Όταν ο δρόμος είναι βρεγμένος, κρατάω το τιμόνι πιο σταθερά και πατάω το φρένο πιο νωρίς.

Όταν means when and introduces a time clause.

In this sentence, Όταν ο δρόμος είναι βρεγμένος means when the road is wet. It sets the condition or situation in which the action happens.

A learner might compare it with αν (if), but they are not the same:

• όταν = when
• αν = if

So this sentence is talking about what I do whenever the road is wet, not about a hypothetical possibility.

Ο δρόμος is in the nominative singular, because it is the subject of the verb είναι.

Breakdown:

• ο = masculine singular definite article, nominative
• δρόμος = road, masculine singular nominative

In the clause ο δρόμος είναι βρεγμένος, the road is the thing being described, so it stays in the nominative.

Βρεγμένος is an adjective-like participle meaning wet.

It comes from the verb βρέχω (to wet / to make wet), but in modern Greek it often functions just like a normal adjective.

It changes form to agree with the noun:

• βρεγμένος = masculine singular
• βρεγμένη = feminine singular
• βρεγμένο = neuter singular

Since δρόμος is masculine singular, we use βρεγμένος.

So:

• ο δρόμος είναι βρεγμένος
• η πετσέτα είναι βρεγμένη
• το πάτωμα είναι βρεγμένο

Greek, like English, often uses the present tense for:

• general truths
• habits
• repeated actions
• instructions about what one usually does

Here the sentence describes a habitual reaction:

• When the road is wet, I hold the steering wheel more steadily and brake earlier.

So είναι, κρατάω, and πατάω are all in the present because the sentence expresses a general rule or habit, not a one-time event.

The comma separates the introductory time clause from the main clause:

• Όταν ο δρόμος είναι βρεγμένος, = subordinate clause
• κρατάω το τιμόνι... = main clause

This is very common in Greek and works much like English punctuation in sentences starting with when, if, because, etc.

Yes. Both κρατάω and κρατώ are correct.

This is a very common feature in modern Greek: some verbs have two present-tense forms, one longer and one shorter.

For this verb:

• κρατάω = common spoken form
• κρατώ = also correct, sometimes a bit more formal or concise

Likewise:

• πατάω / πατώ

So you may hear:

• κρατάω το τιμόνι
• κρατώ το τιμόνι

Both mean the same thing.

Το τιμόνι is the direct object of κρατάω, so it is in the accusative.

For many neuter nouns, the nominative and accusative look the same, so learners may not notice a visible change.

Breakdown:

• το = neuter singular article
• τιμόνι = steering wheel

So:

• το τιμόνι can be nominative or accusative in form
• here it is accusative because it receives the action of the verb

I hold what?
→ το τιμόνι

Because σταθερά is an adverb, not an adjective.

The sentence is describing how I hold the steering wheel, so Greek uses an adverb:

• σταθερά = steadily / firmly

Compare:

• σταθερός = steady, stable, firm (adjective, used for nouns)
• σταθερά = steadily / firmly (adverb, used for verbs)

Examples:

• Έχει σταθερό χέρι. = He has a steady hand.
• Κρατάει το τιμόνι σταθερά. = He holds the steering wheel steadily.

With πιο, it becomes a comparative adverb:

• πιο σταθερά = more steadily / more firmly

Νωρίς here is an adverb, meaning early or earlier, depending on context.

In this sentence, it modifies πατάω:

• πατάω το φρένο πιο νωρίς = I press the brake earlier

A useful point: νωρίς is an indeclinable word, so it does not change form like a normal adjective.

Greek often forms comparatives with πιο + adverb/adjective:

• νωρίς = early
• πιο νωρίς = earlier

Although Greek also has some other comparative forms in the language, πιο + form is very common and natural.

Because πιο is the normal way to form the comparative in everyday modern Greek.

It works with both adjectives and adverbs:

• πιο καλός = better
• πιο γρήγορα = faster
• πιο σταθερά = more steadily
• πιο νωρίς = earlier

So in this sentence:

• πιο σταθερά compares how firmly I hold the wheel
• πιο νωρίς compares when I brake

It is very flexible and extremely common in spoken and written Greek.

Yes. Πατάω το φρένο is a normal and very common Greek expression for pressing the brake / braking.

Literally:

• πατάω = press
• το φρένο = the brake

Greek often uses this kind of verb + object expression where English might choose a single verb.

Related expressions:

• πατάω γκάζι = step on the gas / accelerate
• πατάω συμπλέκτη = press the clutch
• πατάω φρένο = press the brake

So this is standard idiomatic Greek.

Greek uses the definite article more often than English does.

In this sentence, the article sounds natural because we are talking about:

• the road in the situation being described
• the steering wheel of the car
• the brake of the car

Greek commonly includes the article with nouns even where English might sound more general.

So:

• κρατάω το τιμόνι
• πατάω το φρένο

are more natural than leaving the article out.

The basic meaning stays the same even if the word order changes somewhat. Greek word order is more flexible than English because case endings and articles help show grammatical roles.

For example, you could also say:

• Κρατάω το τιμόνι πιο σταθερά και πατάω το φρένο πιο νωρίς όταν ο δρόμος είναι βρεγμένος.

That is still correct.

However, starting with Όταν ο δρόμος είναι βρεγμένος is very natural because it sets the situation first and then tells you what happens in that situation.

So the given word order is especially good for emphasis and clarity.