Ο γιατρός ρώτησε αν το παιδί έχει αλλεργία σε κάποιο φάρμακο ή σε κάποια τροφή.

The doctor asked whether the child has an allergy to any medicine or any food.

Breakdown of Ο γιατρός ρώτησε αν το παιδί έχει αλλεργία σε κάποιο φάρμακο ή σε κάποια τροφή.

• ή: or
• έχω: to have
• σε: to
• το παιδί: the child

Questions & Answers about Ο γιατρός ρώτησε αν το παιδί έχει αλλεργία σε κάποιο φάρμακο ή σε κάποια τροφή.

What tense is ρώτησε, and what is its dictionary form?

ρώτησε is the aorist form, which is commonly used in Greek for a completed past action. In natural English, it often corresponds to the simple past: asked.

The dictionary form is usually given as ρωτάω or ρωτώ (both are used), meaning to ask.

So:

• ρωτάω / ρωτώ = to ask
• ρώτησε = he/she asked

In this sentence, Ο γιατρός ρώτησε means The doctor asked.

Why is αν used here? Does it mean if?

Yes, αν can mean if, but in this sentence it is better understood as whether.

So:

• ρώτησε αν... = asked whether... / asked if...

Here it does not introduce a condition. It introduces an indirect yes/no question.

Compare:

• Ρώτησε αν το παιδί έχει αλλεργία. = He asked whether the child has an allergy.

So this αν is not a conditional if like If it rains, we’ll stay home. It is the if/whether used after verbs like ask, know, see, etc.

Why is έχει in the present tense even though ρώτησε is in the past?