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Μόλις γυρίζω σπίτι, βάζω το κινητό μου στην πρίζα.

Μόλις γυρίζω σπίτι, βάζω το κινητό μου στην πρίζα.
As soon as I get home, I plug my phone into the socket.
FromLesson 51inHardcore Greek
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Breakdown of Μόλις γυρίζω σπίτι, βάζω το κινητό μου στην πρίζα.

το σπίτι
the home
μου
my
μόλις
as soon as
το κινητό
the mobile phone
σε
into
η πρίζα
the socket
γυρίζω
to return
βάζω
to add

Questions & Answers about Μόλις γυρίζω σπίτι, βάζω το κινητό μου στην πρίζα.

Why does the sentence start with Μόλις? Does it mean just or as soon as?

In this sentence μόλις means as soon as / the moment that. It introduces an action that happens immediately after another one: As soon as I get home, I plug in my phone.
Greek μόλις can also mean just now/just, but that’s usually in contexts like Μόλις έφτασα (I just arrived). Here it clearly functions as a time connector meaning as soon as.

Why is it γυρίζω (present tense) instead of a past tense or future tense?

Greek often uses the present tense to express habitual actions (what you regularly do). So Μόλις γυρίζω σπίτι, βάζω... means Whenever/As soon as I get home, I (usually) plug...
English often uses present too for habits, but learners sometimes expect a different tense because it “feels like a future” or “sequence.” In Greek, present is normal for a general routine.

Is Μόλις γυρίζω σπίτι a full clause? What’s happening grammatically there?

Yes. It’s a time clause meaning as soon as I return home.

  • γυρίζω = I return/come back (1st person singular)
  • σπίτι functions like home in English: you can say γυρίζω σπίτι without a preposition, just like go home / come home.
Can I also say Μόλις γυρίσω σπίτι? What’s the difference?

Yes, and it’s very common.

  • Μόλις γυρίζω σπίτι (present) = as soon as I get home (as a habit / in general)
  • Μόλις γυρίσω σπίτι (aorist subjunctive) = as soon as I get home (in a specific future/next instance)
    So if you’re describing your routine, present fits well; if you mean “once I get home (later today),” γυρίσω is more natural.
Does μόλις require να like some other Greek constructions?

No. μόλις does not take να. You simply use μόλις + verb:

  • Μόλις τελειώσω, θα φύγω.
  • Μόλις τελειώνω, φεύγω.
    So μόλις works directly with the verb (in present or subjunctive depending on meaning).
What exactly does βάζω ... στην πρίζα mean? Why βάζω (put) instead of “charge”?

Literally it’s I put ... into/on the socket, but idiomatically it means I plug ... in (often with the implication that you’re charging it).
Greek commonly uses βάζω κάτι στην πρίζα = plug something in, even if the purpose is charging.

Is στην πρίζα “in the socket” or “into the socket”? Why is it στην?

στην = σε + την (to/in + the). With βάζω (put), it naturally implies movement/direction, so English often translates it as into/to: plug it into the socket.
Greek uses the same preposition σε for both location and destination; the verb supplies the “motion” meaning.

Why is it το κινητό μου and not μου το κινητό? Are both possible?

Both are possible, with slightly different emphasis and style.

  • το κινητό μου is the most neutral: my phone.
  • μου το κινητό is also correct and can sound more conversational or can add a bit of emphasis/“my (own) phone,” depending on context.
Does κινητό mean “mobile phone” specifically? Could it mean something else?
In modern Greek, (το) κινητό almost always means mobile phone/cellphone in everyday speech. Literally it means “mobile/portable,” but on its own it’s understood as “mobile phone.”
Why is σπίτι without an article (το σπίτι)? When would I use the article?

Without an article, σπίτι often means home as a destination or general concept:

  • πάω σπίτι = I’m going home
  • γυρίζω σπίτι = I’m coming home

With an article (στο σπίτι / στο σπίτι μου) it tends to mean the house/the home (as a place) and can sound more specific:

  • μένω στο σπίτι = I stay at home / in the house
  • γυρίζω στο σπίτι μου = I return to my house/home (more explicit)
Is the comma necessary after σπίτι?

It’s very common and helpful because the sentence has an introductory time clause. Greek punctuation often mirrors English here:

  • Μόλις γυρίζω σπίτι, ... = As soon as I get home, ...
    You might see it without a comma in informal writing, but the comma is standard and clearer.
Could I replace γυρίζω with έρχομαι or επιστρέφω? What changes?

Yes, but the nuance changes:

  • γυρίζω σπίτι = very natural, everyday “come/turn back home”
  • επιστρέφω σπίτι/στο σπίτι = more formal “return”
  • έρχομαι σπίτι exists, but for “getting home” Greeks more often say έρχομαι στο σπίτι (come to the house) or use γυρίζω/επιστρέφω for “come back home.”

More from this lesson

το ρεπόκανονίζωτακτοποιώΣήμερα έχω ρεπό, οπότε κανονίζω να τακτοποιήσω μερικά πράγματα στο σπίτι.λοιπόνΛοιπόν, πρώτα θέλω να πάω στο σούπερ μάρκετ και μετά να μαγειρέψω.παίρνωΑν είχα πάρει ομπρέλα, δεν θα βιαζόμουν στον δρόμο.
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