Breakdown of Αν δεν είχα κάνει τόσα λάθη, θα είχα τελειώσει την εξέταση νωρίτερα.
έχω
to have
δεν
not
θα
will
αν
if
Questions & Answers about Αν δεν είχα κάνει τόσα λάθη, θα είχα τελειώσει την εξέταση νωρίτερα.
What does είχα κάνει literally mean, and what tense is it?
Είχα κάνει is the pluperfect (past perfect) of κάνω (to do / to make).
- It is formed as:
- είχα = imperfect (past) of έχω (I had)
- κάνει = perfective non‑finite form of κάνω
So είχα κάνει literally means “I had done / I had made” — a completed action that happened before another point in the past (here, before finishing the exam).
It’s different from:
- έκανα = aorist (simple past): I did / I made (at some point in the past)
- έκανα does not by itself show the “before another past moment” relationship that είχα κάνει shows.
What does θα είχα τελειώσει literally mean, and what is the role of θα?
Θα είχα τελειώσει is built from:
- θα = particle used for future or conditional meaning
- είχα τελειώσει = pluperfect of τελειώνω (to finish)
Literally, θα είχα τελειώσει is “I would have finished” (or “I would have had finished”), expressing an unreal past result — something that didn’t happen.
The verb form:
- τελειώσει comes from τελειώνω.
- είχα τελειώσει alone means “I had finished”.
- Adding θα in front (→ θα είχα τελειώσει) makes it conditional: “I would have finished.”