Η μαμά μου λέει να παίρνω μπουφάν και καπέλο όταν φυσάει.

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Breakdown of Η μαμά μου λέει να παίρνω μπουφάν και καπέλο όταν φυσάει.

• να: to
• μου: my
• η μαμά: the mom

Questions & Answers about Η μαμά μου λέει να παίρνω μπουφάν και καπέλο όταν φυσάει.

Why is it λέει να παίρνω and not λέει να πάρω?

Both are possible, but they mean slightly different things:

• λέει να παίρνω (present subjunctive) = she tells me to take (a jacket and hat) as a general habit, regularly.

  • This fits a rule your mom repeats: “whenever it’s windy, you should be taking a jacket and hat.”

• λέει να πάρω (aorist subjunctive) = she tells me to take (them) on one specific occasion.

  • Example: Right now it’s windy and you’re going out: Η μαμά μου λέει να πάρω μπουφάν και καπέλο. = My mom is telling me (now) to take a jacket and hat.

So να παίρνω emphasizes a repeated / habitual action, while να πάρω emphasizes a single, whole action. In this sentence, να παίρνω matches the idea “whenever it’s windy, as a rule.”

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Why do we use παίρνω (“take”) and not φοράω (“wear”)?