Προσπαθώ να μην ζηλεύω τους φίλους μου.

I try not to be jealous of my friends.

Breakdown of Προσπαθώ να μην ζηλεύω τους φίλους μου.

• να: to
• μου: my
• ο φίλος: the male friend
• μην: not

Questions & Answers about Προσπαθώ να μην ζηλεύω τους φίλους μου.

Where is the word I in the Greek sentence? I don’t see εγώ.

In Greek, the subject pronoun is often dropped because it is built into the verb ending.

• Προσπαθώ = I try / I am trying

  • stem: προσπαθ-
  • ending: -ώ → 1st person singular (I)

• ζηλεύω can also mean I am jealous / I envy, but here it’s in a subordinate clause.

So εγώ (I) is understood from the verb form προσπαθώ, and you don’t need to say it explicitly:

• (Εγώ) προσπαθώ να μην ζηλεύω τους φίλους μου.

What does να do in προσπαθώ να μην ζηλεύω? Why do we need it?

Να is a particle that introduces a subordinate clause in the subjunctive mood.

After many verbs that express:

• effort (προσπαθώ – I try),
• desire (θέλω – I want),
• intention (σκοπεύω – I intend),

Greek normally uses να + verb instead of an infinitive.

So:

• Προσπαθώ να μην ζηλεύω...
  literally: I try that I-not be-jealous...
  functionally: I try not to be jealous...

You cannot say ✗ προσπαθώ ζηλεύω here; you need να:

• προσπαθώ να ζηλεύω / να μην ζηλεύω

Where is the to in to be jealous? Doesn’t Greek have an infinitive?