Learn Hardcore Greek: Πρέπει να διαβάσω σήμερα, αλλιώς δεν θα προλάβω την προθεσμία. - I must study today, otherwise I will not make the deadline.

διαβάζω = present / imperfective aspect → ongoing, repeated, or habitual action
διαβάσω = aorist / perfective aspect → a complete action, seen as a whole

After να, you choose the aspect depending on the meaning:

Πρέπει να διαβάσω σήμερα
= I must get my studying done today (focus on completing the task).
Πρέπει να διαβάζω κάθε μέρα
= I must be studying / study every day (habit, repeated action).

In this sentence, the speaker wants to finish the studying before the deadline, so the aorist form διαβάσω is used.

What exactly does the particle «να» do in «Πρέπει να διαβάσω»?

να is a particle that usually introduces a subjunctive-like clause in modern Greek. Common uses include:

After verbs of obligation / wish / attempt:
- πρέπει να διαβάσω – I must study
- θέλω να διαβάσω – I want to study
- προσπαθώ να διαβάσω – I’m trying to study
After θα to form the future or “modal” meanings:
- θα διαβάσω – I will read / I am going to read

So Πρέπει να διαβάσω is literally “It is necessary that I (should) read.”

Where is the subject “I” in «Πρέπει να διαβάσω»? Why isn’t εγώ written?

Greek is a “pro‑drop” language: it normally leaves out subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb ending.

διαβάσω ends in ‑ω, which clearly marks 1st person singular (“I”) in this form.
So εγώ is understood from the verb and is usually omitted.

You could say Εγώ πρέπει να διαβάσω σήμερα… if you really wanted to emphasize “I” (e.g. I must study, not someone else), but it’s not needed in a neutral statement.

Can the word order change, for example to «Σήμερα πρέπει να διαβάσω…»? Is there any difference?

Yes, Greek word order is quite flexible. Both are correct:

Πρέπει να διαβάσω σήμερα… – neutral word order, slight focus on the obligation.
Σήμερα πρέπει να διαβάσω… – slight emphasis on “today”, as in:
- “Today I have to study (as opposed to some other day).”

In many everyday contexts, the difference is subtle, and both would sound natural.

What does «αλλιώς» mean, and how is it used here?

αλλιώς means “otherwise” or “or else”.

…, αλλιώς δεν θα προλάβω την προθεσμία.
= “…, otherwise I won’t make the deadline.”

It introduces the negative consequence if the first part doesn’t happen.

You can often replace αλλιώς with διαφορετικά in this meaning:

Πρέπει να διαβάσω σήμερα, διαφορετικά δεν θα προλάβω την προθεσμία.

Both are common; αλλιώς is a bit shorter and very frequent in speech.

What does «δεν θα προλάβω» mean exactly?

The verb προλαβαίνω / προλάβω basically means:

to manage to do something in time,
to catch something before it’s too late (a bus, a show, a deadline, etc.).

δεν θα προλάβω = “I won’t manage (in time) / I won’t make it (in time).”

So:

δεν θα προλάβω την προθεσμία ≈ “I won’t make the deadline.”

The focus is on the idea of being too late for something with a time limit.

Why is προλάβω (aorist form) used with θα, instead of προλαβαίνω?

After θα, Greek normally uses the subjunctive stems (aorist or present), not a separate future tense. The choice between προλάβω (aorist) and προλαβαίνω (present) is again about aspect:

θα προλάβω – aorist / perfective → focuses on the result:
- “I will manage (to catch/make it).”
θα προλαβαίνω – present / imperfective → would suggest an ongoing/habitual process of “managing” over time, which is odd with a single deadline.

With a single deadline, the natural choice is θα προλάβω, because the important thing is whether the task is completed in time.

Why do we say «την προθεσμία» with the definite article την? Could we omit it?

η προθεσμία = “the deadline” (a specific one; e.g., for an assignment, application, payment).

In this sentence, the speaker is clearly talking about a known, specific deadline, so Greek uses the definite article:

την προθεσμία = that particular, already known deadline.

If you said δεν θα προλάβω προθεσμία, it would sound incomplete or wrong in this context, because “a random, unspecified deadline” doesn’t really fit the situation. When you have a concrete deadline, you normally use the in Greek: η / την προθεσμία.

What does «προθεσμία» mean, and are there synonyms?

η προθεσμία means “deadline” or “time limit”, especially in formal or semi-formal contexts (assignments, legal matters, payments, etc.).

A common near-synonym is:

η διορία – also “deadline, time limit.”

In many situations, προθεσμία and διορία can be used interchangeably:

Δεν θα προλάβω την προθεσμία.
Δεν θα προλάβω τη διορία.

Both mean “I won’t make the deadline.”

Why is there a comma before «αλλιώς» in this sentence?

The comma separates two clauses:

Πρέπει να διαβάσω σήμερα – main clause (the condition / what must happen)
αλλιώς δεν θα προλάβω την προθεσμία – clause of consequence (“otherwise…”).

In English, we would also use a comma:

“I have to study today, otherwise I won’t make the deadline.”

In Greek, it’s standard to put a comma before αλλιώς when it introduces such a contrasting or conditional-result clause.

Could I say «Πρέπει να μελετήσω σήμερα…» instead of «να διαβάσω»? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can, but there’s a nuance:

διαβάζω / διαβάσω – very common, everyday verb for:
- reading in general
- studying (especially for school, exams, homework)
μελετάω / μελετήσω – “to study” in a somewhat more formal or intensive sense:
- to study something in depth
- to research / examine carefully

In the context of ordinary school/university work or exam prep, διαβάσω is the most natural and common choice. μελετήσω can sound a bit more “serious” or formal, but it’s still correct.

How would I pronounce the whole sentence?

Approximate syllable breakdown and stress (stressed syllables in bold):

ΠΡΕ-πει να δια-ΒΑ-σω ΣΗ-με-ρα, α-ΛΛΙ-ως δεν θα προ-ΛΑ-βω την προ-θε-ΣΜΙ-α.

In IPA (Modern Greek):

[ˈpre.pi na ðjaˈva.so ˈsi.me.ra, aˈʎos ðen θa proˈla.vo tin proθeˈzmi.a]

Key points:

θ = like English th in think.
δ (before vowels) is like th in this.
γ before α, ο, ου is a soft g sound (like a voiced “h” / [ɣ]).
Stress is very important. For example, προθεσμία is stressed on the ‑μί‑: προ-θε-σμί-α.

Is πρέπει conjugated for person, like English “must / have to”?

In the present tense, πρέπει is impersonal and does not change for person:

Πρέπει να διαβάσω. – I must study.
Πρέπει να διαβάσεις. – You must study.
Πρέπει να διαβάσουμε. – We must study.

It’s always πρέπει, regardless of who the subject is; the subject is shown by the verb after να.

In the past, it becomes έπρεπε (also invariable for person):

Έπρεπε να διαβάσω χτες. – I had to study yesterday.

So you don’t say πρέπω, πρέπεις, etc., in modern Greek. It’s just πρέπει (present) and έπρεπε (past).