεια να περπατάω καθημερινά για λίγη ώρα.
In this sentence Αφού means “after / once”, introducing a time clause: Αφού τελειώσω τη δουλειά = “After I finish work / Once I’ve finished work”.
It shows that one action is completed first (finishing work) and then another follows (walking).
- μετά is usually a preposition or adverb: μετά τη δουλειά = “after work”. To use a verb, you’d normally say μετά τη δουλειά or more colloquially μετά που τελειώσω τη δουλειά.
- όταν means “when(ever)” and is more neutral about sequence; it just says at the time when something happens. Αφού here is stronger about “after that is done, then…”.
So Αφού in this sentence is best understood as “after / once” rather than “since”.
Τελειώσω is the aorist subjunctive form, and it is used because:
- The action is future / not yet realized from the speaker’s point of view (it happens each day, after work).
- The aorist aspect focuses on the action as a single, complete event: “after I have finished (my work)”.
Greek often uses the aorist subjunctive in time clauses with Αφού for future or habitual sequences:
Αφού τελειώσω, περπατάω = “After I (have) finished, I walk.”
If you said Αφού τελειώνω τη δουλειά, it would sound odd here; τελειώνω (present) is used more with όταν for habits:
Όταν τελειώνω τη δουλειά, περπατάω = “When I finish work, I walk.”