Προσπαθώ να συνδυάζω τη δουλειά με το διάβασμα.

In Modern Greek, να is used to introduce a subordinate verb, often where English would use to plus a verb.

So:

• Προσπαθώ να συνδυάζω... = I try to combine...

After verbs like προσπαθώ (I try), Greek normally uses:

• προσπαθώ να + verb

Examples:

• Προσπαθώ να μάθω ελληνικά. = I’m trying to learn Greek.
• Προσπαθώ να κοιμάμαι νωρίς. = I try to sleep early.

So να is a very common connector after many verbs.

This is about aspect, which is very important in Greek.

After να, Greek often chooses between:

• imperfective form: συνδυάζω
• perfective form: συνδυάσω

The difference is roughly:

• να συνδυάζω = to be combining / to combine regularly, as an ongoing or repeated effort
• να συνδυάσω = to combine successfully, as a single whole action

In this sentence, Προσπαθώ να συνδυάζω τη δουλειά με το διάβασμα, the speaker is talking about an ongoing situation: trying to balance or combine work and studying in general. So the imperfective form συνδυάζω fits well.

If you said Προσπαθώ να συνδυάσω τη δουλειά με το διάβασμα, that would sound more like:

• I’m trying to manage to combine work with studying
• more like a single goal or achievement

Both are possible, but the nuance changes.

Προσπαθώ means I try or I am trying.

Greek present tense often covers both:

• a general meaning: I try
• a current ongoing meaning: I’m trying

So depending on context, προσπαθώ can mean either:

• I try to combine work with studying
• I’m trying to combine work with studying

τη δουλειά is in the accusative case, because it is the direct object of συνδυάζω.

The verb συνδυάζω means combine, and the thing being combined is the direct object.

Here:

• τη δουλειά = the work / my job
• με το διάβασμα = with studying / with reading

So the structure is:

• συνδυάζω
  • direct object in accusative
    • με
      • another noun

That is why you get:

• τη δουλειά

not the nominative:

• η δουλειά

Both exist, but τη δουλειά is very common in normal speech and writing.

The full feminine accusative article is:

• την

But when the next word starts with certain consonants, especially in everyday usage, Greek often drops the final -ν:

• την δουλειά → τη δουλειά

This is very normal.

You will also see:

• τη μητέρα
• τη φίλη
• τη μέρα

and sometimes the full form:

• την πόρτα
• την αγάπη

Rules about the final -ν can vary a bit depending on style, pronunciation, and modern usage, but τη δουλειά is completely standard.

It can mean either, depending on context.

η δουλειά can mean:

• work
• job
• employment
• sometimes even task or business

In this sentence, τη δουλειά most naturally means:

• work
• or my job

So the sentence suggests trying to balance employment/work obligations with studying.

It can mean both, and context decides.

διάβασμα comes from διαβάζω, which can mean:

• read
• study

So το διάβασμα can mean:

• reading
• studying
• schoolwork / revision

In this sentence, because it is paired with τη δουλειά, the most natural meaning is usually:

• studying

So the whole sentence is probably about balancing work and study.

Greek uses the definite article much more often than English.

So where English might say:

• with studying
• with reading

Greek often says:

• με το διάβασμα

This does not always mean a very specific the in the English sense. It can just sound natural with abstract nouns, activities, and general concepts.

So το διάβασμα here is simply the normal Greek way to say:

• studying
• the activity of studying

με means with.

The verb συνδυάζω often works like this:

• συνδυάζω κάτι με κάτι = I combine something with something

So:

• συνδυάζω τη δουλειά με το διάβασμα = I combine work with studying

This is a very common pattern.

Examples:

• Συνδυάζω τη θεωρία με την πράξη. = I combine theory with practice.
• Συνδυάζουμε διακοπές με δουλειά. = We combine vacation with work.

Yes, but you usually do not need to.

Greek is a pro-drop language, which means the verb ending already shows the subject:

• προσπαθώ = I try / I am trying

So εγώ is usually omitted unless you want emphasis or contrast.

Compare:

• Προσπαθώ να συνδυάζω τη δουλειά με το διάβασμα. = neutral
• Εγώ προσπαθώ να συνδυάζω τη δουλειά με το διάβασμα. = I am trying..., perhaps in contrast to someone else

No, Greek word order is more flexible than English, though some orders sound more natural than others.

The original sentence is a very natural neutral order:

• Προσπαθώ να συνδυάζω τη δουλειά με το διάβασμα.

You could also hear:

• Προσπαθώ να συνδυάζω το διάβασμα με τη δουλειά.
• Τη δουλειά με το διάβασμα προσπαθώ να τα συνδυάζω. (more marked/emphatic, and less basic)

But for learners, the original word order is the safest and most natural to use.

Yes, it is a common and useful verb, and it is fairly neutral in style.

συνδυάζω means:

• combine
• match
• coordinate
• balance together

It can be used in everyday contexts:

• Συνδυάζω δουλειά και οικογένεια. = I combine/balance work and family.
• Αυτά τα χρώματα συνδυάζονται ωραία. = These colors go well together.

So it is not unusually formal, though in some contexts it can sound slightly more polished than very simple everyday verbs.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

Prospa-THO na sindi-A-zo ti dhou-lya me to dhi-A-va-zma

A few helpful points:

• θ in προσπαθώ sounds like th in think
• δ sounds like th in this
• γιά / λιά in δουλειά has a lya sound
• stress matters:
  • προσπαθώ
  • συνδυάζω
  • δουλειά
  • διάβασμα

If you want to sound natural, make sure you place the stress correctly.

Yes. In natural English, balance is often a better translation than the more literal combine.

Greek συνδυάζω literally means combine, but in a sentence like this it often has the practical sense of:

• managing both
• balancing both
• fitting both into your life

So depending on context, a very natural English rendering is:

• I try to balance work and studying.

That captures the real meaning well, even if the Greek verb is literally combine.