Questions & Answers about Προσπαθώ να μιλάω ήρεμα στη συνάντηση.
What does να do in the phrase να μιλάω?
Να is a small word that usually introduces another verb and often corresponds to English “to” or “that” after certain verbs.
In Προσπαθώ να μιλάω, it links προσπαθώ (I try) with μιλάω (I speak), so the whole thing means “I try to speak”.
Grammatically, να + verb is called the subjunctive in Greek, especially after verbs like θέλω (I want), μπορώ (I can), προσπαθώ (I try), etc.
Why is it να μιλάω and not να μιλήσω?
Greek distinguishes between imperfective (ongoing / repeated) and perfective (single / completed) aspect.
- να μιλάω focuses on how you speak during the meeting, as an ongoing manner or habit:
Προσπαθώ να μιλάω ήρεμα στη συνάντηση. = I try to (generally) speak calmly in the meeting. - να μιλήσω would sound more like a single act of speaking:
Προσπαθώ να μιλήσω ήρεμα. = I’m trying to speak calmly (this time, in this one instance).
So να μιλάω fits better if you mean your overall way of speaking in the meeting.
What’s the difference between μιλάω and μιλώ?