Δεν θέλω να κρατάω θυμό μετά τον καβγά.

to want

Breakdown of Δεν θέλω να κρατάω θυμό μετά τον καβγά.

• δεν: not
• να: to
• μετά: after

Questions & Answers about Δεν θέλω να κρατάω θυμό μετά τον καβγά.

Why do we say «Δεν θέλω να κρατάω…» and not just something like «Δεν θέλω κρατάω…» without να?

In Modern Greek, verbs like θέλω (I want) are normally followed by να plus another verb in the subjunctive, not by an infinitive (because Greek no longer has a true infinitive form).

So you get:

• Θέλω να φάω. – I want to eat.
• Δεν θέλω να μιλήσω. – I don’t want to talk.
• Δεν θέλω να κρατάω θυμό. – I don’t want to hold on to anger.

Leaving out να (Δεν θέλω κρατάω…) is ungrammatical in standard Modern Greek.

What’s the difference between «να κρατάω θυμό» and using a different verb form like «να κρατήσω θυμό»?

The choice here is about aspect (imperfective vs aorist), not tense in the English sense.

• να κρατάω θυμό (imperfective aspect) focuses on the ongoing or repeated action:
  “to keep holding / to be holding anger (over time).”
  That’s exactly what “hold a grudge” implies.

• να κρατήσω θυμό (aorist aspect) would sound like a single, bounded action:
  “to (once) hold anger” – which is odd in this context, because grudges are by nature about continuing to feel anger.

So in your sentence, να κρατάω is natural because you’re talking about not continuing to feel anger after the argument.

What does the expression «κρατάω θυμό» literally mean, and is it the usual way to say “hold a grudge”?