Έχω λίγους φίλους στην πόλη αυτή.

this

Breakdown of Έχω λίγους φίλους στην πόλη αυτή.

• έχω: to have
• ο φίλος: the male friend
• σε: in

Questions & Answers about Έχω λίγους φίλους στην πόλη αυτή.

What does λίγους mean here? Is it “a few” (neutral/positive) or “few” (almost none, negative)?

In Έχω λίγους φίλους στην πόλη αυτή, λίγους most naturally means “a few / some friends” – a small number, but not necessarily with a negative feeling.

In Greek:

• λίγους φίλους = a small number of friends (neutral; can be slightly negative depending on tone)
• Context decides if it feels:
  • neutral: “I just happen to have a few friends here.”
  • or mildly negative: “I don’t have many friends here.”

If you wanted to strongly emphasize “almost none” in Greek, you’d more clearly show it with context or adverbs (e.g. πολύ λίγους φίλους = very few friends).

Why is it λίγους φίλους and not λίγοι φίλοι?

Because after έχω (“I have”), the noun is a direct object, so it must be in the accusative case, not the nominative.

• ο φίλος (nom. sg.) – subject form
• οι φίλοι (nom. pl.) – subject form
• τον φίλο (acc. sg.) – object form
• τους φίλους (acc. pl.) – object form

In the sentence:

• έχω = I have
• (έχω) λίγους φίλους = I have whom/what? → friends → direct object → accusative plural

So:

• λίγοι φίλοι (nom. pl.) would be used as a subject:
  • Λίγοι φίλοι μένουν εδώ. = A few friends live here.
• λίγους φίλους (acc. pl.) is correct as the object of έχω:
  • Έχω λίγους φίλους. = I have a few friends.