Ο σύμβουλος σπουδών μας στηρίζει όταν δεν είμαστε σίγουροι για τις επιλογές μας.

Our study advisor supports us when we are not sure about our choices.

Breakdown of Ο σύμβουλος σπουδών μας στηρίζει όταν δεν είμαστε σίγουροι για τις επιλογές μας.

• είμαι: to be
• δεν: not
• όταν: when
• σίγουρος: sure
• για: about
• μας: our
• η επιλογή: the choice
• οι σπουδές: the studies
• ο σύμβουλος: the advisor
• στηρίζω: to support

Questions & Answers about Ο σύμβουλος σπουδών μας στηρίζει όταν δεν είμαστε σίγουροι για τις επιλογές μας.

What exactly does ο σύμβουλος σπουδών mean? Why is σπουδών in that form?

Ο σύμβουλος σπουδών is a fixed phrase meaning academic advisor or study counselor.

• σύμβουλος = advisor, consultant.
• σπουδή / σπουδές = study / studies.
• σπουδών is the genitive plural of σπουδές (studies).

Literally, σύμβουλος σπουδών is advisor of studies. In Greek, this [noun] + [genitive noun] pattern is very common to show what kind of advisor it is, similar to English a teacher of English, a professor of physics.

So:

• σύμβουλος σπουδών (genitive) = advisor of studies → academic advisor.

Why is it Ο σύμβουλος and not Η σύμβουλος? Is σύμβουλος masculine?

σύμβουλος is grammatically a masculine noun in Greek, so it normally takes the masculine article ο:

• ο σύμβουλος (the advisor – grammatically masculine)
• plural: οι σύμβουλοι

In everyday speech:

• If the person is a man, people naturally say ο σύμβουλος.
• If the person is a woman, some speakers still use η σύμβουλος (feminine article + masculine form), and some even say η συμβουλίνα in very informal or regional speech, but the standard job title is ο/η σύμβουλος with the -ος ending unchanged.

In your sentence, Ο σύμβουλος σπουδών is grammatically masculine; it doesn’t necessarily mean the advisor is a man, just that the noun class is masculine.

The word μας appears twice. Do both mean the same thing? What is the difference between them?

Yes, both μας mean us / our, but they play different roles:

1. Ο σύμβουλος σπουδών μας

   • Here μας is a possessive pronoun: our academic advisor.
   • It belongs to the noun phrase: ο σύμβουλος σπουδών μας = our advisor.

2. μας στηρίζει

   • Here μας is a direct object pronoun: supports us.
   • It belongs to the verb: μας στηρίζει = he/she supports us.

So:

• first μας = our (possessive)
• second μας = us (object of the verb)

Greek just happens to use the same form μας for both functions.

Why is the object μας placed before στηρίζει instead of after it?

In standard modern Greek, unstressed object pronouns like με, σε, τον, την, το, μας, σας, τους usually go before the verb in simple main clauses:

• Μας στηρίζει. = He/she supports us.
• Τον βλέπω. = I see him.
• Σας βοηθάω. = I help you.

Placing it after the verb (στηρίζει μας) is either:

• wrong in normal standard Greek, or
• used only in some dialects / poetic or highly marked language.

So μας στηρίζει is the natural, grammatically correct order.

What tense is στηρίζει and what nuance does it have here?

στηρίζει is the present tense, active voice of the verb στηρίζω (to support).

• μας στηρίζει = he/she supports us or he/she is supporting us.

In Greek, the present tense often covers both:

• a general/habitual meaning (He supports us whenever we need), and
• a current meaning (He is supporting us now/in this period).

In this sentence, with όταν δεν είμαστε σίγουροι, it has a habitual/generic sense:

• Our academic advisor supports us when(ever) we’re not sure about our choices.

Could we use βοηθά or υποστηρίζει instead of στηρίζει? What’s the difference?

All three are related but not identical:

• βοηθά(ει) = helps

  • More general, practical help or assistance.
  • Ο σύμβουλος σπουδών μας βοηθά = Our academic advisor helps us.

• στηρίζει = supports

  • Emphasizes emotional / moral / ongoing support, being there for someone.
  • Fits very well with uncertainty about choices.

• υποστηρίζει = supports, backs up, defends

  • Can mean supports in a more active or sometimes stronger sense (backs us, stands up for us, argues on our behalf).

