Προτού πάω στο υποκατάστημα της τράπεζας, κοιτάω αν έχω μαζί μου όλα τα δικαιολογητικά.

to go

Breakdown of Προτού πάω στο υποκατάστημα της τράπεζας, κοιτάω αν έχω μαζί μου όλα τα δικαιολογητικά.

• έχω: to have
• μαζί: together
• σε: to

Questions & Answers about Προτού πάω στο υποκατάστημα της τράπεζας, κοιτάω αν έχω μαζί μου όλα τα δικαιολογητικά.

What does προτού mean, and is it common Greek?

Προτού means before.

In modern Greek, it is correct and natural, but it sounds a bit more formal or polished than πριν. In everyday conversation, many speakers would more often say:

Πριν πάω στο υποκατάστημα...

So:

• προτού = before
• πριν = before, usually more common in everyday speech

Both are good Greek.

Why is it πάω after προτού?

After προτού, Greek normally uses a verb form equivalent to the subjunctive-type dependent form, not an infinitive like English.

So Greek says:

• Προτού πάω... = before I go...

rather than something like before going.

A learner may expect πηγαίνω, but πάω is extremely common and natural for go. In this sentence, it refers to the act of going to the branch, so πάω works very well.

You may also see:

• Πριν πάω...
• Προτού να πάω...

but Προτού πάω... is perfectly normal.

Why are κοιτάω and έχω in the present tense?