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Μην είσαι τόσο βιαστικός· εφόσον έχεις χρόνο, διάβασε προσεκτικά την απόδειξη.

Μην είσαι τόσο βιαστικός· εφόσον έχεις χρόνο, διάβασε προσεκτικά την απόδειξη.
Don’t be so rushed; since you have time, read the receipt carefully.

Breakdown of Μην είσαι τόσο βιαστικός· εφόσον έχεις χρόνο, διάβασε προσεκτικά την απόδειξη.

είμαι
to be
έχω
to have
μην
not
διαβάζω
to read
ο χρόνος
the time
τόσο
so much
προσεκτικά
carefully
η απόδειξη
the receipt
βιαστικός
rushed / hasty
εφόσον
since / as long as
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Questions & Answers about Μην είσαι τόσο βιαστικός· εφόσον έχεις χρόνο, διάβασε προσεκτικά την απόδειξη.

Why does the sentence start with Μην είσαι…? How does Greek form a negative command like “Don’t be…”?

Greek typically forms negative commands (prohibitions) with μη(ν) + the subjunctive.
So Μην είσαι τόσο βιαστικός literally uses the (negative) subjunctive of είμαι (to be):

  • (να) είσαι = “(that) you be” (subjunctive)
  • μην είσαι = “don’t be”

You often see the subjunctive marker να in positive clauses (Να είσαι…), but with μη(ν) it’s not used: μην + subjunctive is the normal pattern.

What’s the difference between μη and μην? Why is it Μην here?

They’re the same word; ν is added before certain following sounds for smoother pronunciation. In practice:

  • You’ll often see μην before vowels and many consonants.
  • You’ll also sometimes see just μη in other contexts.

Both mean not / don’t, but μην είσαι is the most common way to write/say it here.

Why is it βιαστικός (masculine)? What if I’m speaking to a woman or to multiple people?

βιαστικός is an adjective meaning “hasty / rushed / impatient” and it must agree with the person addressed:

  • Masculine singular: βιαστικός
  • Feminine singular: βιαστική
  • Neuter singular (less common for people): βιαστικό
  • Masculine plural: βιαστικοί
  • Feminine plural: βιαστικές
  • Mixed/neutral plural: βιαστικά (usually for things)

So you could say:

  • Μην είσαι τόσο βιαστική. (to a woman)
  • Μην είστε τόσο βιαστικοί/βιαστικές. (to more than one person; polite/plural είστε)
What does τόσο do here? Is it the same as English “so”?

Yes—τόσο intensifies the adjective: τόσο βιαστικός = “so/that hasty.”
It’s a very common pattern:

  • τόσο + adjective/adverb = “so …”
  • It can also pair with όσο (“as…as”), but here it’s just emphasis.
What is the punctuation mark ·? Why isn’t it a comma or semicolon?

The symbol · is the Greek άνω τελεία (ano teleia). It often functions like an English semicolon or sometimes like a colon—a stronger pause than a comma.
So Μην είσαι τόσο βιαστικός· εφόσον… is like:
“Don’t be so hasty; since you have time, …”

What does εφόσον mean exactly, and how is it different from επειδή/αφού/αν?

εφόσον commonly means:

  • since (given that something is true), or
  • as long as / provided that (a condition that is satisfied)

In this sentence it’s basically: “since / given that you have time…” Differences:

  • επειδή = “because” (more straightforward cause)
  • αφού = “since/after” (often “since” with a sense of “as is already known”)
  • αν = “if” (pure condition; not implying the condition is actually true)

εφόσον often implies the condition is met (or is assumed to be met).

Why is it έχεις χρόνο and not something like “you are having time”? How does έχω work?

Greek uses έχω (“to have”) very much like English “have” for possession/availability:

  • έχεις χρόνο = “you have time”

Grammatically, χρόνο is the direct object of έχεις, so it appears in the accusative case.

Why does it say διάβασε and not διάβαζε? What’s the difference between these imperatives?

They’re both imperatives, but they differ in aspect:

  • διάβασε (aorist imperative) = “read (it) / read through (it)” as a single complete action
  • διάβαζε (present imperative) = “be reading / read regularly / keep reading” (ongoing or repeated)

Here, διάβασε προσεκτικά την απόδειξη suggests a one-time, complete action: “Read the proof carefully.”

What is προσεκτικά grammatically? Why not an adjective form?

προσεκτικά is an adverb meaning “carefully.” It modifies the verb διάβασε (read).
Adjectives would modify nouns (e.g., προσεκτική ανάγνωση = “careful reading”), but here we need an adverb because we’re describing how to read.

What does την απόδειξη mean here, and why is it in that form?

την απόδειξη is:

  • την = the (feminine accusative singular)
  • απόδειξη = “proof” (and in everyday contexts it can also mean “receipt,” depending on situation)

It’s accusative because it’s the direct object of διάβασε (“read”).
Dictionary form (nominative) is η απόδειξη (“the proof/receipt”).