Κλείνω το μικρόφωνο όταν δεν μιλάω, για να έχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση.

I turn off the microphone when I’m not speaking, so that there is silence in the meeting.

Breakdown of Κλείνω το μικρόφωνο όταν δεν μιλάω, για να έχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση.

• μιλάω: to speak
• έχω: to have
• δεν: not
• σε: at
• όταν: when
• κλείνω: to turn off
• για να: so that
• η συνάντηση: the meeting
• το μικρόφωνο: the microphone
• η σιωπή: the silence

Questions & Answers about Κλείνω το μικρόφωνο όταν δεν μιλάω, για να έχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση.

In this sentence, why is κλείνω used for the microphone? Doesn’t κλείνω mean “to close”?

In Greek, κλείνω literally means “to close”, but it is also the normal everyday verb for “to turn off / switch off” many devices.

So:

• κλείνω το μικρόφωνο = I turn off / mute the microphone
• κλείνω το φως = I switch off the light
• κλείνω την τηλεόραση = I turn off the TV

You could also say “κλείνω το μικρόφωνό μου” (my microphone).
More formal verbs like απενεργοποιώ (το μικρόφωνο) are possible, but in speech κλείνω is the most natural choice.

What is the form and role of το μικρόφωνο in the sentence?

• μικρόφωνο is a neuter noun (το μικρόφωνο – του μικροφώνου – το μικρόφωνο).
• το is the definite article, neuter singular.

Here, το μικρόφωνο is in the accusative case, because it is the direct object of the verb κλείνω:

• (Εγώ) κλείνω τι; → το μικρόφωνο.
  (I) turn off what? → the microphone.

So grammatically:
[subject implied “I”] + κλείνω (verb) + το μικρόφωνο (direct object, accusative).

Why is it όταν δεν μιλάω and not όταν δεν μιλώ? Is there a difference?

Both μιλάω and μιλώ mean “I speak / I talk” in the present tense. The difference is mostly style and frequency:

• μιλάω – more colloquial / everyday spoken Greek, very common.
• μιλώ – slightly more formal or written, but still used in speech.

So:

• όταν δεν μιλάω and όταν δεν μιλώ are both correct and mean “when I am not speaking / when I don’t speak”.

In a natural spoken-style sentence like this, μιλάω sounds more typical and relaxed.

What is the difference between μιλάω and λέω? Could we say όταν δεν λέω?

Both verbs relate to speech, but they are used differently:

• μιλάω = to speak / to talk

  • Focus on the act of speaking.
  • Examples:
    
    • Μιλάω στο τηλέφωνο. – I’m talking on the phone.
    • Μιλάει πολύ. – He/She talks a lot.

• λέω = to say / to tell

  • Focus on what you say, the content.
  • Examples:
    
    • Τι λες; – What are you saying?
    • Λέω την αλήθεια. – I am telling the truth.

In your sentence we are talking about speaking in a meeting, not about saying a specific phrase, so μιλάω is the natural verb.

• όταν δεν μιλάω = when I’m not speaking (at all)
• όταν δεν λέω sounds incomplete by itself; you’d usually say όταν δεν λέω τίποτα – when I don’t say anything. It’s not wrong, but it’s less natural here than μιλάω.

Why is the present tense κλείνω and δεν μιλάω used, if this describes a general habit?

In Greek, the simple present tense is used both for:

1. Actions happening now
2. Habits / repeated actions / general truths

So κλείνω το μικρόφωνο όταν δεν μιλάω naturally means:

• “I turn off (mute) the microphone when I’m not speaking”
  → with a habitual meaning: that’s what I usually do.

You do not need a special tense for habits; the present already covers this use.

What does the structure για να έχει express here? Is it like an infinitive?

Greek does not have a real infinitive. Instead, it uses να-clauses, often with για, to express purpose (why something is done).

• για να + verb = “in order to / so that” + verb

Here:

• για να έχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση
  literally: “in order that there be silence in the meeting”
  natural English: “so that there is / will be silence in the meeting.”

So:

• Κλείνω το μικρόφωνο όταν δεν μιλάω, για να έχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση.
  = I mute my mic when I’m not speaking so that there is silence in the meeting.

