Learn Hardcore Greek: Επιπλέον χρόνος για εξάσκηση θα ήταν τέλειος, αλλά σήμερα δεν προλαβαίνω. - Additional time for practice would be perfect, but today I don’t have time.

In Greek you often drop the article when you talk about something in a general, non‑specific way, especially with abstract or “amount” ideas like χρόνος (time), δουλειά (work), χρήματα (money).

Επιπλέον χρόνος για εξάσκηση = extra time for practice (in general, some extra time)
Ο επιπλέον χρόνος για εξάσκηση would sound more like “the extra time for practice” (a specific, already known amount of extra time)

Here the speaker just means “some extra time for practice” in a general sense, so the article is naturally omitted.

What exactly does επιπλέον mean, and where can it go in the sentence?

Επιπλέον means “extra, additional” or “further”.

In this sentence:

επιπλέον χρόνος = extra time

It’s acting like an adjective before the noun, similar to English:

extra time → επιπλέον χρόνος
extra money → επιπλέον χρήματα

You’ll also see επιπλέον used as an adverb:

Επιπλέον, δεν έχω χρόνο. = Moreover / In addition, I don’t have time.

So:

Before a noun: επιπλέον χρόνος, επιπλέον χρήματα
At the start of a clause: Επιπλέον, ... = “besides” / “what’s more”

What is εξάσκηση exactly, and why is it για εξάσκηση?

Εξάσκηση is a noun meaning “practice” (as in training, exercising a skill).

εξάσκηση = practice (noun)
εξασκούμαι = I practice (verb, more formal / used for skills, professions, etc.)

Για εξάσκηση literally means “for practice”:

χρόνος για εξάσκηση = time for practice

Greek often uses για + noun where English might use:

“to practice” or “for practicing”

For example:

Θέλω χρόνο για ξεκούραση. = I want time to rest / for rest.
Έχω ασκήσεις για εξάσκηση. = I have exercises for practice.

Could I say για να εξασκηθώ instead of για εξάσκηση? What’s the difference?

Yes, you could say:

Επιπλέον χρόνος για να εξασκηθώ θα ήταν τέλειος...
= Extra time for me to practice would be perfect...

Difference:

για εξάσκηση → focuses on the activity in general (“for practice” as a concept)
για να εξασκηθώ → focuses on me doing the action (“so that I can practice”)

Both are natural; the original is slightly more neutral and noun‑based.

Why is it θα ήταν τέλειος and not θα είναι τέλειος?

θα είναι τέλειος = will be perfect (more neutral/real future)
θα ήταν τέλειος = would be perfect (more hypothetical/conditional)

In Greek, θα + past tense (here, the imperfect/“παρατατικός”) is commonly used to express a hypothetical or unreal situation, like English “would”:

Λίγος καφές τώρα θα ήταν τέλειος.
A bit of coffee right now would be perfect.

So θα ήταν τέλειος here means:

“would be perfect” (nice, but I know it’s not happening)

Why is τέλειος masculine? Shouldn’t adjectives have some fixed form?

Greek adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they describe.

χρόνος = time (masculine, singular, nominative)
So the adjective must be in masculine, singular, nominative: τέλειος

Other forms:

θηλυκό (feminine): τέλεια
ουδέτερο (neuter): τέλειο

Examples:

Ο χρόνος είναι τέλειος. (masc.) = The time is perfect.
Η μέθοδος είναι τέλεια. (fem.) = The method is perfect.
Το σχέδιο είναι τέλειο. (neut.) = The plan is perfect.

What does αλλά do here, and is the comma before it necessary?

Αλλά means “but” and introduces a contrast.

...θα ήταν τέλειος, αλλά σήμερα δεν προλαβαίνω.
= ...would be perfect, but today I don’t have time.

In Greek writing, a comma before αλλά is normal when it connects two clauses, just like in English:

He wanted to come, but he was busy.
Ήθελε να έρθει, αλλά ήταν απασχολημένος.

So the comma is correct and stylistically standard here.

What does δεν προλαβαίνω mean exactly? It seems hard to translate.

Προλαβαίνω is tricky because it covers several English ideas around time and being in time.

Core meanings:

to have enough time
to manage (in time)
to make it (before a deadline / before something happens)

Δεν προλαβαίνω here = “I don’t have enough time / I can’t manage (to do it today)”.

Typical uses:

Πρόλαβα το λεωφορείο. = I caught the bus (I was in time).
Δεν προλαβαίνω να έρθω. = I don’t have time to come / I can’t make it.
Σήμερα δεν προλαβαίνω. = Today I don’t have time (for that).

Why is there no direct object after δεν προλαβαίνω?

The object is understood from context. The speaker is talking about extra time for practice, so the full idea is:

σήμερα δεν προλαβαίνω (να εξασκηθώ / να κάνω εξάσκηση)
= today I don’t have time (to practice).

In conversational Greek, if it’s obvious what you’re talking about, the να‑clause (e.g. να εξασκηθώ) is often dropped:

Θα έρθεις; – Δεν προλαβαίνω.
Will you come? – I don’t have time (to come).

Why isn’t there a subject pronoun like εγώ before δεν προλαβαίνω?

Greek usually omits subject pronouns because the verb ending shows who the subject is.

προλαβαίνω (ending ‑ω) = I manage / I have time
Saying εγώ δεν προλαβαίνω is possible, but adds emphasis:
I don’t have time (as opposed to someone else).

In neutral statements, you normally just use the verb form:

Δεν προλαβαίνω. = I don’t have time.
Δεν προλαβαίνουμε. = We don’t have time.

Why is it σήμερα δεν προλαβαίνω and not δεν προλαβαίνω σήμερα?

Both orders are possible:

Σήμερα δεν προλαβαίνω.
Δεν προλαβαίνω σήμερα.

The difference is very slight:

Σήμερα δεν προλαβαίνω. → emphasizes “today” (“As for today, I don’t have time.”)
Δεν προλαβαίνω σήμερα. → slightly more emphasis on the not managing, and then specifying “today”.

Word order in Greek is flexible. Putting σήμερα first is a natural way to set the time frame: “Today, I don’t manage it.”

Could I say περισσότερος χρόνος για εξάσκηση instead of επιπλέον χρόνος για εξάσκηση?

Yes, but it’s not identical:

επιπλέον χρόνος = extra/additional time (added on top of what exists)
περισσότερος χρόνος = more time (a greater amount, compared to now)

Often they overlap and both are fine, but nuance:

If you already have some scheduled time and want “extra on top”, επιπλέον fits very well.
If you’re simply comparing quantities (“I need more time”), περισσότερος χρόνος is closer.

In most casual contexts, using one instead of the other won’t cause confusion.

Is there another way to express “time for practice” in Greek, like using the genitive?

Yes, you could also say:

Επιπλέον χρόνος εξάσκησης = extra practice time / additional time of practice

Difference:

χρόνος για εξάσκηση → literally “time for practice” (very natural, everyday)
χρόνος εξάσκησης → “time of practice” (a bit more compact, can sound slightly more formal or written)

In spoken Greek, χρόνος για εξάσκηση is very standard and clear, which is why it appears in your sentence.