Δεν θέλω να πάρω αντιβίωση χωρίς σωστή διάγνωση, γι’ αυτό θα περιμένω μία μέρα ακόμα.

to want

Breakdown of Δεν θέλω να πάρω αντιβίωση χωρίς σωστή διάγνωση, γι’ αυτό θα περιμένω μία μέρα ακόμα.

• δεν: not
• να: to
• περιμένω: to wait

Questions & Answers about Δεν θέλω να πάρω αντιβίωση χωρίς σωστή διάγνωση, γι’ αυτό θα περιμένω μία μέρα ακόμα.

Why is it θέλω να πάρω and not just θέλω πάρω?

In Modern Greek, verbs like θέλω (I want) are normally followed by να + another verb.

So:

• θέλω να πάρω = I want to take
• not θέλω πάρω

The word να introduces a subordinate verb clause, often corresponding to English to + verb, although it does not work exactly like the English infinitive. Modern Greek does not have an infinitive in the same way English does, so να is the standard way to express this idea.

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Why is the verb πάρω used instead of παίρνω?

This is about aspect, which is very important in Greek.

• παίρνω = imperfective stem, focusing on the action as ongoing, repeated, or general
• πάρω = perfective stem, focusing on a single complete action

In this sentence:

• Δεν θέλω να πάρω αντιβίωση...
• the speaker means I don’t want to take antibiotics as a single concrete action, not as a habitual or ongoing process

So πάρω is the natural choice.

A rough contrast:

• Θέλω να παίρνω βιταμίνες κάθε μέρα. = I want to take vitamins every day.
• Θέλω να πάρω αυτό το φάρμακο τώρα. = I want to take this medicine now.

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Why is the negative δεν used here, and not μη(ν)?