Όταν διαλέξω ρούχα, πηγαίνω στο ταμείο όπου ο ταμίας χαμογελάει ευγενικά.

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Breakdown of Όταν διαλέξω ρούχα, πηγαίνω στο ταμείο όπου ο ταμίας χαμογελάει ευγενικά.

• όταν: when
• το ρούχο: the garment
• διαλέγω: to choose

Questions & Answers about Όταν διαλέξω ρούχα, πηγαίνω στο ταμείο όπου ο ταμίας χαμογελάει ευγενικά.

Why is διαλέξω used instead of διαλέγω?

Διαλέξω is the aorist form, while διαλέγω is the present.

• Όταν διαλέγω ρούχα… = When I choose clothes (whenever I’m shopping / habitually)…
  → Focus on a repeated / ongoing action.
• Όταν διαλέξω ρούχα… = When I (have) chosen the clothes (on that occasion)…
  → Focus on a single, complete event that finishes before the next action (“I go to the checkout”).

So διαλέξω presents the choosing as a single completed step before going to the checkout, rather than a general habit. Many speakers would also use διαλέγω here if they wanted a more clearly habitual meaning.

Is διαλέξω in the subjunctive? How can I tell?

Yes, διαλέξω here is aorist subjunctive.

You can tell because:

• It has the typical aorist stem (διαλέξ‑) plus subjunctive ending -ω (as in να διαλέξω = that I choose).
• After conjunctions like όταν (when), αν (if), πριν (before), Greek often uses the subjunctive to talk about future or uncertain events:
  
  • Όταν διαλέξω ρούχα, … = When I choose clothes (in the future / at some time), …

There is no να written here, but many conjunctions in Greek take subjunctive without needing να.

Does όταν always take the subjunctive?