Learn Hardcore Greek: Προσπαθώ να παίρνω πρωτοβουλία στο μάθημα ελληνικών, ακόμα κι αν κάνω λάθη. - I try to take initiative in the Greek class, even if I make mistakes.

να παίρνω (imperfective) = to take initiative regularly, as a habit, in general
να πάρω (perfective) = to take initiative once / in one specific instance

In this sentence, the idea is:

I’m trying in general, as a rule to take initiative in Greek class.

That’s why the imperfective form παίρνω is used.
If you said:

Προσπαθώ να πάρω πρωτοβουλία στο μάθημα ελληνικών…

it would sound more like:

I’m trying to take the initiative (this time / in a particular situation) in Greek class…

So να παίρνω matches a repeated, ongoing effort; να πάρω would focus on a single act.

What exactly does πρωτοβουλία mean, and is it countable?

πρωτοβουλία is a feminine noun:

η πρωτοβουλία = (the) initiative
οι πρωτοβουλίες = initiatives

It’s very close to the English initiative, in two main senses:

Personal initiative / being proactive
- Έχει πρωτοβουλία. = He/She has initiative / He/She is proactive.
A concrete initiative / project / proposal
- Μια νέα πρωτοβουλία της κυβέρνησης. = A new initiative by the government.

In παίρνω πρωτοβουλία, it’s being used in the more abstract sense: showing initiative, taking the lead.

Why is there no article before πρωτοβουλία? Why not την πρωτοβουλία?

Greek often drops the article with abstract nouns or in fixed expressions, especially when talking about behavior in general.

παίρνω πρωτοβουλία ≈ to take initiative (in general, as a behavior)
παίρνω την πρωτοβουλία ≈ to take the initiative (in a specific situation)

In your sentence:

Προσπαθώ να παίρνω πρωτοβουλία…

focuses on a general habit: I try to be someone who takes initiative.

If you said:

Προσπαθώ να πάρω την πρωτοβουλία…

that would sound more like I’m trying to seize the initiative (in this particular case).

What does προσπαθώ literally mean and what nuance does it add?

προσπαθώ = I try / I’m trying / I make an effort.

It is present tense, so here it implies a current, ongoing effort or general attitude.
With να
- verb, it means you are trying to do something:
- Προσπαθώ να μάθω ελληνικά. = I’m trying to learn Greek.
- Προσπαθώ να παίρνω πρωτοβουλία. = I’m trying to take initiative (as a habit).

So the whole sentence frames this as an ongoing personal effort, not just a one‑off decision.

What is να doing in προσπαθώ να παίρνω? Is this a subjunctive?

Yes, this is the typical να‑clause, which corresponds to what is traditionally called the subjunctive in Greek.

The pattern is:

προσπαθώ + να + verb = I try to + verb

να:

introduces a non‑finite (“to-verb”) idea, similar to English to take, to do etc.
usually carries subjunctive meaning (possibility, intention, wish, etc.)
forces the verb into a subjunctive form, where you must choose:
- imperfective (e.g. παίρνω) for ongoing / repeated action
- perfective (e.g. πάρω) for a single / completed action

So να παίρνω here is the imperfective subjunctive: to be (in the habit of) taking initiative.

How is στο μάθημα ελληνικών structured grammatically?

Breakdown:

σε = in / at
το = the (neuter singular)
σε + το → στο (standard contraction)

So:

στο μάθημα = in/at the lesson / in class

Then:

ελληνικών is the genitive plural of τα ελληνικά (Greek, the Greek language).

Literally:

στο μάθημα ελληνικών ≈ in the lesson of Greek (language) → in Greek class.

This is a very common pattern:

μάθημα ελληνικών = Greek lesson
μάθημα μαθηματικών = math lesson
βιβλίο αγγλικών = English book (book for English)

Why is it ελληνικών and not ελληνικά in στο μάθημα ελληνικών?

Because Greek often uses the genitive case to mean “of X”.

