Πάντως, δεν επιμένω να γίνουν όλα σήμερα· αρκεί να τελειώσουμε τα πιο σημαντικά.

Πάντως is a discourse word meaning something like anyway, in any case, or at any rate. It helps frame the speaker’s attitude to what follows.

Here, it softens or qualifies the statement:

• Πάντως, δεν επιμένω... = Anyway / In any case, I’m not insisting...

It does not change the basic grammar of the sentence; it mainly adds tone and structure.

The verb επιμένω often means I insist or I persist. When it is followed by a clause expressing what someone insists should happen, Greek commonly uses:

• επιμένω να + subjunctive

So:

• δεν επιμένω να γίνουν όλα σήμερα = I’m not insisting that everything be done today

This is a very common Greek pattern:

• Επιμένω να έρθεις. = I insist that you come.
• Δεν επιμένω να μείνουμε. = I’m not insisting that we stay.

Modern Greek does not use an infinitive the way English does. Where English often says to do, to finish, to go, Greek usually uses:

• να + verb

So instead of an infinitive, Greek uses a subjunctive clause.

Examples:

• θέλω να φύγω = I want to leave
• πρέπει να πάμε = we must go
• επιμένω να γίνουν... = I insist that they be done / happen

So να γίνουν is the normal Modern Greek structure.

Γίνουν is the aorist subjunctive, 3rd person plural, of γίνομαι.

In this sentence, γίνομαι is being used in the sense of:

• happen
• take place
• get done / be done

Because the subject is όλα (all things / everything), the verb is plural:

• όλα να γίνουν = for everything to get done

So although γίνομαι often means become, here it means something closer to be done.

Yes. Όλα is the neuter plural form of όλος (all), and Greek often uses the neuter plural to mean everything or all things.

So:

• όλα = all things / everything

This is very natural Greek. Even though English uses the singular word everything, Greek often uses a plural form in this kind of expression.

Greek word order is flexible, so adverbs like σήμερα (today) can move around more easily than in English.

Here:

• να γίνουν όλα σήμερα = for everything to be done today

Putting σήμερα at the end sounds natural and lets the sentence build toward the time expression. Greek often places time adverbs near the end of a clause, though other placements are possible too.

For example, all of these are possible in different contexts:

• να γίνουν όλα σήμερα
• σήμερα να γίνουν όλα
• να γίνουν σήμερα όλα

The chosen order is simply a natural, neutral one.

That mark is the Greek ano teleia. It often functions like:

• a semicolon
• or a colon
• or a strong pause

So in this sentence:

• σήμερα· αρκεί...

it separates two closely connected ideas, roughly like:

• today; it is enough if...

In modern printed Greek, you may also see an ordinary semicolon or other punctuation depending on style, but · is a standard Greek punctuation mark.

Αρκεί means it is enough, it suffices, or as long as depending on context.

In this sentence:

• αρκεί να τελειώσουμε τα πιο σημαντικά means something like:
• it’s enough if we finish the most important things
• as long as we finish the most important things

It is often used impersonally, so there is no explicit subject like it in Greek.

Common pattern:

• αρκεί να + subjunctive

Examples:

• Αρκεί να έρθει. = It’s enough if he comes.
• Αρκεί να προσπαθήσεις. = You just need to try.

Just like after επιμένω, Greek uses να + subjunctive after αρκεί when saying what is enough or sufficient.

So:

• αρκεί να τελειώσουμε... = it is enough for us to finish...

Τελειώσουμε is:

• aorist subjunctive
• 1st person plural
• from τελειώνω (finish)

The -ουμε ending shows we, so Greek does not need the pronoun εμείς unless it is being emphasized.

Greek often uses the aorist subjunctive for a single complete action or event, rather than something ongoing or repeated.

Here the speaker is talking about completing tasks:

• να γίνουν όλα = for everything to get done
• να τελειώσουμε τα πιο σημαντικά = for us to finish the most important things

The focus is on completion, not on the process. That is why the aorist is natural here.

If the sentence used the present subjunctive, it would suggest a more ongoing or habitual sense, which would not fit as well here.

Greek is a pro-drop language, which means subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending already shows the subject.

• τελειώσουμε already means we finish / we should finish

So εμείς is unnecessary unless the speaker wants emphasis:

• αρκεί να τελειώσουμε... = neutral
• αρκεί να τελειώσουμε εμείς... = more contrastive or emphatic, like as long as we finish...

This is very normal in Greek.

Literally, it means the more important things, but in natural English it usually corresponds to the most important things in this context.

Breakdown:

• τα = the (neuter plural)
• πιο = more
• σημαντικά = important (neuter plural)

Greek often forms the comparative/superlative with πιο. Depending on context:

• πιο σημαντικά can mean more important
• τα πιο σημαντικά can mean the most important

Here, because the speaker is selecting a subset from everything, the meaning is clearly:

• the most important things

Also, σημαντικά is being used substantively here: the adjective stands in for important things.

Yes. That contrast is central to the sentence.

The speaker says:

• I’m not insisting that everything be done today but then adds:
• it’s enough if we finish the most important things

So the contrast is:

• όλα = everything
• τα πιο σημαντικά = only the most important items

This is a very common Greek way to express prioritizing:

• not all of it
• just the key parts

Yes, very often.

Depending on context, αρκεί να can mean:

• it is enough if
• provided that
• as long as

In this sentence, as long as we finish the most important things is a very natural translation.

So learners should recognize αρκεί να as a useful fixed pattern meaning that one condition is sufficient.

It is relatively soft and reasonable in tone.

• επιμένω by itself can sound strong: I insist
• δεν επιμένω softens that: I’m not insisting

Then Πάντως and αρκεί... make the whole sentence sound practical rather than demanding. The speaker is saying, in effect:

• I’m not demanding everything today; finishing the priority items is enough.

So the overall tone is moderate, flexible, and realistic.