Breakdown of Ήταν να πάμε για καφέ μετά τη δουλειά, αλλά έτυχε να μείνω περισσότερο στο γραφείο.
είμαι
to be
ο καφές
the coffee
πάω
to go
η δουλειά
the work
Questions & Answers about Ήταν να πάμε για καφέ μετά τη δουλειά, αλλά έτυχε να μείνω περισσότερο στο γραφείο.
What does Ήταν να + verb mean in this sentence?
Ήταν να πάμε is an idiomatic way to say we were supposed to go, we had planned to go, or we were meant to go.
Literally, ήταν means it was, but in this pattern it does not simply describe the past. It expresses an expected or arranged action that did not necessarily happen.
So:
- Ήταν να πάμε για καφέ = We were supposed to go for coffee
- It often suggests that this plan existed, but something got in the way
You may also hear similar structures like:
- Ήταν να φύγω νωρίς = I was supposed to leave early
- Ήταν να συναντηθούμε χθες = We were supposed to meet yesterday
Why is it πάμε after να, and not something like a past-tense form?
After να, Greek normally uses the subjunctive-related verb form, not a normal past tense.
So in Ήταν να πάμε:
- πάμε is the form used after να
- it does not mean present tense here
- the past meaning comes from Ήταν
In other words:
- ήταν places the whole idea in the past
- να πάμε expresses the intended action
This is very common in Greek. English learners often expect a past infinitive or another past form, but Modern Greek does not use infinitives the way English does.
Why is there no subject word for πάμε? Who is we?