Learn Hardcore Greek: Μερικές φορές δεν ξέρω πώς να διαχειριστώ μια σύγκρουση με φίλους. - Sometimes I don’t know how to handle a conflict with friends.

Because «φορά» is feminine, its plural «φορές» is feminine too, so the adjective must agree in gender and number → μερικές (fem. pl.) φορές (fem. pl.).

So the plural and feminine are just normal agreement with the noun “φορά”.

Why is the negation «δεν» used here, and not «μην»?

Greek has two main negation words:

δεν – used with indicative verbs (normal statements about reality)
μη(ν) – used mainly with subjunctive, imperatives, and certain set structures

In «δεν ξέρω…»:

ξέρω (I know) is indicative → you must use δεν.

If you negate the verb in the να-clause (subjunctive), you’d use μην:

δεν ξέρω πώς να μην διαχειριστώ… = I don’t know how not to handle…

So here δεν is correct because it negates ξέρω in the indicative.

What is the role of «πώς να» in «πώς να διαχειριστώ»? Can you just say «πώς διαχειρίζομαι»?

«πώς να» introduces a subjunctive clause expressing “how to (do something)”.

πώς να διαχειριστώ ≈ “how to handle / how I should handle”

If you say «πώς διαχειρίζομαι», that is indicative and sounds like:

“how I (usually) handle…” (a description of a habit or method)

In this sentence the speaker means they don’t know what to do / how to act, so Greek prefers πώς να + subjunctive:

Δεν ξέρω πώς να διαχειριστώ… = I don’t know how to handle…

What exactly is «διαχειριστώ» grammatically?

διαχειριστώ is:

Verb: διαχειρίζομαι (to manage, handle)
Tense/aspect: aorist (perfective aspect)
Mood: subjunctive
Person/number: 1st person singular

So it is the aorist subjunctive 1st sg. form.
It appears because:

It is in a να-clause (να διαχειριστώ) → subjunctive
Greek usually prefers the aorist (perfective) when talking about a single, whole action (“handle a conflict” as one event), not an ongoing process.

Why is it «να διαχειριστώ» and not «να διαχειρίζομαι»?

Both are theoretically possible, but the meaning changes slightly:

να διαχειριστώ (aorist / perfective) → focuses on the act as a whole, one conflict event:
- I don’t know how to (go about) handling a conflict (as a single situation).
να διαχειρίζομαι (present / imperfective) → focuses on an ongoing or repeated process:
- I don’t know how to be handling / how to keep handling conflicts (in general).

In your sentence, the natural choice is the aorist: you’re thinking of dealing with each conflict as a complete event, so «να διαχειριστώ» sounds more idiomatic.

Why do we say «μια σύγκρουση» and not «τη σύγκρουση»?

Greek has definite and indefinite articles:

η / τη(ν) = the (definite)
μια = a/an (indefinite, feminine)

«μια σύγκρουση» = a conflict → a general, non-specific conflict with friends.
If you say «τη σύγκρουση», you’re pointing to a specific conflict already known in context:

τη σύγκρουση με τον Γιάννη = the conflict with John.

Here the idea is “a conflict (in general) with friends”, so «μια» is correct.

What nuance does «σύγκρουση» have compared with words like «καβγάς» or «διαφωνία»?

All three can involve people not getting along, but they differ in tone:

σύγκρουση
- Literally: collision / conflict
- More neutral–formal; often used for interpersonal, political, or ideological conflicts.
- Can be emotional, but doesn’t automatically imply shouting.
καβγάς
- Means quarrel, fight, row.
- Stronger and more colloquial; suggests raised voices or a heated argument.
διαφωνία
- Means disagreement.
- Milder; you may disagree without “fighting”.

So «μια σύγκρουση με φίλους» sounds a bit more formal/psychological, like “a conflict in a relationship”, not just “a shouting match”.

Why is there no article in «με φίλους»? Could I say «με τους φίλους μου»?

«με φίλους» literally = with friends (friends in general, not specifying which ones).
Using no article often gives a general, non-specific meaning:

με φίλους = with friends (in general)
με τους φίλους μου = with my (specific) friends

Both are grammatical, but the nuance changes:

με φίλους → talking about conflicts in friendships as a type of situation.
με τους φίλους μου → talking specifically about conflicts with my friends.

So yes, «με τους φίλους μου» is fine if you want that more personal, specific meaning.

What case is «φίλους», and why?

φίλους is:

Noun: ο φίλος (friend, masculine)
Number: plural
Case: accusative

After most prepositions in Greek (like με = with), the noun goes in the accusative case.
So:

με φίλους = with friends (accusative plural)

If you add article and possessive:

με τους φίλους μου – all in accusative plural.

Can the word order change, for example putting «μερικές φορές» later in the sentence?

Yes, Greek word order is fairly flexible. Some possible variants:

Δεν ξέρω μερικές φορές πώς να διαχειριστώ μια σύγκρουση με φίλους.
Δεν ξέρω πώς να διαχειριστώ μια σύγκρουση με φίλους μερικές φορές.

However:

The original «Μερικές φορές δεν ξέρω…» is the most natural and clear.
Moving «μερικές φορές» inside the sentence is still understandable, but can sound a bit heavier or less smooth in everyday speech.

So the given order is the preferred, idiomatic one.

Is this sentence natural in everyday speech, or does it sound formal?

The sentence is natural and correct, but it leans slightly toward a more careful / reflective style, mainly because of «σύγκρουση» and «διαχειριστώ», which sound a bit formal or “psychology-speak”.

In very casual conversation someone might also say things like:

Μερικές φορές δεν ξέρω πώς να το χειριστώ όταν τσακώνομαι με φίλους.
Μερικές φορές δεν ξέρω πώς να φερθώ όταν έχω πρόβλημα με φίλους.

Your original sentence is perfectly fine, especially in writing or more thoughtful speech.

How is the whole sentence pronounced and where does the stress fall?

Syllable breakdown with stress in capitals:

Μερικές → me-ri-KÉS
φορές → fo-RÉS
δεν → then
ξέρω → XÉ-ro
πώς → pos
να → na
διαχειριστώ → dya-chi-ri-STÓ
μια → mia (often close to “mya”)
σύγκρουση → SÝ-gkrou-si
με → me
φίλους → FÍ-lous

So in one flow:

Μερικές φορές δεν ξέρω πώς να διαχειριστώ μια σύγκρουση με φίλους.
/me-ri-KÉS fo-RÉS then XÉ-ro pos na dya-chi-ri-STÓ mia SÝ-gkrou-si me FÍ-lous/