Όταν βρέχει, καθαρίζω το παρμπρίζ πριν ξεκινήσω, για να βλέπω καλά.

Because βρέχει is an impersonal verb in Greek, just like English it rains uses a dummy it. Greek does not need any subject word here.

So:

• βρέχει = it rains / it is raining
• there is no separate Greek word standing for English it

This is very common with weather expressions in Greek.

Usually no. Greek normally leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the person.

Here:

• καθαρίζω = I clean
• ξεκινήσω = I start / I set off in this structure
• βλέπω = I see

You would add εγώ only for emphasis or contrast, like I clean it, not someone else.

In this sentence, όταν has a habitual sense, so it is close to when or whenever in English.

Because the whole sentence describes something someone generally does every time it rains, όταν βρέχει means:

• when it rains
• whenever it rains

Both are good ways to understand it.

Greek present tense often expresses a habitual or repeated action, not only something happening right now.

So here:

• Όταν βρέχει = whenever it rains
• καθαρίζω το παρμπρίζ = I clean the windshield

This is like English When it rains, I clean the windshield..., where the present tense also describes a routine.

After πριν (before), Greek commonly uses the subjunctive form, and here that form is ξεκινήσω.

So:

• πριν ξεκινήσω = before I start / before I set off

This form is based on the perfective stem, which fits a single, complete action: starting the trip.

By contrast, ξεκινώ / ξεκινάω is the regular present form and would not be the normal choice here.

After πριν, Greek often uses the subjunctive form without να.

So πριν ξεκινήσω is completely normal.

You may also encounter πριν να ξεκινήσω, but in modern everyday Greek, πριν ξεκινήσω is usually the more natural and common form.

It is the aorist subjunctive, first person singular, of ξεκινώ / ξεκινάω.

That sounds technical, but the important idea is this:

• it refers to a single action, not an ongoing one
• after words like πριν, Greek often uses this kind of form

So πριν ξεκινήσω literally means something like before I start/set off.

This is an aspect question.

• βλέπω is imperfective: ongoing, repeated, continuous
• δω is perfective: one complete act of seeing

Here the meaning is so that I can see well during the drive, not so that I can catch one glance. That is why βλέπω is the better choice.

So:

• για να βλέπω καλά = so that I can see well
• για να δω would sound more like so that I can see/find out in one instance

Για να introduces purpose. It means:

• so that
• in order to

So:

• για να βλέπω καλά = so that I can see well / in order to see well

It is one of the most common ways to express purpose in Greek.

Yes, literally καλά means well, but in Greek βλέπω καλά is a very natural way to say I see well or I can see clearly.

English often prefers clearly, but Greek commonly uses καλά in this kind of context.

You could also hear βλέπω καθαρά, which emphasizes visual clarity more directly, but βλέπω καλά is perfectly natural.

Παρμπρίζ means windshield or windscreen. It is a loanword, and in Modern Greek it is treated as a neuter noun:

• το παρμπρίζ

A useful thing to know is that it is typically indeclinable, meaning its form usually does not change across cases in everyday use. The article shows its role:

• το παρμπρίζ = the windshield

So even though the noun itself stays the same, the article tells you the gender and case.

Because Όταν βρέχει is an introductory subordinate clause.

Greek, like English, often separates that kind of clause with a comma:

• Όταν βρέχει, καθαρίζω...
• When it rains, I clean...

The comma helps show the structure of the sentence clearly.

No, Greek word order is fairly flexible, but this version is natural and clear.

This order works well because it presents the sentence in a logical sequence:

1. the condition/time frame: Όταν βρέχει
2. the main action: καθαρίζω το παρμπρίζ
3. the earlier related action boundary: πριν ξεκινήσω
4. the purpose: για να βλέπω καλά

You could rearrange parts for emphasis, but this version sounds normal and straightforward.

In this context, it most naturally means set off, leave, or start driving.

Greek ξεκινώ / ξεκινάω can mean:

• start
• set out
• leave
• begin a journey

Because the sentence is about cleaning the windshield before travel, before I set off is probably the most natural understanding here.