Δεν ξέρω τι ισχύει σήμερα, αλλά θα ρωτήσω, για να μην γίνει παρεξήγηση.

I don’t know what applies today, but I’ll ask, so there isn’t a misunderstanding.

Breakdown of Δεν ξέρω τι ισχύει σήμερα, αλλά θα ρωτήσω, για να μην γίνει παρεξήγηση.

• τι: what
• δεν: not
• σήμερα: today
• αλλά: but
• ξέρω: to know
• θα: will
• μην: not
• για να: so that
• ρωτάω: to ask
• γίνομαι: to happen
• η παρεξήγηση: the misunderstanding
• ισχύω: to apply

Questions & Answers about Δεν ξέρω τι ισχύει σήμερα, αλλά θα ρωτήσω, για να μην γίνει παρεξήγηση.

Why is the negation Δεν used here, and not Μην?

Δεν is used to negate verbs in the indicative (statements of fact, what you know/don’t know): Δεν ξέρω.
Μην is used mainly with the subjunctive, imperatives, and “don’t let…” type meanings (and it appears later: για να μην γίνει).

What form is ξέρω?

ξέρω is present indicative, 1st person singular: “I know.”
So Δεν ξέρω is “I don’t know” in a neutral, everyday way.

What is τι doing in Δεν ξέρω τι ισχύει σήμερα?

It introduces an indirect question (embedded question): “I don’t know what applies/is true today.”
Greek uses τι very naturally in indirect questions like this (similar to English “what” in “I don’t know what’s going on”).

Why is the verb ισχύει used—what does it imply?

ισχύει literally means “is valid / holds / applies.”
It’s often used for rules, policies, information, arrangements, schedules, etc. So it can sound like: what the current rule/status is.

Why does σήμερα come after ισχύει?

Putting σήμερα at the end (τι ισχύει σήμερα) is very common and often sounds natural because σήμερα works like a time “tag” added after the main idea.
You can also say τι σήμερα ισχύει, but that word order is less neutral and usually more emphatic/stylistic.

What role does αλλά play, and could όμως be used instead?

αλλά is the straightforward coordinating conjunction “but,” linking two clauses:
Δεν ξέρω …, αλλά θα ρωτήσω…
όμως can often replace it with a slightly different feel (more like “however”), and it moves around more freely in the sentence.

What tense is θα ρωτήσω?

θα + verb form gives the future.
ρωτήσω is the aorist (perfective) subjunctive form, and with θα it functions as future simple perfective: “I will ask (once / as a single action).”

Why is it θα ρωτήσω and not θα ρωτάω?

θα ρωτήσω (perfective) focuses on a single completed action: you’ll ask once to clarify.
θα ρωτάω (imperfective) would suggest repeated/ongoing asking (“I’ll be asking / I’ll ask around regularly”), which doesn’t fit as well here.

What does για να mean grammatically?

για να introduces a purpose clause: “in order to / so that.”
In Greek it is followed by the subjunctive (not an infinitive, since Modern Greek doesn’t use an infinitive the way English does).

Why is it να μην γίνει and not να δεν γίνει?

In subjunctive clauses (with να, για να, etc.), negation is μη(ν), not δεν.
So: για να μην γίνει = “so that it doesn’t happen / so that there won’t be…”

What exactly is γίνει?

γίνει is aorist subjunctive, 3rd person singular of γίνομαι (“to become / to happen”).
So να μην γίνει παρεξήγηση is literally “so that a misunderstanding doesn’t happen/occur.”

Why is there no article before παρεξήγηση? Should it be μια παρεξήγηση?

Omitting the article is common when speaking generally: “so there isn’t any misunderstanding.”
You can also say μια παρεξήγηση to sound more specific: “so that a misunderstanding doesn’t occur.”

What gender is παρεξήγηση, and how would it decline with an article?

παρεξήγηση is feminine. Common forms:

• η παρεξήγηση (nom. sg.)
• της παρεξήγησης (gen. sg.)
• την παρεξήγηση (acc. sg.)

Why are there commas around θα ρωτήσω?

They mark a pause and separate the main contrast (Δεν ξέρω…, αλλά…) from the purpose clause (για να…).
In less formal writing you might see fewer commas, but the meaning stays the same.

Any pronunciation traps in this sentence?

A few common ones for English speakers:

• Δεν: dhen (the δ is like th in this)
• ξέρω: starts with ks (like k
  • s)
• ισχύει: stress on χύ; χ is a “raspy” sound (like German Bach)
• παρεξήγηση: stress on γή (pa-re-ksi-GI-si)