In your sentence στηρίζει is a natural choice because it suggests standing by us when we’re unsure.

How is the negative δεν είμαστε σίγουροι formed? Where does δεν go?

Greek forms the simple negation by putting δεν (or δε in speech) before the verb:

• είμαστε = we are
• δεν είμαστε = we are not

The adjective σίγουροι (sure) comes after the verb:

• είμαστε σίγουροι = we are sure
• δεν είμαστε σίγουροι = we are not sure

You cannot say:

• ✗ είμαστε δεν σίγουροι
• ✗ είμαστε σίγουροι δεν (in neutral word order)

Correct pattern: [δεν] + [verb] + [adjective] → δεν είμαστε σίγουροι.

Why is it σίγουροι and not σίγουρος / σίγουρη / σίγουρα?

σίγουρος is an adjective and must agree with the subject in gender and number.

The implied subject here is εμείς (we), which in Greek is:

• masculine plural: εμείς → σίγουροι
• feminine plural: εμείς → σίγουρες
• neuter plural (rare for people): εμείς → σίγουρα

In mixed or unspecified groups, Greek uses masculine plural by default, so:

• (Εμείς) δεν είμαστε σίγουροι = We are not sure.

If you refer specifically to a group of only women, you might hear:

• (Εμείς) δεν είμαστε σίγουρες.

What does όταν mean here? Is it more like when or if or whenever?

όταν generally corresponds to when in time clauses.

In this sentence:

• όταν δεν είμαστε σίγουροι = when we are not sure

Because the sentence describes a general/habitual situation, in natural English we might translate it as:

• …supports us whenever we’re not sure about our choices.

So:

• όταν = when / whenever (in a temporal sense),
• not the same as αν, which is if (conditional).

Why is it για τις επιλογές μας and not just τις επιλογές μας?

The preposition για means about / for here.

• οι επιλογές μας = our choices (subject form)
• τις επιλογές μας = our choices (object form, accusative)
• για τις επιλογές μας = about our choices

In Greek, the verb είμαι σίγουρος για κάτι means to be sure about something:

• Είμαι σίγουρος για την απόφασή μου. = I’m sure about my decision.
• Δεν είμαστε σίγουροι για τις επιλογές μας. = We’re not sure about our choices.

So για is required by the adjective σίγουρος in this meaning.

What case and form is τις επιλογές μας? How is επιλογή declined?

επιλογή (choice) is a feminine noun.

In για τις επιλογές μας:

• επιλογές = feminine plural accusative of επιλογή
• τις = feminine plural accusative definite article
• μας = our (possessive, agreeing in number but not changing form)

So the whole phrase is:

• για τις επιλογές μας = about our choices.

Basic forms of επιλογή:

• Singular:
  • nominative: η επιλογή (the choice)
  • accusative: την επιλογή (the choice – object)
• Plural:
  • nominative: οι επιλογές (the choices – subject)
  • accusative: τις επιλογές (the choices – object)

In your sentence, για requires the accusative, so we get τις επιλογές.

Could the word order be Ο σύμβουλος σπουδών μας, όταν δεν είμαστε σίγουροι για τις επιλογές μας, μας στηρίζει? Is that still correct?

Yes, that word order is also correct and quite natural:

• Ο σύμβουλος σπουδών μας, όταν δεν είμαστε σίγουροι για τις επιλογές μας, μας στηρίζει.

Greek word order is relatively flexible. Moving the όταν-clause earlier slightly changes the rhythm and focus, but not the basic meaning.

Current version:

• Ο σύμβουλος σπουδών μας στηρίζει όταν δεν είμαστε σίγουροι…
  • Focuses first on what he does (supports us), then on when.

Alternative:

• Ο σύμβουλος σπουδών μας, όταν δεν είμαστε σίγουροι…, μας στηρίζει.
  • Brings the condition/situation to the center of attention.

Both are fine in normal usage.

How do you pronounce σπουδών and what is the sound of δ here?

σπουδών is pronounced approximately as:

• spu-THON (with stress on the second syllable: σπουδών)

Details:

• σπ = /sp/
• ου = /u/ (like oo in food)
• δ = /ð/, the voiced th sound in English this, that
• ών = /on/ with nasal n, stressed.

So σπουδών = /spuˈðon/, with the δ pronounced like the th in this, not like an English d.