Breakdown of Κράτα χαμηλή ταχύτητα και άναψε το φλας πριν στρίψεις αριστερά.
Questions & Answers about Κράτα χαμηλή ταχύτητα και άναψε το φλας πριν στρίψεις αριστερά.
Why are κράτα and άναψε both commands, but in different forms?
Both are informal singular imperatives, but they show different aspect:
- κράτα is the present imperative of κρατάω / κρατώ
It suggests an ongoing action: keep / maintain - άναψε is the aorist imperative of ανάβω
It suggests a single action: switch on / turn on
So Greek is making a distinction that English usually does not show so clearly:
- Κράτα χαμηλή ταχύτητα = keep your speed low
- Άναψε το φλας = turn on the indicator
Why is it χαμηλή ταχύτητα? What is χαμηλή agreeing with?
Χαμηλή is an adjective meaning low, and it agrees with ταχύτητα:
- ταχύτητα = speed
- it is feminine singular
- so the adjective must also be feminine singular: χαμηλή
The whole phrase χαμηλή ταχύτητα means low speed.
After κράτα, this phrase functions as the object of the verb, so it appears in the accusative. In this case, the accusative looks the same as the nominative for these words.
Why doesn’t ταχύτητα have an article here?
Greek often leaves out the article in instructions or general statements, especially with nouns like speed, attention, distance, and so on.
So:
- Κράτα χαμηλή ταχύτητα = keep a low speed
This sounds general and instructional. If you added an article, it could sound more specific or less natural in this kind of context.
Why does Greek use ανάβω for the indicator?
Greek commonly uses ανάβω for turning on lights and signals.
Examples:
- ανάβω τα φώτα = turn on the lights
- ανάβω το φλας = turn on the indicator
Literally, ανάβω is related to lighting something, but in modern everyday Greek it is the normal verb for switching on lights, lamps, signals, and similar things.
What exactly does το φλας mean?
Το φλας means the turn signal / indicator / blinker.
It is a very common everyday driving word in Greek. It is a loanword, and it is treated as neuter, which is why it takes το.
So:
- άναψε το φλας = turn on the indicator
Why is it πριν στρίψεις and not πριν στρίβεις?
After πριν meaning before, Greek normally uses the subjunctive, not the ordinary indicative form.
Here:
- στρίψεις = aorist subjunctive of στρίβω = turn
- στρίβεις = present indicative = you turn / you are turning
So πριν στρίψεις means before you turn.
The aorist subjunctive is used because the turning is seen as one complete action.
Where is να? I thought the subjunctive needed να in Greek.
That is a very common learner question.
Usually, yes, the Greek subjunctive is introduced by να. But after certain words, especially πριν, Greek can use the subjunctive without an explicit να.
So:
- πριν στρίψεις = before you turn
Even though να is not written, the verb is still understood as a subjunctive form.
What is αριστερά here? Is it an adjective?
Here αριστερά is an adverb, meaning left or to the left.
With verbs of movement or direction, Greek commonly uses:
- στρίβω αριστερά = turn left
- στρίβω δεξιά = turn right
So in this sentence, αριστερά is not describing a noun. It is describing how / in what direction you turn.
How would I say this to more than one person, or politely to one person?
You would use the plural/formal forms:
Κρατήστε χαμηλή ταχύτητα και ανάψτε το φλας πριν στρίψετε αριστερά.
Changes:
- κράτα → κρατήστε
- άναψε → ανάψτε
- στρίψεις → στρίψετε
This is the version you would use for:
- more than one person
- polite singular you
Is the word order important here?
The sentence order is very natural and clear:
- Κράτα χαμηλή ταχύτητα = Keep a low speed
- και = and
- άναψε το φλας = turn on the indicator
- πριν στρίψεις αριστερά = before you turn left
Greek word order is often flexible, but in instructions like this, the straightforward order is the most natural. It keeps the sequence of actions clear:
- keep your speed low
- turn on the indicator
- then turn left
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