τα ελληνικά (nom./acc.) = Greek (language)
των ελληνικών (gen. pl.) = of (the) Greek
ελληνικών here is a bare genitive plural, used like an adjective meaning of Greek.

So:

μάθημα ελληνικών ≈ a lesson of Greek, a Greek lesson.

You could theoretically say:

μάθημα στα ελληνικά = a lesson in Greek (taught in Greek)

but μάθημα ελληνικών is the standard way to mean Greek class (as a subject).

What does ακόμα κι αν mean, and why κι instead of και?

ακόμα κι αν means even if.

Breakdown:

ακόμα = still / even
και = and, but also used in “even” constructions
αν = if

So:

ακόμα και αν → even and if → even if

In everyday speech and writing, και becomes κι before a vowel sound, for ease of pronunciation:

και αν → κι αν
και εγώ → κι εγώ
και αυτός → κι αυτός

So:

ακόμα κι αν is just the phonetic variant of ακόμα και αν. Both are correct; ακόμα κι αν is more natural in flowing speech.

Why is it κάνω λάθη? Can I say έχω λάθη or something else?

κάνω λάθη is the standard, idiomatic way to say to make mistakes.

κάνω = I do / I make
λάθη = mistakes (plural of λάθος)

So:

κάνω λάθη = I make mistakes

Other options:

κάνω ένα λάθος = I make a (single) mistake
έκανα λάθος = I made a mistake / I was wrong
έχω κάνει λάθη = I have made mistakes (present perfect sense)

έχω λάθη is not idiomatic in this context; it would sound odd, like “I possess mistakes”.
Stick with κάνω λάθη for make mistakes.

Why is κάνω in the present tense if the meaning is “even if I make mistakes (in the future)”?

Greek often uses the present tense with αν/κι αν to talk about a general or future condition.

αν κάνω λάθη = if I make mistakes (whenever / in general / in the future)
αν κάνω λάθος = if I’m wrong / if I make a mistake

In English, you also sometimes use the present for the future in conditionals:

“If I make mistakes, I’ll learn from them.”

Greek is similar here. The present κάνω doesn’t necessarily mean “right now”; it’s a generic / open condition for present and future situations.

Could I move ακόμα κι αν κάνω λάθη to the beginning or change the word order?

Yes, Greek word order is quite flexible. You can say, for example:

Ακόμα κι αν κάνω λάθη, προσπαθώ να παίρνω πρωτοβουλία στο μάθημα ελληνικών.
Προσπαθώ, ακόμα κι αν κάνω λάθη, να παίρνω πρωτοβουλία στο μάθημα ελληνικών.

All are grammatical. The differences are mostly about emphasis and rhythm:

Starting with Ακόμα κι αν κάνω λάθη puts more emphasis on the concession (even if I make mistakes).
Keeping the original order is very natural and balanced in spoken Greek.

Could I say να αναλαμβάνω πρωτοβουλία instead of να παίρνω πρωτοβουλία?

You can say αναλαμβάνω πρωτοβουλία, but there is a nuance:

παίρνω πρωτοβουλία is the most common, neutral way to say take initiative in everyday language.
αναλαμβάνω πρωτοβουλία sounds a bit more formal / bureaucratic, often used in written language, reports, or about organizations:
- Η οργάνωση αναλαμβάνει πρωτοβουλίες για…
  The organization undertakes initiatives for…

In your sentence, which is personal and about your behavior in class, να παίρνω πρωτοβουλία is more natural and conversational.

How do you pronounce πρωτοβουλία, and where is the stress?

πρωτοβουλία is stressed on the last syllable:

προ‑το‑βου‑λί‑α

Approximate pronunciation (in simple English terms):

pro-to-vou-LEE-a

Details:

προ = /pro/ (like pro)
το = /to/ (like toe)
βου = /vu/ (like voo but with a v)
λία = /ˈlia/ (LEE-a, stressed on LEE)

So the whole sentence flows roughly as:

ProspaTHÓ na PÉRno protovouLÍa sto MÁthima elliniKÓN, AKoma kjan KÁno LÁthi. (with Greek sounds, of course).