Questions & Answers about Δεν θέλω να λέω ψέματα στη μαμά μου.
What does «Δεν» mean, and why does it come before «θέλω»?
«Δεν» is the standard Greek word for “not” used with verbs in the indicative mood.
- Δεν θέλω = I do not want / I don’t want.
- The negative «δεν» almost always goes right before the conjugated verb:
- Δεν θέλω…
- Δεν έχω… (I don’t have…)
- Δεν ξέρω… (I don’t know…)
In this sentence, «δεν» negates the wanting itself (I don’t want), not the action of telling. So we get:
Δεν θέλω να λέω ψέματα… = I don’t want to tell lies…
What is the function of «να» here? Is it like English “to”?
«Να» is a particle that introduces a subordinate verb clause, often called the subjunctive in Greek.
After verbs like:
- θέλω (I want),
- μπορώ (I can),
- πρέπει (I must),
you very often get «να» + verb:
- Θέλω να φάω. – I want to eat.
- Μπορώ να πάω. – I can go.
So here «να λέω» corresponds quite closely to English “to tell”:
- Δεν θέλω να λέω ψέματα…
= I don’t want to tell lies…
But grammatically, «να» is not a verb like English “to”; it’s a particle that marks this special verb form (the subjunctive).
What form is «λέω» after «να», and what’s the difference between «να λέω» and ?