Questions & Answers about Θέλω να κάνω μια συζήτηση σχετικά με το μέλλον μου.
Why doesn’t the Greek sentence include the subject I (like εγώ)?
In Greek, the subject pronoun is usually dropped because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.
- Θέλω already means I want (1st person singular).
- Adding εγώ (Εγώ θέλω να κάνω…) is possible, but usually only when you want to emphasize it, for example:
- Εγώ θέλω να κάνω μια συζήτηση… = I (as opposed to someone else) want to have a discussion…
So the sentence without εγώ is the normal, neutral form in Greek.
What exactly does να do in να κάνω? Is it the same as English to?
Να is not a direct equivalent of English to, even though it often corresponds to to in translations.
- Να introduces a subordinate clause where the verb is in the subjunctive mood.
- After verbs of desire, intention, plan, etc. (like θέλω, πρέπει, μπορώ), Greek normally uses να + verb:
- Θέλω να κάνω… = I want to do…
- Πρέπει να φύγω. = I must leave.
- Greek doesn’t have an infinitive like English; instead, it uses constructions with να.
So να here is a marker of the subjunctive clause, not a preposition like English to.
What form is the verb κάνω in this sentence?