Learn Hardcore Greek: Οι γονείς μου φροντίζουν να μην έχω πολλή ανησυχία πριν από τις εξετάσεις. - My parents take care that I don't have much worry before the exams.

Οι γονείς μου φροντίζουν… = My parents make sure… / My parents take care to…
It is in the present tense, active voice, and imperfective aspect, which here expresses a habitual or general action:
- They regularly / generally make sure I don’t worry too much before exams, not just one single time.

Why is it να μην έχω and not να δεν έχω?

In Greek, with να + verb (the so‑called subjunctive / dependent form), the negative is μη(ν), not δεν.

Correct: να μην έχω (so that I don’t have)
Incorrect: να δεν έχω

Very simplified rule:

With finite indicative verbs (no να / θα): use δεν
- Δεν έχω ανησυχία. – I don’t have worry.
With να, ας, θα, and most non‑indicative environments: use μη(ν)
- Θα μη(ν) doesn’t normally occur; but να μην, ας μην, etc. are standard.

Here φροντίζουν να μην έχω… = they see to it that I don’t have…

What is the function of να in να μην έχω?

Να is introducing a subordinate clause and puts the verb έχω into a non‑past subjunctive‑like form.

Structure: φροντίζω να + verb ≈ I make sure to / I take care that…
Να έχω cannot stand alone; it depends on a verb like:
- θέλω να έχω – I want to have
- πρέπει να έχω – I must have
- φροντίζουν να μην έχω – they make sure (that) I don’t have

So να here is similar to English to or that introducing a dependent clause, but its grammar is closer to a subjunctive marker.

Why is it έχω πολλή ανησυχία and not something like είμαι ανήσυχος?

Both ways exist, but they express slightly different things:

Έχω πολλή ανησυχία = I have a lot of worry/anxiety.
- Focus on the amount of an abstract noun (ανησυχία).
Είμαι ανήσυχος / ανήσυχη = I am worried / anxious.
- Focus on my state/characteristic.

In this sentence, the idea is more about how much worry the parents allow the child to experience before exams, so Greek naturally uses έχω πολλή ανησυχία (to have a lot of worry) instead of the adjective.

What is ανησυχία exactly (gender, meaning, declension)?

Ανησυχία is a feminine noun:

Meaning: worry, anxiety, concern, nervousness
Gender: feminine
Basic singular forms:
- η ανησυχία – the worry (nominative)
- της ανησυχίας – of the worry (genitive)
- την ανησυχία – the worry (accusative)
Plural:
- οι ανησυχίες, τις ανησυχίες, etc.

In the sentence, it appears in the accusative singular after έχω:

να μην έχω πολλή ανησυχία – not to have much worry.

Why is it πολλή ανησυχία and not πολύ ανησυχία?

Greek distinguishes:

Πολύ (invariable as an adverb):
- Modifies verbs, adjectives, adverbs:
  - τρέχω πολύ – I run a lot
  - είμαι πολύ κουρασμένος – I am very tired
Πολλός / πολλή / πολύ (adjective, agrees in gender/number/case):
- Modifies nouns, like English much / many:
  - πολλή ανησυχία – much/a lot of worry (feminine singular)
  - πολλοί μαθητές – many students (masc. pl.)
  - πολλά βιβλία – many books (neut. pl.)

Here ανησυχία is a feminine noun, so we use the feminine form:

πολλή ανησυχία = a lot of worry.

Spelling clue: πολλή (fem. adj.) has a double λ and an accent on ή; adverb πολύ usually has one λ and ends in -ύ.

Why do we say πριν από τις εξετάσεις and not just πριν τις εξετάσεις or πριν τις εξετάσεις μου?

All of these exist, but there are nuances and preferences:

πριν από τις εξετάσεις – very common, especially in the standard language:
- Preposition πριν από
  - noun (accusative) = before X
- Slightly more careful/neutral.
πριν τις εξετάσεις – also heard, especially in speech:
- από is dropped in everyday usage, but πριν από is often preferred in writing or more formal contexts.

You could also say πριν από τις εξετάσεις μου to emphasize “my exams”, but the original Greek sentence leaves the possessor understood from context (we already know we are talking about the speaker’s exams).

Why is it τις εξετάσεις specifically – what form is that?

Εξετάσεις comes from the feminine noun εξέταση (exam, test).

Singular:
- η εξέταση – the exam (nominative)
Plural:
- οι εξετάσεις – the exams (nominative)
- τις εξετάσεις – the exams (accusative)

Most Greek prepositions, including πριν από, take the accusative case, so we need:

πριν από τις εξετάσεις – before the exams (accusative plural).

Why is the possessive μου after γονείς instead of before, like in English?

In Greek, possessive pronouns like μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους usually come after the noun as enclitic forms:

οι γονείς μου – my parents
το σπίτι σου – your house
ο φίλος της – her friend

So Greek says literally “the parents my”, which is the normal pattern:

οι γονείς μου φροντίζουν… – my parents make sure…

Can I change the word order, for example: Οι γονείς μου φροντίζουν πριν από τις εξετάσεις να μην έχω πολλή ανησυχία?

Yes, Greek word order is relatively flexible, especially with adverbials like πριν από τις εξετάσεις.

All of these are acceptable (with slightly different rhythm/emphasis):

Οι γονείς μου φροντίζουν να μην έχω πολλή ανησυχία πριν από τις εξετάσεις.
Οι γονείς μου φροντίζουν πριν από τις εξετάσεις να μην έχω πολλή ανησυχία.

The original order is very natural: the main idea (να μην έχω πολλή ανησυχία) comes earlier, and the time phrase (πριν από τις εξετάσεις) is added at the end.

Is there a difference between ανησυχία, άγχος, and αγωνία in this kind of context?

All three relate to negative emotional states, but with different shades:

ανησυχία – worry, anxiety in a broad, everyday sense:
- να μην έχω πολλή ανησυχία – not to have much worry/concern.
άγχος – stress, anxiety (often more psychological / performance‑related):
- να μην έχω πολύ άγχος πριν από τις εξετάσεις
  – not to be very stressed before exams.
αγωνία – suspense, intense worry, sometimes with a dramatic tone:
- να μην έχω πολλή αγωνία πριν από τις εξετάσεις
  – not to have a lot of (tormenting) anxiety before the exams.

In the original sentence, ανησυχία is a natural, slightly softer word for the kind of worry parents want to reduce.