Questions & Answers about Θέλω άλλο βιβλίο σήμερα.
Why is there no word for a before βιβλίο? Wouldn’t it normally be ένα βιβλίο?
Greek doesn’t need an indefinite article (ένα, ένας, μία/μια) as often as English does. Very often, a direct object can appear without it.
In Θέλω άλλο βιβλίο σήμερα:
- άλλο already gives the idea of “another / a different one”.
- So άλλο βιβλίο naturally means “another book / a different book” without needing ένα.
You can say Θέλω ένα άλλο βιβλίο σήμερα, and it’s also correct. It tends to sound a bit more explicit, like “I want one other/different book today”, but in everyday speech the difference is usually small and both are understood the same way.
What exactly does άλλο βιβλίο mean: “another book”, “a different book”, or “more books”?
άλλο βιβλίο is singular and means:
- “another book” (a second one instead of, or in addition to, the first), or
- “a different book” (not the one we’re talking about now).
It does not mean “more books” in the plural sense.
For those ideas:
- “one more book” (in addition): θέλω κι άλλο βιβλίο
- “other books” (plural, different ones): θέλω άλλα βιβλία
Can I say ένα άλλο βιβλίο instead of άλλο βιβλίο? Is there a difference?