Learn Hardcore Greek: Αν η άμμος μπει στην τσάντα, την αδειάζω στο μπαλκόνι και μετά την καθαρίζω καλά. - If sand gets into the bag, I empty it out on the balcony and then clean it well.

Word

Αν η άμμος μπει στην τσάντα, την αδειάζω στο μπαλκόνι και μετά την καθαρίζω καλά.

Meaning

If sand gets into the bag, I empty it out on the balcony and then clean it well.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Lesson

Breakdown of Αν η άμμος μπει στην τσάντα, την αδειάζω στο μπαλκόνι και μετά την καθαρίζω καλά.

Why is it αν η άμμος μπει and not αν η άμμος μπαίνει?

Because after αν in this kind of condition, Greek usually uses the subjunctive, not the ordinary present indicative.

So:

This pattern is very common for real future or repeated conditions:

Here, αν η άμμος μπει στην τσάντα means something like if sand gets into the bag.

Using μπαίνει would sound more like a statement about what is happening habitually or right now, not the normal conditional pattern used here.

What exactly is μπει?

Μπει is the 3rd person singular aorist subjunctive of μπαίνω (to enter / to go in).

Breakdown:

So:

Since the subject is η άμμος (the sand), which is singular, the verb is singular too.

Why is η άμμος feminine?