Αφήνω τα κλειδιά μου πάνω στο τραπέζι στο σαλόνι.

I leave my keys on the table in the living room.

Breakdown of Αφήνω τα κλειδιά μου πάνω στο τραπέζι στο σαλόνι.

• μου: my
• το τραπέζι: the table
• πάνω σε: on
• σε: in

Questions & Answers about Αφήνω τα κλειδιά μου πάνω στο τραπέζι στο σαλόνι.

Why is there no separate word for “I” in the sentence? Shouldn’t it be Εγώ αφήνω τα κλειδιά μου…?

In Greek, the subject pronoun (like εγώ = I) is usually dropped because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

• Αφήνω already means I leave (1st person singular).
• Adding εγώ is only needed for emphasis or contrast:
  • Εγώ αφήνω τα κλειδιά μου… = I leave my keys… (as opposed to someone else).

So:

• Αφήνω τα κλειδιά μου… = natural, neutral.
• Εγώ αφήνω τα κλειδιά μου… = “I (and not someone else) leave my keys…”

What tense is αφήνω, and does it mean “I leave” or “I am leaving”? Is there a difference in Greek?

Αφήνω is the present tense, 1st person singular, of the verb αφήνω (to leave / to let / to allow).

Greek present tense usually covers both:

• English simple present: I leave my keys on the table.
• English present continuous: I am leaving my keys on the table.

So Αφήνω τα κλειδιά μου… can mean:

• a habitual action: “I (usually) leave my keys…”
• an action happening right now: “I am leaving my keys…”

Context decides which English translation is best, but Greek uses the same form αφήνω for both.

Why is it τα κλειδιά and not something like οι κλειδιά? How does the article work here?