Learn Hardcore Greek: Στην πραγματικότητα κανείς δεν είναι πολύ καλός σε όλα, αλλά προσπαθώ να είμαι όσο πιο ειλικρινής γίνεται. - In reality nobody is very good at everything, but I try to be as honest as possible.

In practice, «στην πραγματικότητα» is used much like English “in reality”, “actually”, “really”, “in fact” to contrast appearances with the truth:

Στην πραγματικότητα, δεν είναι τόσο δύσκολο.
In reality, it’s not that difficult.

It usually comes at the beginning of the sentence, but it can be moved:

Δεν είναι στην πραγματικότητα τόσο δύσκολο.
(Still understandable, but less typical than putting it at the start.)

Why do we have both «κανείς» and «δεν»? Isn’t that a double negative?

In Greek, what looks like a “double negative” is normal and required in many cases.

κανείς (in negative sentences) = nobody / no one
δεν = not (before a verb)

So:

Κανείς δεν είναι πολύ καλός…
literally: “No one is not very good…” if you translate word-for-word,
but idiomatically: “No one is very good…”

In Greek grammar, negative words like «κανείς, τίποτα, ποτέ» normally appear together with «δεν»:

Κανείς δεν ξέρει. – Nobody knows.
Δεν βλέπω τίποτα. – I don’t see anything.
Δεν πάω ποτέ εκεί. – I never go there.

So this is not considered incorrect or “double negative” in Greek; it’s just how negation with words like “no one” / “nothing” works.

What is the difference between «κανείς» and «κανένας»?

Both relate to “nobody / no one / anybody / anyone”, but the usage and tone differ a bit.

Κανείς
- Slightly more neutral / standard in writing.
- Common in set phrases: Κανείς δεν… (No one …)
Κανένας
- Very common in spoken language.
- Often slightly more emphatic or colloquial.
- In questions or conditionals, it can mean “anyone”:
  - Υπάρχει κανένας εδώ; – Is there anyone here?
  - Αν έρθει κανένας, πες μου. – If anyone comes, tell me.

In your sentence, «Κανείς δεν είναι πολύ καλός…» could also appear as:

Κανένας δεν είναι πολύ καλός σε όλα…

Both are correct; «κανείς» just sounds a bit more neutral/formal.

Why is it «πολύ καλός» and not something like «πολύ καλά»?

In Greek:

Adjectives agree with the noun or pronoun (gender, number, case).
Adverbs don’t change form and usually modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Here, «καλός» is an adjective describing the subject (nobody / he / she / they):

(Κανείς) δεν είναι πολύ καλός.
No one is very good.

So we need the adjective καλός (masculine singular) because we’re describing the person, not how something is done.

«πολύ» here is an adverb modifying the adjective:

πολύ καλός = very good

«πολύ καλά» would be “very well” (well = adverb), as in:

Παίζει πολύ καλά. – He/She plays very well.
Μιλάς πολύ καλά ελληνικά. – You speak Greek very well.

So:

πολύ καλός → very good (adjective, describing a person/thing)
πολύ καλά → very well (adverb, describing how an action is done)

What does «σε όλα» mean, and why do we use σε here?

«σε όλα» literally = “in/at/on/with everything”, but idiomatically:

«σε όλα» = “at everything / in everything / in all things”

Breakdown:

σε = a very flexible preposition: in, at, on, to, with, etc.
όλα = everything / all things (neuter plural)

In this sentence:

πολύ καλός σε όλα ≈ very good at everything

Greek often uses σε + noun/pronoun after adjectives or verbs to express the “field” or domain of ability, habit, etc.:

Είμαι καλός σε μαθηματικά. – I’m good at math.
Είναι καλή σε γλώσσες. – She’s good at languages.
Είναι άσχημος σε όλα. – He’s bad at everything.

Is the word order «Κανείς δεν είναι πολύ καλός» fixed? Could you say «Δεν είναι κανείς πολύ καλός»?

Both orders are grammatically correct, but they differ in emphasis.

Κανείς δεν είναι πολύ καλός σε όλα…
- Neutral, common order.
- Roughly: “No one is very good at everything…”
- Emphasis falls naturally on the idea: “No one”.
Δεν είναι κανείς πολύ καλός σε όλα…
- Also correct.
- Feels a bit more like: “It’s not that anyone is very good at everything…”
- Slightly more nuanced/contrasty: you’re negating the existence of anyone who is very good at everything.

