Αν δεν ξοδεύω άσκοπα, μπορώ να εξοικονομώ χρήματα για τις διακοπές μου.

not

Breakdown of Αν δεν ξοδεύω άσκοπα, μπορώ να εξοικονομώ χρήματα για τις διακοπές μου.

• μπορώ: to be able
• να: to
• μου: my

Questions & Answers about Αν δεν ξοδεύω άσκοπα, μπορώ να εξοικονομώ χρήματα για τις διακοπές μου.

Why does the sentence start with Αν?

Αν means if.

In this sentence, it introduces a condition:

• Αν δεν ξοδεύω άσκοπα = If I don’t spend wastefully
• μπορώ να εξοικονομώ χρήματα = I can save money

So the whole structure is a normal if-clause + result clause.

In Greek, αν is the standard word for if in everyday language.

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Why is it δεν and not μη(ν) for “not”?

Greek uses two main negatives:

• δεν with ordinary finite verbs
• μη(ν) mainly with να, imperatives, and certain non-indicative structures

Here we have:

• δεν ξοδεύω = I do not spend

That is a normal verb form, so δεν is correct.

Compare:

• Δεν ξοδεύω = I don’t spend
• Να μην ξοδεύω = not to spend / that I not spend

So in your sentence, δεν is used because ξοδεύω is not inside a να clause.

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Why is there no word for I? Where is εγώ?