Σήμερα είμαι κουρασμένος, παρόλα αυτά θα κάνω λίγη εξάσκηση.

Today I am tired, nevertheless I will do a bit of practice.

Breakdown of Σήμερα είμαι κουρασμένος, παρόλα αυτά θα κάνω λίγη εξάσκηση.

• είμαι: to be
• λίγος: little
• σήμερα: today
• θα: will
• κουρασμένος: tired
• κάνω: to do
• η εξάσκηση: the practice
• παρόλα αυτά: nevertheless

Questions & Answers about Σήμερα είμαι κουρασμένος, παρόλα αυτά θα κάνω λίγη εξάσκηση.

In είμαι κουρασμένος, does κουρασμένος change if the speaker is female?

Yes. Κουρασμένος is an adjective and agrees in gender with the subject.

• Male speaker: είμαι κουρασμένος
• Female speaker: είμαι κουρασμένη
• Neuter (for a thing or baby etc.): είναι κουρασμένο

So the sentence for a woman would be:

• Σήμερα είμαι κουρασμένη, παρόλα αυτά θα κάνω λίγη εξάσκηση.

What exactly is κουρασμένος grammatically? Is it just an adjective meaning “tired”?

Κουρασμένος comes from the verb κουράζω / κουράζομαι (“to tire / to get tired”).

Grammatically, it’s the masculine singular passive participle used as an adjective, so literally “tired (out)”.

You can treat it as a normal adjective in everyday use:

• masculine: κουρασμένος
• feminine: κουρασμένη
• neuter: κουρασμένο
• plural masc.: κουρασμένοι
• plural fem.: κουρασμένες
• plural neut.: κουρασμένα

Why is there a comma before παρόλα αυτά?

Παρόλα αυτά is functioning like a sentence connector, similar to “however” or “nevertheless” in English.

The comma separates two clauses:

• Σήμερα είμαι κουρασμένος,
• παρόλα αυτά θα κάνω λίγη εξάσκηση.

Just as in English you’d usually write:
“Today I am tired, however I will do a bit of practice.”

So the comma is natural and standard here.

Is παρόλα αυτά the same as αλλά or όμως? When should I use each?

All three introduce contrast, but they’re not identical:

• αλλά = but

  • Very common, joins two contrasting statements.
  • Example: Είμαι κουρασμένος, αλλά θα κάνω εξάσκηση.

• όμως = but / however

  • More flexible in position (can come after the verb etc.).
  • Example: Είμαι κουρασμένος, όμως θα κάνω εξάσκηση.

• παρόλα αυτά = nevertheless / even so / despite that

  • Slightly stronger sense of “in spite of what was just said.”
  • Feels a bit more emphatic than simple αλλά.

In most everyday contexts they can all be used, but:

• αλλά is the safest general “but.”
• παρόλα αυτά emphasizes that you’re doing something despite the previous statement.

I’ve seen παρ’ όλα αυτά instead of παρόλα αυτά. Which is correct?

The more traditional/“correct” spelling is:

• παρ’ όλα αυτά

This comes from: παρά (preposition) + όλα (all) + αυτά (these)
with the vowel α of παρά dropping before όλα, leaving παρ’ (with an apostrophe).

In modern informal writing, people very often write it as one word:

• παρόλα αυτά

Both forms are widely understood. In careful or formal writing, prefer:

• παρ’ όλα αυτά

What does θα do in θα κάνω? Is that the future tense?

Yes. Modern Greek forms the future with the particle θα + a verb form.

• θα κάνω ≈ “I will do / I’m going to do”

So in the sentence:

• … θα κάνω λίγη εξάσκηση = “I will do a bit of practice.”

Some details:

• κάνω is the 1st person singular of κάνω (“to do, to make”).
• θα + κάνω is usually called the simple future or just future.

You don’t change θα itself; you change the verb:

• θα κάνεις – you will do
• θα κάνει – he/she/it will do
• θα κάνουμε – we will do
• θα κάνετε – you (pl.) will do
• θα κάνουν(ε) – they will do

Why is it λίγη εξάσκηση and not λίγο εξάσκηση?

Because λίγη is agreeing in gender, number, and case with εξάσκηση.

• εξάσκηση is a feminine noun.
• The form of “a little / some” for feminine singular accusative is λίγη.

Forms of λίγος (little / few):

• masculine: λίγος (nom.), λίγο (acc.)
• feminine: λίγη
• neuter: λίγο

Examples:

• λίγο νερό – a little water (neuter)
• λίγη υπομονή – a little patience (feminine)
• λίγα χρήματα – a little money / few funds (neuter plural)

So with εξάσκηση (fem.), λίγη εξάσκηση is the correct combination.

What is εξάσκηση exactly, and why do we use κάνω with it?

Εξάσκηση is a feminine noun meaning “practice, training, exercise” in the sense of practising a skill.

In Greek, it’s very common to use κάνω (“do”) with abstract nouns to express activities:

• κάνω εξάσκηση – I do practice / I practise
• κάνω γυμναστική – I do exercise / I work out
• κάνω μελέτη – I do (some) studying

So the phrase κάνω εξάσκηση is a fixed, natural collocation meaning “to practise”.

You can also see the reflexive verb εξασκούμαι (“I practise”), e.g.:

• Σήμερα είμαι κουρασμένος, παρ’ όλα αυτά θα εξασκηθώ.

Both are correct; κάνω εξάσκηση is very common and slightly simpler for learners.

What’s the difference between εξάσκηση and άσκηση?

They’re related but not identical.

• εξάσκηση

  • “Practice” of a skill over time.
  • Often more general and uncountable.
  • κάνω εξάσκηση στα ελληνικά – I practise Greek.

• άσκηση

  • “Exercise” as a single task or exercise item, or physical exercise.
  • οι ασκήσεις του βιβλίου – the exercises of the book.
  • κάνω ασκήσεις γυμναστικής – I do workout exercises.

In your sentence, you mean doing some general practice (probably language or some skill), so εξάσκηση is the natural choice.

Could I change the word order to Είμαι κουρασμένος σήμερα? Does it sound different?

Yes, you can say:

• Είμαι κουρασμένος σήμερα, παρόλα αυτά θα κάνω λίγη εξάσκηση.

Both word orders are correct:

1. Σήμερα είμαι κουρασμένος…
   
   • Slight emphasis on “today” as the time frame.
2. Είμαι κουρασμένος σήμερα…
   
   • Slightly more neutral; often just how people naturally speak.

In everyday conversation, both sound perfectly normal. The difference in emphasis is subtle.

In English we say “I’m tired,” but we can also say “I feel tired.” Does Greek only use είμαι κουρασμένος or are there other options?

Greek has several natural options:

• Είμαι κουρασμένος. – I am tired. (most common and neutral)
• Νιώθω κουρασμένος. – I feel tired.
• Έχω κουραστεί. – I’ve gotten tired / I’ve grown tired (focuses on the result of effort).
• Είμαι πολύ κουρασμένος. – I am very tired.

In your sentence, είμαι κουρασμένος is the most straightforward and idiomatic choice.