Αν γυαλίζεις καλά το τραπέζι, βλέπεις αμέσως ποια χαρτιά είναι τσαλακωμένα.

to be

Breakdown of Αν γυαλίζεις καλά το τραπέζι, βλέπεις αμέσως ποια χαρτιά είναι τσαλακωμένα.

• καλά: well
• βλέπω: to see
• το τραπέζι: the table

Questions & Answers about Αν γυαλίζεις καλά το τραπέζι, βλέπεις αμέσως ποια χαρτιά είναι τσαλακωμένα.

Why does the sentence start with Αν?

Αν means if.

In this sentence, it introduces a condition: if this happens, then that happens. Greek uses this very naturally for general situations too, not only for one specific event.

So here the idea is something like:

• If / whenever you polish the table well, you immediately see which papers are wrinkled.

It is not necessarily talking about one single future event. It can describe a general result.

Why are γυαλίζεις and βλέπεις both in the present tense?

Because the sentence expresses a general truth or habitual result.

Greek often uses the present tense in sentences like this when the meaning is:

• whenever you do X, Y happens

So:

• γυαλίζεις = you polish / you are polishing
• βλέπεις = you see

In English, we also do this:

• If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.

That is the same kind of pattern.

Why is it γυαλίζεις and not γυαλίσεις?