Learn Hardcore Greek: Αν συνεχίσω έτσι, θα δω μεγάλη αύξηση στο επίπεδο της γλώσσας μου. - If I continue like this, I will see a big increase in the level of my language.

If (while) I am continuing like this (at that time)…
It’s less natural here, because we want a general condition, not a description of what will be happening at a specific time.

Why does the if-clause in Greek use this form (αν συνεχίσω) instead of a future tense, like English “if I will continue”?

English uses a present tense in the if-clause (if I continue), but learners sometimes think of it as future.

Greek pattern:

αν
- subjunctive (here: συνεχίσω) for the if/when part.
θα
- verb for the result.

So we get:

Αν συνεχίσω έτσι, θα δω…
= If I continue like this, I’ll see…

Using a future in the if-clause, like αν θα συνεχίσω, is wrong in Standard Modern Greek. The future marker θα belongs in the result clause, not in the αν-clause.

What exactly does έτσι mean here? Is it “so”, “like this”, or something else?

έτσι literally means like this / in this way / so.

In this sentence, it refers to the way you’re currently studying or behaving. So:

Αν συνεχίσω έτσι… = If I keep going like this / If I continue in this way…

It’s a very common, flexible word:

Μην το κάνεις έτσι. = Don’t do it like that.
Έτσι μπράβο! = That’s it! / Well done, like that!

Why is it θα δω and not θα βλέπω?

Both come from the verb βλέπω (to see), but:

θα δω: aorist future — I will see (once, as a result).
θα βλέπω: continuous future — I will be seeing / I will keep seeing.

Here, you’re talking about a result you will notice at some point (a noticeable increase), not a continuous act of seeing:

θα δω μεγάλη αύξηση = I will see/notice a big increase (as a clear outcome).

If you said:

θα βλέπω μεγάλη αύξηση,
it would sound more like I will be constantly seeing a big increase, which is less natural in this context.

What is the difference between θα δω and θα δω with να, like θα δω να…? Why is there no να here?

In this sentence, θα δω is a simple future verb + object:

θα δω μεγάλη αύξηση = I will see a big increase.

You add να only when a subordinate clause follows, often meaning see that / see someone doing something:

Θα δω να ανεβαίνει το επίπεδό μου.
= I’ll see my level rising.

Here, there is no subordinate clause; μεγάλη αύξηση is just a noun phrase. So να is not needed and would be wrong.

Why is it μεγάλη αύξηση and not μεγάλο αύξηση?

Because adjectives must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

αύξηση is feminine, singular, nominative/accusative.
The adjective μεγάλος (big) in feminine singular accusative is μεγάλη.

So:

μεγάλη αύξηση = big increase (correct)
μεγάλο αύξηση (neuter adjective + feminine noun) is wrong.

Other examples:

μικρή αύξηση = small increase (feminine)
εντυπωσιακή αύξηση = impressive increase (feminine)

What does στο mean, and why is it used before επίπεδο?

στο is a contraction of σε + το:

σε = in, at, to, on (general preposition)
το = the (neuter singular article)

So:

στο επίπεδο = in the level / at the level.

We use σε with abstract nouns too, not just places, so:

αύξηση στο επίπεδο = increase in the level.

This is very common:

αλλαγές στο πρόγραμμα = changes in the schedule
βελτίωση στην προφορά μου = improvement in my pronunciation

Why is επίπεδο neuter? Would it ever change form like feminine or masculine?

επίπεδο is a noun that belongs to a neuter declension pattern and is always grammatically neuter:

το επίπεδο (nom./acc. sing.) = the level
του επιπέδου (gen. sing.) = of the level
τα επίπεδα (nom./acc. pl.) = the levels
των επιπέδων (gen. pl.) = of the levels

Its grammatical gender doesn’t change depending on meaning; it is always neuter.
What does change is the article and any adjectives around it, which must also be neuter to agree:

το υψηλό επίπεδο = the high level
στο προηγμένο επίπεδο = at the advanced level

Why is it της γλώσσας μου and not η γλώσσα μου or μου γλώσσα?

Here, της γλώσσας μου is in the genitive case, expressing possession:

το επίπεδο της γλώσσας μου = the level of my language.

Patterns:

η γλώσσα μου = my language (nominative; subject or simple phrase)
της γλώσσας μου = of my language (genitive; showing possession)

You can’t say το επίπεδο η γλώσσα μου; the relationship “of my language” must be in the genitive: της γλώσσας μου.

Word order:

Pronoun after the noun: της γλώσσας μου is the normal pattern.
μου γλώσσα by itself is non-standard; you’d say η γλώσσα μου.

Could I say something like στο επίπεδο μου στη γλώσσα instead of στο επίπεδο της γλώσσας μου?

You could say:

στο επίπεδό μου στη γλώσσα
(= in my level in the language)

This is understandable and not wrong, but it sounds a bit heavier and less natural than:

στο επίπεδο της γλώσσας μου

Differences:

στο επίπεδο της γλώσσας μου puts “language” as the main noun being specified (the level of my language).
στο επίπεδό μου στη γλώσσα focuses on “my level” as a separate thing that is in the language.

In everyday speech, both can be used, but the original is slightly smoother.

Why is there no subject pronoun εγώ? How do we know it means “I”?

Greek verbs are conjugated and show the subject in their endings:

συνεχίσω = I continue (subjunctive)
θα δω = I will see

Because the 1st person singular is clear from the verb form, the subject pronoun εγώ is usually omitted unless you want to emphasize it:

Αν συνεχίσω έτσι, θα δω… (normal)
Αν εγώ συνεχίσω έτσι, θα δω… (emphasizes I, as opposed to someone else)

This is typical of Greek (and many other languages), unlike English, which needs I for grammatical completeness.

Can I leave out της γλώσσας μου and just say Θα δω μεγάλη αύξηση στο επίπεδο?

You can say:

Αν συνεχίσω έτσι, θα δω μεγάλη αύξηση στο επίπεδο.

Grammatically it’s fine, but στο επίπεδο by itself is vague: the level of what? Context might make it clear (e.g. level in Greek, level in a game, etc.).

Adding της γλώσσας μου:

στο επίπεδο της γλώσσας μου

makes it explicit that it’s your language level you’re talking about, which is usually what you want in this context.

Are there more natural or alternative ways for a Greek speaker to say this same idea?

Yes, a few very natural alternatives:

Using πρόοδος (progress), which is very idiomatic:
- Αν συνεχίσω έτσι, θα δω μεγάλη πρόοδο στη γλώσσα μου.
Slightly more casual:
- Αν συνεχίσω έτσι, θα κάνω μεγάλη πρόοδο στα ελληνικά.
Using βελτίωση (improvement):
- Αν συνεχίσω έτσι, θα δω μεγάλη βελτίωση στο επίπεδο των ελληνικών μου.

All of these sound very natural; the original with μεγάλη αύξηση στο επίπεδο της γλώσσας μου is correct and clear, just a bit more formal/abstract.