Questions & Answers about Δεν θέλω να κάνω τίποτα άλλο σήμερα.
What does each word in Δεν θέλω να κάνω τίποτα άλλο σήμερα literally mean?
Word by word:
- Δεν = not (negative particle used with verbs)
- θέλω = I want
- να = particle that introduces another verb (often corresponds to English to
- verb)
- κάνω = I do / I make (here: to do)
- τίποτα = nothing / anything (depends on context; with δεν it means nothing / anything in a negative sense)
- άλλο = other / else
- σήμερα = today
Put together: Δεν θέλω να κάνω τίποτα άλλο σήμερα → I don't want to do anything else today.
Why do we need δεν and τίποτα together? Isn’t that a “double negative”?
In Greek this is normal and correct. Greek uses negative concord:
- δεν (or δε) is the standard verbal negation.
- τίποτα, κανένας, ποτέ etc. are negative pronouns/adverbs when used with δεν.
So:
- Δεν θέλω τίποτα. = I don’t want anything / I want nothing.
- Δεν βλέπω κανέναν. = I don’t see anybody.
Unlike in standard English, this “double negative” does not cancel out. You must use both parts in negative sentences. Saying Θέλω τίποτα without δεν is either wrong or has a very different, colloquial feel.
What is the role of να in να κάνω here? Is it like English to?