Breakdown of Δεν καταλαβαίνω όλες τις λεπτομέρειες, αλλά θα ρωτήσω την καθηγήτρια.
Questions & Answers about Δεν καταλαβαίνω όλες τις λεπτομέρειες, αλλά θα ρωτήσω την καθηγήτρια.
In Greek, the subject pronoun is usually dropped, because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.
- καταλαβαίνω = I understand
The ending -ω tells us the subject is 1st person singular (I).
So:
- Δεν καταλαβαίνω όλες τις λεπτομέρειες = I don’t understand all the details
even though εγώ is not written.
You can say:
- Εγώ δεν καταλαβαίνω όλες τις λεπτομέρειες…
but then you are emphasizing I (as in “I don’t understand all the details (maybe others do)”).
Modern Greek uses the negative particle δεν (or δε in speech) directly before the verb.
- καταλαβαίνω = I understand
- δεν καταλαβαίνω = I do not understand
Basic rule:
> δεν + verb
Examples:
- Δεν τρώω. = I don’t eat.
- Δεν μιλάω ελληνικά. = I don’t speak Greek.
Before some consonants, especially π, τ, κ, ψ, ξ, people often drop the final -ν in everyday speech and writing: δε.
Here, δεν καταλαβαίνω is the standard, fully written form.
Because λεπτομέρειες is a feminine plural noun, and the word for “all” (όλος) must agree with it in gender, number, and case.
- η λεπτομέρεια = the detail (feminine singular)
- οι λεπτομέρειες = the details (feminine plural)
As a direct object, it appears in the accusative plural:
- τις λεπτομέρειες = the details (object)
The adjective όλος (“all”) in the feminine accusative plural is:
- όλες
So we get:
- όλες τις λεπτομέρειες = all the details
όλα is neuter plural, and όλους is masculine accusative plural, so they cannot agree with λεπτομέρειες (which is feminine).
Because λεπτομέρειες is the direct object of the verb καταλαβαίνω, so it must be in the accusative case, not the nominative.
Feminine plural article declension:
- οι = nominative plural (subject)
- τις = accusative plural (object)
Compare:
Οι λεπτομέρειες είναι δύσκολες.
The details are difficult. (subject → οι)Δεν καταλαβαίνω τις λεπτομέρειες.
I don’t understand the details. (object → τις)
In your sentence, λεπτομέρειες is what you don’t understand → τις.
Yes, grammatically you can say:
- Δεν καταλαβαίνω τις λεπτομέρειες.
The difference is in meaning:
Δεν καταλαβαίνω τις λεπτομέρειες.
= I don’t understand the details (in general / the details we’re talking about).Δεν καταλαβαίνω όλες τις λεπτομέρειες.
= I don’t understand all the details (I may understand some, but not every single one).
So όλες emphasizes that your understanding is incomplete.
Yes, αλλά works very much like English “but”. You usually put a comma before it when it joins two clauses:
- Δεν καταλαβαίνω όλες τις λεπτομέρειες, αλλά θα ρωτήσω την καθηγήτρια.
This is parallel to English:
- I don’t understand all the details, but I will ask the teacher.
In short:
- αλλά = but
- Comma before αλλά is normal when it separates two full clauses.
Θα ρωτήσω is a future tense form.
- ρωτάω / ρωτώ = I ask (present, continuous)
- ρωτήσω = aorist subjunctive form (perfective aspect)
- θα ρωτήσω = I will ask (simple future, one completed action)
In modern Greek, the particle θα + subjunctive/finite verb form is used to express the future:
- θα ρωτήσω = I will ask (one time, at some point)
- θα φάω = I will eat
- θα πάω = I will go
So here θα ρωτήσω means “I’ll ask (her)”, one discrete future action.
The difference is aspect (simple vs continuous):
Θα ρωτήσω
→ simple future, one completed act of asking
“I will (at some point) ask (her).”Θα ρωτάω
→ continuous/repeated future
“I will be asking / I will keep asking / I will ask regularly.”
In your sentence, you want to say you will ask once (or at least a single, concrete action), so θα ρωτήσω is the natural choice:
- Δεν καταλαβαίνω όλες τις λεπτομέρειες, αλλά θα ρωτήσω την καθηγήτρια.
I don’t understand all the details, but I will ask the teacher (about them).
In Greek, the verb ρωτάω / ρωτώ takes a direct object for the person you ask. It does not need a preposition:
- Ρωτάω την καθηγήτρια.
I ask the teacher.
You can even have two direct objects (person + thing):
- Ρωτάω την καθηγήτρια την ερώτηση.
I ask the teacher the question.
So:
- English: ask the teacher
- Greek: ρωτάω την καθηγήτρια (no preposition).
Again, this is a case issue. Καθηγήτρια is the object of ρωτήσω, so it’s in the accusative singular:
Feminine singular article:
- η = nominative (subject)
- την (or τη) = accusative (object)
Compare:
Η καθηγήτρια εξηγεί τις λεπτομέρειες.
The teacher explains the details. (subject → η καθηγήτρια)Θα ρωτήσω την καθηγήτρια.
I will ask the teacher. (object → την καθηγήτρια)
So την is required here because καθηγήτρια is the thing/person being acted on.
Yes:
- καθηγήτρια = female professor / teacher (usually middle school, high school, or university)
- καθηγητής = male professor / teacher (same levels)
They are gendered forms of the same profession.
Δασκάλα / δάσκαλος usually refers to:
- primary/elementary school teacher, or
- (more loosely) any kind of teacher, in a more general/informal sense.
So:
- Θα ρωτήσω την καθηγήτρια.
→ I’ll ask the (female) teacher/professor (likely at a higher level, or a specific subject teacher).
If you were talking about a primary school teacher who is female, you’d more likely say:
- Θα ρωτήσω τη δασκάλα.
Yes, you can absolutely say:
- Εγώ δεν καταλαβαίνω όλες τις λεπτομέρειες, αλλά θα ρωτήσω την καθηγήτρια.
Using εγώ is usually for emphasis or contrast, for example:
To contrast with others:
Εγώ δεν καταλαβαίνω, αλλά αυτοί καταλαβαίνουν.
I don’t understand, but they do.To insist on your own action:
Εγώ θα ρωτήσω την καθηγήτρια.
I will be the one to ask the teacher.
In neutral, everyday sentences, Greeks normally omit the subject pronoun because the verb ending (-ω in καταλαβαίνω, -σω in ρωτήσω) already makes it clear that the subject is “I”.