Κι ας καθυστερήσει ο φίλος μου, εμείς θα αρχίσουμε το φαγητό στην ώρα μας.

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Breakdown of Κι ας καθυστερήσει ο φίλος μου, εμείς θα αρχίσουμε το φαγητό στην ώρα μας.

• ο φίλος: the male friend
• η ώρα: the time
• θα: will

Questions & Answers about Κι ας καθυστερήσει ο φίλος μου, εμείς θα αρχίσουμε το φαγητό στην ώρα μας.

What does Κι ας mean here?

In this sentence, κι ας introduces a concession. It means something like even if, even though, or regardless of whether.

So Κι ας καθυστερήσει ο φίλος μου means: Even if my friend is late.

Here, ας is not really being used in its basic let sense. The whole expression κι ας + verb works as a fixed pattern.

Why is it κι and not και?

Κι is just a shortened form of και. It is very common before a vowel, and ας begins with a vowel sound.

So:

• και ας
• κι ας

mean the same thing here.

Κι ας is the more natural flowing form in this sentence.

Why is the verb καθυστερήσει and not καθυστερεί?

Because after ας Greek uses a subjunctive-type form, not the ordinary present indicative.

• καθυστερεί = he is late / he is delaying
• καθυστερήσει = the form used here after κι ας, meaning if he ends up being late / even if he is late

So κι ας καθυστερήσει is the correct pattern.

Is καθυστερήσει a past tense form?