Breakdown of Η λύση αυτή είναι μόνο προσωρινή, αλλά προς το παρόν μας βολεύει.
Questions & Answers about Η λύση αυτή είναι μόνο προσωρινή, αλλά προς το παρόν μας βολεύει.
Why is it η λύση αυτή and not αυτή η λύση?
Both are possible, but they are used a little differently.
- αυτή η λύση = this solution in the most neutral, everyday way
- η λύση αυτή = also this solution, but slightly more formal, written, or emphatic
So η λύση αυτή is not wrong or unusual; it just sounds a bit more formal or stylistically marked than αυτή η λύση.
What case is αυτή here?
It is nominative feminine singular, because it refers to η λύση.
- η λύση = the solution
- αυτή = this
Both match in:
- gender: feminine
- number: singular
- case: nominative
So η λύση αυτή literally means the solution, this one.
Why is προσωρινή feminine?
Because it agrees with η λύση, which is a feminine noun.
Greek adjectives change form to match the noun they describe.
Here:
- η λύση = feminine singular
- προσωρινή = feminine singular form of temporary
Compare:
- προσωρινός = masculine
- προσωρινή = feminine
- προσωρινό = neuter
Why is there μόνο before προσωρινή?
μόνο means only. It modifies προσωρινή here.
So:
- είναι μόνο προσωρινή = it is only temporary
It emphasizes that the solution is temporary and not a full or permanent answer.
Why is there no article before προσωρινή?
Because προσωρινή is being used as a predicate adjective, not as an adjective directly inside a noun phrase.
Compare:
- η προσωρινή λύση = the temporary solution
- adjective directly modifies the noun
- η λύση είναι προσωρινή = the solution is temporary
- adjective comes after είναι and describes the subject
In your sentence, it is the second pattern:
- Η λύση αυτή είναι μόνο προσωρινή
What exactly does προς το παρόν mean?
προς το παρόν means for the time being, for now, or at present.
It is a fixed expression. Learners should usually memorize it as a whole phrase rather than translating each word separately every time.
Examples:
- Προς το παρόν δεν ξέρω. = For now, I don’t know.
- Προς το παρόν μένουμε εδώ. = For the time being, we’re staying here.
Can προς το παρόν be replaced by τώρα?
Not exactly.
- τώρα = now
- προς το παρόν = for the time being / for now
προς το παρόν suggests the current situation may change later. It often has a temporary feeling.
So in this sentence, προς το παρόν is better than τώρα, because the whole idea is that the solution is temporary but acceptable at the moment.
What does βολεύει mean here?
βολεύει is a very common Greek verb that can mean things like:
- it suits
- it is convenient
- it works
- it is acceptable / manageable
In this sentence, μας βολεύει means something like:
- it suits us for now
- it works for us at the moment
- it is convenient for us for the time being
The exact English translation depends on context, but the Greek idea is that this temporary solution is practical or acceptable for us right now.
Why is it μας βολεύει and not βολεύει μας?
Because μας is a weak object pronoun, and in Greek these pronouns normally come before the verb.
So:
- μας βολεύει = it suits us / it works for us
This is the normal word order.
Other examples:
- με βοηθάει = it helps me
- σε ξέρει = he/she knows you
- τους αρέσει = they like it
What is μας doing grammatically?
μας is the unstressed form meaning us or to us, depending on the verb.
With βολεύει, it expresses the people affected:
- μας βολεύει = it suits us / it works for us
You can think of it as an object pronoun. In practice, learners usually just learn the expression as:
- με βολεύει = it suits me
- σε βολεύει = it suits you
- μας βολεύει = it suits us
Why is βολεύει singular if μας means us?
Because the verb agrees with the subject, not with μας.
The subject here is:
- Η λύση αυτή = this solution
That is singular, so the verb is singular:
- βολεύει = it suits / it works
μας is just the object-like pronoun meaning us.
So the structure is:
- This solution = subject
- suits us = verb + pronoun
What tense is είναι and βολεύει?
Both are present tense.
- είναι = is
- βολεύει = suits / works
Even though the sentence talks about something temporary, Greek uses the present tense because it describes the current situation.
Does αλλά work exactly like but?
Yes, in this sentence it does.
- αλλά = but
It links two contrasting ideas:
Η λύση αυτή είναι μόνο προσωρινή
= This solution is only temporaryαλλά προς το παρόν μας βολεύει
= but for the time being it works for us
So the contrast is:
- it is not ideal or permanent,
- but it is acceptable for now.
Could the sentence also be written with βολικό instead of βολεύει?
Not with exactly the same structure.
You could say:
- Η λύση αυτή είναι βολική. = This solution is convenient.
But that is different from:
- μας βολεύει = it suits us / it works for us
βολική describes the solution itself as convenient.
μας βολεύει focuses more on whether it is convenient for us in this situation.
Greek often prefers βολεύει when speaking about what fits someone’s needs.
Is there anything especially natural or idiomatic about this sentence?
Yes. The combination
- μόνο προσωρινή
- προς το παρόν
- μας βολεύει
sounds very natural in Greek.
It expresses a common real-life idea:
- something is not permanent or ideal,
- but it is good enough for now.
A learner should pay special attention to:
- προς το παρόν as a set phrase
- βολεύω / βολεύει as a very common verb in everyday Greek
How would this sentence sound in a more everyday word order?
A slightly more neutral everyday version would be:
- Αυτή η λύση είναι μόνο προσωρινή, αλλά προς το παρόν μας βολεύει.
This means the same thing. The original version,
- Η λύση αυτή... just sounds a bit more formal or stylistically polished.
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