Όταν βασίζομαι μόνο στη μετάφραση, ξεχνάω εύκολα τη μέθοδο που είναι πραγματικά ουσιαστική για εμένα.

When I rely only on translation, I easily forget the method that is truly essential for me.

Breakdown of Όταν βασίζομαι μόνο στη μετάφραση, ξεχνάω εύκολα τη μέθοδο που είναι πραγματικά ουσιαστική για εμένα.

• είμαι: to be
• για: for
• σε: on
• που: that

Questions & Answers about Όταν βασίζομαι μόνο στη μετάφραση, ξεχνάω εύκολα τη μέθοδο που είναι πραγματικά ουσιαστική για εμένα.

Why does the sentence start with Όταν?

Όταν means when. In a sentence like this, it often has the sense of whenever:

• Όταν βασίζομαι μόνο στη μετάφραση... = When / Whenever I rely only on translation...

Greek uses όταν very naturally for repeated or general situations, not just for one specific moment.

Why is βασίζομαι used here, and what exactly does it mean?

Βασίζομαι means I rely, I depend, or literally I base myself on something.

So:

• βασίζομαι στη μετάφραση = I rely on translation

This verb often appears in the middle/passive-looking form even when the meaning is active in English. That is very common in Greek.

Related forms:

• βασίζω = I base something
• βασίζομαι = I base myself / I rely

So the sentence uses βασίζομαι because the subject is the person doing the relying.

Why does βασίζομαι end in -ομαι instead of an active ending like -ω?

Many Greek verbs are used in what looks like the middle/passive form, with endings like -ομαι, even though they are not truly passive in English.

So:

• βασίζομαι = I rely
• not I am relied

This is just how the verb is normally used. A learner should get used to the idea that Greek verb forms do not always match English voice directly.