Breakdown of Αν ήμουν πιο πρόθυμος, θα μαγείρευα τώρα αντί να τρώω κρουασάν και σαλάμι.
είμαι
to be
τώρα
now
και
and
τρώω
to eat
Questions & Answers about Αν ήμουν πιο πρόθυμος, θα μαγείρευα τώρα αντί να τρώω κρουασάν και σαλάμι.
What kind of if sentence is this?
It is a present unreal conditional: a situation that is imagined, not real.
The pattern here is:
- Αν + imperfect
- θα + imperfect
So:
- Αν ήμουν πιο πρόθυμος = If I were more willing
- θα μαγείρευα τώρα = I would be cooking now
Greek often uses past-looking forms for hypothetical present situations, just as English says If I were... rather than If I am... in this kind of sentence.
Why is it ήμουν and not είμαι after αν?
Because Greek uses the imperfect after αν for an unreal or contrary-to-fact present condition.
- Αν ήμουν πιο πρόθυμος... = If I were more willing...
This suggests I am not more willing right now. - Αν είμαι πιο πρόθυμος... would mean something more like If I am more willing..., which sounds like a real possibility, not a hypothetical contrary-to-fact idea.
So ήμουν is not past time here; it marks unreality.
Why is it θα μαγείρευα and not some other future form?