Learn Hardcore Greek: Όταν είμαι πολύ κουρασμένος, μένω σιωπηλός στην παρέα και απλώς ακούω. - When I am very tired, I stay silent in the group and just listen.

Why is the verb in the present tense after Όταν? In English I might say “When I am very tired, I stay…” but also “When I’m very tired, I’ll stay…” etc.

In Greek, when you talk about a general, repeated situation (a habit or tendency), you normally use the present tense after Όταν:

Όταν είμαι πολύ κουρασμένος, μένω σιωπηλός…
= Whenever / When I’m very tired, I (tend to) stay silent…

Both verbs είμαι and μένω are in the present, because we are describing what usually happens, not a specific event in the past or future.

If you were talking about the past, you would switch to the past tense:

Όταν ήμουν πολύ κουρασμένος, έμενα σιωπηλός…
When I was very tired, I used to stay silent…

Why is there a comma after κουρασμένος?

The comma separates the dependent clause from the main clause, just like in English:

Όταν είμαι πολύ κουρασμένος, (dependent clause: When I am very tired,)
μένω σιωπηλός στην παρέα και απλώς ακούω. (main clause: I stay silent in the group and just listen.)

In Greek, when a clause starting with Όταν (or other subordinating conjunctions like όταν, επειδή, αν) comes first, it is normally followed by a comma, just as in English.

Why do we say είμαι πολύ κουρασμένος instead of just είμαι κουρασμένος?

Πολύ is an adverb meaning very / a lot, and it intensifies the adjective:

είμαι κουρασμένος = I am tired
είμαι πολύ κουρασμένος = I am very tired / really tired

So πολύ simply makes the tiredness stronger. Grammatically, πολύ here is an adverb modifying the adjective κουρασμένος.

Why is it κουρασμένος and not another form like κουρασμένη?

Κουρασμένος is an adjective that changes form according to gender, number, and case. The forms are:

masculine: κουρασμένος
feminine: κουρασμένη
neuter: κουρασμένο

In the sentence, the subject is I (a man, in the default interpretation), so the adjective must agree with a masculine subject:

(εγώ) είμαι κουρασμένος – I (male) am tired
(εγώ) είμαι κουρασμένη – I (female) am tired

So είμαι πολύ κουρασμένος is what a man would say. A woman would say:

Όταν είμαι πολύ κουρασμένη, μένω σιωπηλή στην παρέα και απλώς ακούω.

What exactly does μένω mean here? I thought μένω meant I live (like where I live).

Μένω has two main meanings:

to live / reside
- Μένω στην Αθήνα. = I live in Athens.
to stay / remain
- Μένω σπίτι. = I stay at home.
- Μένω σιωπηλός. = I remain / stay silent.

In this sentence, μένω σιωπηλός clearly uses the second meaning:
you are not talking about where you live, but about how you remain (silent) when you are very tired.

Why is it μένω σιωπηλός and not είμαι σιωπηλός?

Both are possible, but they have a slightly different nuance:

είμαι σιωπηλός = I am silent (a simple state)
μένω σιωπηλός = I stay / remain silent (I continue to be silent)

Μένω here works like a linking verb (similar to stay / remain in English) and suggests that after becoming tired, you keep being silent in the group. It emphasizes the continuation of the state.

What does στην παρέα literally mean? How should I understand παρέα?

Literally:

στην = σε + την (in / at / with the + feminine accusative)
παρέα = group of friends, company, social circle

So στην παρέα literally means in/with the group (of friends), and idiomatically: with my friends / in the friend group / with the others (I’m hanging out with).

The idea is: When I’m with my group of friends, I stay silent and just listen.

Why is it στην παρέα and not σε η παρέα? What is στην exactly?

Στην is the contracted form of:

σε + την → στην

This contraction is very common and standard in Greek:

σε + τον → στον
σε + το → στο
σε + την → στην
σε + τις → στις

So:

σε την παρέα (theoretical) → στην παρέα (correct, natural form)

You almost never say σε την in normal speech; you use the contracted στην.

Why is παρέα in that form? What case is it?

Παρέα is a feminine noun:

singular: η παρέα (nominative), την παρέα (accusative)
plural: οι παρέες, τις παρέες

After the preposition σε, Greek uses the accusative case, so you must use the accusative form την παρέα. Combined with σε, this becomes στην παρέα.

So:

η παρέα = the group (subject)
στην παρέα = in/with the group (object of the preposition)

Why do we say απλώς ακούω? Could we also say μόνο ακούω?

Both are possible, but they are not identical in nuance:

απλώς ακούω = I simply / just listen (describing the way you participate: only in a simple, limited way)
μόνο ακούω = I only listen (more strongly excludes other actions: I do nothing else but listen)

In many contexts they can overlap, but απλώς has a softer, more descriptive feel, while μόνο puts more emphasis on only.

What is the difference between απλώς and απλά? Which is better here?

Both are adverbs related to απλός (simple):

απλώς is the more formal / standard adverb form.
απλά is more colloquial, very common in everyday speech.

In spoken Greek, many people would naturally say:

…και απλά ακούω.

In careful writing or more formal style, απλώς is a bit more appropriate:

…και απλώς ακούω.

Both are understood and widely used; the difference is mostly stylistic.

Why is there no εγώ in the sentence? How do I know it means I?

Greek is a pro‑drop language: the subject pronoun (εγώ = I, εσύ = you, etc.) is often omitted, because the verb ending already shows the person.

είμαι = I am
μένω = I stay / I live
ακούω = I listen / I hear

So Όταν είμαι πολύ κουρασμένος, μένω σιωπηλός… automatically means When I am very tired, I stay silent…, even without εγώ.

You only add εγώ for emphasis or contrast:

Εγώ, όταν είμαι πολύ κουρασμένος, μένω σιωπηλός…
Me, when I am very tired, I stay silent… (emphasizing I).

Could I change the word order of απλώς ακούω? For example, can I say και ακούω απλώς?

Yes, Greek word order is quite flexible, and both are possible:

…και απλώς ακούω.
…και ακούω απλώς.

The most neutral and common in this sentence is probably και απλώς ακούω, with απλώς right before the verb.
Και ακούω απλώς also works, and can sound slightly more emphatic or stylistic, but it is still normal Greek.