In everyday speech, «Κανείς δεν είναι…» is the most typical, straightforward version.

Why is there no word for “I” before «προσπαθώ»?

Greek usually drops subject pronouns (I, you, he, she, etc.) because the verb ending already shows the subject.

προσπαθώ = I try / I am trying
(first person singular present)

So:

[Εγώ] προσπαθώ να είμαι…
→ The «Εγώ» (I) is understood from the ending -ώ.

You can say «Εγώ προσπαθώ…» if you want to emphasize I in contrast to others:

Εγώ προσπαθώ να είμαι ειλικρινής, οι άλλοι όχι.
I try to be honest, others don’t.

But in neutral speech, omitting «εγώ» is completely natural.

Why is it «προσπαθώ να είμαι» and not something like an infinitive “to be”?

Modern Greek does not use an infinitive the way English does. Instead, it uses να + verb constructions, which function where English often uses “to + verb” or “that …”.

Here:

προσπαθώ να είμαι
literally: “I-try that I am”, but functionally: “I try to be”

Pattern:

προσπαθώ να + [subjunctive verb] = I try to …

Examples:

Προσπαθώ να μάθω ελληνικά. – I’m trying to learn Greek.
Προσπαθώ να βοηθήσω. – I’m trying to help.
Προσπαθεί να κοιμηθεί. – He/She is trying to sleep.

So «να είμαι» is the way Greek expresses “to be” in this kind of structure.

What does the structure «όσο πιο ειλικρινής γίνεται» mean exactly?

«όσο πιο ειλικρινής γίνεται» is an idiomatic structure meaning “as honest as possible”.

Breakdown:

όσο = as (in comparisons)
πιο = more
ειλικρινής = honest, sincere
γίνεται = (it) becomes / (it) can get

Literally:
“as more honest as it becomes / as it can get”,
but idiomatically: “as honest as possible”.

This is a very common pattern:

όσο πιο + adjective + γίνεται = as [adjective] as possible

Examples:

Θέλω να είμαι όσο πιο σαφής γίνεται. – I want to be as clear as possible.
Μίλα όσο πιο αργά γίνεται. – Speak as slowly as possible.
Γράψε το όσο πιο απλά γίνεται. – Write it as simply as possible.

Why is «ειλικρινής» in that form? Does it agree with something?

Yes. «ειλικρινής» is an adjective, meaning “honest / sincere”, and it must agree with the subject in gender and number.

The understood subject here is “I” (first person singular), and by default we treat it as masculine singular if the speaker is male, or feminine singular if the speaker is female. For this adjective:

Masculine / Feminine singular: ειλικρινής
Neuter singular: ειλικρινές
Plural (masc/fem): ειλικρινείς

So:

Είμαι ειλικρινής. – I am honest. (speaker = man or woman)
Το παιδί είναι ειλικρινές. – The child is honest. (neuter)
Είμαστε ειλικρινείς. – We are honest.

In «όσο πιο ειλικρινής γίνεται», the adjective stands in the form that matches the (understood) subject “I”.

What is the role of «γίνεται» at the end? Who or what “becomes”?

In this expression «όσο πιο ειλικρινής γίνεται», «γίνεται» is used in a kind of impersonal / generic way, not with a clear, concrete subject.

Literally, you could imagine:

όσο πιο ειλικρινής γίνεται [να είμαι]
→ “as honest as it becomes / is possible [for me to be]”

But in actual usage, Greek speakers don’t think about a specific subject there; they just understand the whole phrase as:

“as honest as (it) can get” → as honest as possible

This use of «γίνεται» appears in similar expressions:

όσο πιο γρήγορα γίνεται – as fast as possible
όσο πιο απλά γίνεται – as simply as possible
όσο πιο καθαρά γίνεται – as clearly as possible

So «γίνεται» here effectively contributes the “possible” meaning.

Is the comma before «αλλά» necessary, and is «αλλά» like English “but”?

Yes, «αλλά» is the standard word for “but” in Greek, introducing a contrast:

Θέλω να φύγω, αλλά δεν μπορώ. – I want to leave, but I can’t.

Regarding the comma:

In most modern Greek writing, a comma before «αλλά» is normal when it connects two full clauses, just like in English:
- …, αλλά προσπαθώ να είμαι…

You might sometimes see it without a comma in very informal text, but standard punctuation keeps the comma there, exactly as in your sentence.