Questions & Answers about Σβήνω το φως στο σαλόνι και πάω στο υπνοδωμάτιο.
In Greek, the verb ending usually shows who the subject is, so the subject pronoun is often dropped.
- Σβήνω = I turn off / I extinguish
The ending -ω tells you it’s 1st person singular (I). - πάω = I go (also 1st person singular)
You can add Εγώ (I) for emphasis:
- Εγώ σβήνω το φως στο σαλόνι και πάω στο υπνοδωμάτιο.
= I (and not someone else) turn off the light in the living room and go to the bedroom.
Normally, though, you just leave εγώ out unless you really want to stress it.
Σβήνω primarily means:
- to extinguish (a light, a fire, a cigarette)
- to erase (e.g. a written word)
- by extension, to turn off (a light, a device with a light)
Examples:
- Σβήνω το φως. – I turn off the light.
- Σβήνω τη φωτιά. – I put out the fire.
- Σβήνω τον πίνακα. – I wipe the board.
Contrast with κλείνω (“to close / shut / turn off”), which is more general:
- Κλείνω την πόρτα. – I close the door.
- Κλείνω την τηλεόραση. – I turn off the TV.
For lights, both are possible:
- Σβήνω το φως. (most natural)
- Κλείνω το φως. (also heard, but less typical in some regions)
So here σβήνω is the standard verb for “turn off (a light)”.