Από τότε που γεννήθηκα, η μαμά μου κρατάει ημερολόγιο με μικρές ιστορίες για εμένα.

Since I was born, my mom has been keeping a diary with little stories about me.

Breakdown of Από τότε που γεννήθηκα, η μαμά μου κρατάει ημερολόγιο με μικρές ιστορίες για εμένα.

• μου: my
• με: with
• η μαμά: the mom
• για: about

Questions & Answers about Από τότε που γεννήθηκα, η μαμά μου κρατάει ημερολόγιο με μικρές ιστορίες για εμένα.

What does «Από τότε που» literally mean, and is it used like English “since”?

«Από τότε που» literally means “from the time when”.

• Από = from / since
• τότε = then / that time
• που = that / when (introduces a clause)

In English we’d usually translate the whole phrase as “since” in this context:

• Από τότε που γεννήθηκα → Since I was born

It always needs a clause after it, just like “since the time when…”:

• Από τότε που σε γνώρισα… = Since (the time when) I met you…

What tense and voice is «γεννήθηκα», and why isn’t it just a simple active form?

«γεννήθηκα» is:

• 1st person singular
• aorist
• passive (mediopassive)
• of the verb γεννιέμαι (to be born).

So γεννήθηκα literally means “I was born”, not “I borned”.

Greek normally uses a mediopassive verb for “to be born”:

• Present: γεννιέμαι = I am being born / I am born
• Aorist: γεννήθηκα = I was born (a completed event in the past)

There is no natural active form like “I born myself”; you always say γεννήθηκα to mean “I was born.”

Why is «γεννήθηκα» (a past tense) combined with «κρατάει» (a present tense) in the same sentence?