Δεν επιτρέπεται να καπνίζεις μέσα στο πανεπιστήμιο.

not

Breakdown of Δεν επιτρέπεται να καπνίζεις μέσα στο πανεπιστήμιο.

• να: to
• μέσα σε: inside
• το πανεπιστήμιο: the university

Questions & Answers about Δεν επιτρέπεται να καπνίζεις μέσα στο πανεπιστήμιο.

Why do we use Δεν επιτρέπεται and not something like Δεν επιτρέπω?

Επιτρέπω means I allow.
Δεν επιτρέπω = I do not allow (with a clear subject: I).

In this sentence, we are not talking about what I allow, but about a general rule: it is not allowed.

Greek often uses the impersonal passive form for this:

• (Δεν) επιτρέπεται = (It) is (not) allowed / permitted

So:

• Δεν επιτρέπεται να καπνίζεις = It is not allowed to smoke / You are not allowed to smoke (general rule).

What is the subject of επιτρέπεται? There is no it in Greek.

Greek simply leaves the subject understood.
Επιτρέπεται is 3rd person singular passive, which in English usually corresponds to it is allowed.

So you can think of:

• (Δεν) επιτρέπεται ≈ (It) is (not) allowed

The it is implied and not pronounced in Greek.

Why do we need να before καπνίζεις? Why not just Δεν επιτρέπεται καπνίζεις?