Questions & Answers about Δεν μου αρέσει το καινούριο, προτιμώ το παλιό.
Why is it Δεν μου αρέσει and not Δεν (εγώ) αρέσω?
Because Greek uses the verb αρέσω (to be pleasing) in an “impersonal” pattern:
- Μου αρέσει X = X is pleasing to me → I like X.
So το καινούριο is the grammatical subject of αρέσει (it’s what “is pleasing”), and μου marks the person affected (to me).
If you said εγώ αρέσω, that would mean I am pleasing (to someone), i.e. someone likes me.
What exactly does μου mean here, and what case is it?
μου means to me / for me (it’s the weak/clitic form of εμένα).
Grammatically it’s genitive (often used like an indirect object with many verbs). With αρέσει, Greek uses this genitive clitic to express the experiencer: μου αρέσει = I like.
Can I say Σε μένα δεν αρέσει το καινούριο or Δεν αρέσει σε μένα το καινούριο instead?
You can, but it changes emphasis and sounds heavier:
- Neutral/common: Δεν μου αρέσει το καινούριο.
- Emphatic (contrast): Σε μένα δεν αρέσει το καινούριο = As for me, I don’t like the new one (maybe others do).
Greek usually prefers the short clitic (μου) unless you’re emphasizing or contrasting.
Why is Δεν used for negation, and does it ever change?