Breakdown of Προτιμώ να διαβάζω ελληνικά παρά να βλέπω τηλεόραση.
ελληνικά
in Greek
να
to
βλέπω
to see
διαβάζω
to read
Questions & Answers about Προτιμώ να διαβάζω ελληνικά παρά να βλέπω τηλεόραση.
Why is να used before διαβάζω and βλέπω?
Modern Greek does not have an infinitive like English to read, to watch.
Instead, it uses να + verb to form something similar to an English “to …” or “that I …” clause.
So:
- να διαβάζω ≈ “(to) read / (that I) read”
- να βλέπω ≈ “(to) watch / (that I) watch”
With verbs of preference, wishing, wanting, etc. (like προτιμώ, θέλω, μπορώ), Greek almost always uses να + verb:
- Προτιμώ να διαβάζω… = “I prefer to read…”
- Θέλω να διαβάζω… = “I want to read…”
Are διαβάζω and βλέπω in the subjunctive here?
Functionally, yes: να + verb is usually called the subjunctive in Modern Greek.
However, unlike some languages, Greek does not have a separate set of subjunctive endings in the present tense.
So the form of διαβάζω and βλέπω is the same as in the present indicative:
- (εγώ) διαβάζω = “I read / I am reading”
- (εγώ) βλέπω = “I see / I am watching”
What makes them subjunctive here is the να and the fact that they depend on προτιμώ (a verb of preference).
Why is it να διαβάζω and not να διαβάσω?