The verb after να is in the subjunctive mood, but in the present tense, έχει (subj.) looks the same as έχει (indicative). Context with να tells you it’s subjunctive.

Who is the subject of έχει in για να έχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση? How can “it” be missing?

In Greek, έχει is often used impersonally to mean “there is / there are”, without an explicit subject, especially in spoken language.

• Έχει σιωπή. ≈ “There is silence.”
• Έχει πολύ κόσμο. ≈ “There are many people.”
• Έχει ζέστη. ≈ “It is hot / There is heat.”

In για να έχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση, σίωπη is not the grammatical subject of έχει in the standard way; the construction works more like an impersonal “there is”.

A more “textbook” version with a clearer subject could be:

• για να υπάρχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση
  (literally: “so that silence exists in the meeting”)

Both forms are understandable; έχει σιωπή is more conversational and idiomatic.

Could we replace έχει σιωπή with υπάρχει σιωπή? Is there any difference?

Yes, you can say:

• Κλείνω το μικρόφωνο όταν δεν μιλάω, για να υπάρχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση.

Differences:

• έχει σιωπή

  • More colloquial / everyday speech.
  • Feels very natural in spoken modern Greek.

• υπάρχει σιωπή

  • Slightly more neutral or careful.
  • Excellent in both speech and writing.

In meaning, both are “so that there is silence in the meeting.”
So it’s mainly a matter of style, not grammar.

What nuance does σιωπή have? How is it different from ησυχία?

Both σιωπή and ησυχία relate to quiet, but with different focus:

• σιωπή = silence, emphasis on no one speaking / no speech.

  • Often linked to not talking:
    
    • Κάνε σιωπή. – Be silent (stop talking).

• ησυχία = quietness / calm, emphasis on low noise and calm environment in general.

  • Can refer to all kinds of noise:
    
    • Θέλω ησυχία. – I want peace and quiet.

In a meeting context:

• σιωπή στη συνάντηση – no one is talking (or very strictly controlled talking).
• ησυχία στη συνάντηση – the meeting is quiet / not noisy (broader).

Both could work, but σιωπή fits well with μιλάω (speaking/not speaking).

What exactly is στη συνάντηση grammatically, and why στη instead of στην?

στη συνάντηση comes from:

• σε (preposition “in / at / to”)
• την συνάντηση (feminine, accusative singular: “the meeting”)

In speech and writing, σε + την usually contracts to:

• στην or στη
  • noun

About στη / στην:

• Traditional rule: keep the final -ν (στην) before vowels and certain consonants.
• Before σ, the -ν is optional in modern usage.

So both are seen:

• στη συνάντηση
• στην συνάντηση

Meaning: “in the meeting / at the meeting.”
Grammatically, it’s a prepositional phrase with σε + accusative.

Can the word order of the two parts change? For example, can we start with για να έχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση?

Yes, Greek word order is fairly flexible. You can say:

• Για να έχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση, κλείνω το μικρόφωνο όταν δεν μιλάω.

This is perfectly correct. The change mainly affects emphasis:

• Original:
  Κλείνω το μικρόφωνο όταν δεν μιλάω, για να έχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση.
  → First you say what you do, then why (the purpose).

• Reordered:
  Για να έχει σιωπή στη συνάντηση, κλείνω το μικρόφωνο όταν δεν μιλάω.
  → You start with the goal/purpose and then explain what you do to achieve it.

The basic meaning remains the same.

Is there any difference in meaning between όταν δεν μιλάω, κλείνω το μικρόφωνο and κλείνω το μικρόφωνο όταν δεν μιλάω?

Both orders are grammatically correct and mean essentially the same:

1. Όταν δεν μιλάω, κλείνω το μικρόφωνο.
2. Κλείνω το μικρόφωνο όταν δεν μιλάω.

Differences are only in rhythm and slight emphasis:

• Starting with όταν δεν μιλάω focuses first on the condition (when I am not speaking).
• Starting with κλείνω το μικρόφωνο focuses first on your action (I mute the microphone).

In everyday speech, both patterns are very natural.