Breakdown of Λες και δεν με άκουσε καθόλου, μου έκανε πάλι την ίδια ερώτηση.
Questions & Answers about Λες και δεν με άκουσε καθόλου, μου έκανε πάλι την ίδια ερώτηση.
What does λες και mean here? Is it literally you say and?
Not really. Λες και is an idiomatic expression meaning as if or it’s as though.
Even though λες by itself literally means you say, in this fixed expression Greek speakers do not usually think of it literally. It introduces an impression or comparison:
- Λες και δεν με άκουσε καθόλου = As if he/she didn’t hear/listen to me at all
It is very common in spoken Greek and has a slightly vivid, conversational feel.
Why is it άκουσε and not a form like άκουγε?
Άκουσε is the aorist form of ακούω. Here the speaker presents the action as a single whole: he/she didn’t hear/listen to me at all.
Compare:
- δεν με άκουσε = he/she did not hear/listen to me at all
- δεν με άκουγε = he/she was not listening to me / wouldn’t listen to me
So άκουσε fits well because the speaker is describing the situation as one complete event, not as an ongoing process.
Does ακούω mean hear or listen?
It can mean either, depending on context.
In this sentence, English could express it in more than one natural way:
- as if he/she didn’t hear me at all
- as if he/she wasn’t listening to me at all
Greek often uses ακούω in situations where English might choose either hear or listen to. The context tells you which English wording sounds best.
Why are there two different pronouns, με and μου?
Because they do two different jobs:
- με = me as a direct object
- μου = to me as an indirect object
So:
- δεν με άκουσε = he/she didn’t hear/listen to me
- μου έκανε την ίδια ερώτηση = he/she asked me the same question
English often keeps both ideas too, but in different structures:
- hear me
- ask me a question
Greek shows the difference clearly with two different clitic pronouns.
Why do με and μου come before the verb?
Because in Greek, unstressed object pronouns like με, μου, τον, της, μας normally come before a finite verb.
So you get:
- με άκουσε
- μου έκανε
This is the normal placement in statements.
A learner often notices this because English usually puts object pronouns after the verb:
- heard me
- asked me
Greek does the opposite with these short unstressed pronouns.
What does καθόλου add to the sentence?
With a negative, καθόλου means at all.
So:
- δεν με άκουσε καθόλου = he/she didn’t hear/listen to me at all
It strengthens the negation and makes the speaker sound more emphatic.
You will often see this pattern:
- δεν θέλω καθόλου = I don’t want it at all
- δεν μου άρεσε καθόλου = I didn’t like it at all
What exactly does πάλι mean here?
Here πάλι means again.
So:
- μου έκανε πάλι την ίδια ερώτηση = he/she asked me the same question again
It shows repetition. The person had already asked that question before.
In Greek, πάλι can sometimes also mean something like on the other hand or then again, but in this sentence it clearly means again.
Why is it την ίδια ερώτηση?
Because ίδια agrees with ερώτηση.
- ερώτηση is feminine singular
- so the adjective must also be feminine singular: ίδια
- and because the phrase is the object of the verb, it is in the accusative: την ίδια ερώτηση
Breakdown:
- την = the
- ίδια = same
- ερώτηση = question
So the whole phrase means the same question.
Could Greek also say την ίδια ερώτηση πάλι or πάλι μου έκανε? Is the word order flexible?
Yes, Greek word order is fairly flexible, especially with adverbs like πάλι.
This sentence uses:
- μου έκανε πάλι την ίδια ερώτηση
But you may also hear:
- πάλι μου έκανε την ίδια ερώτηση
- μου έκανε την ίδια ερώτηση πάλι
These are all possible, though they can sound slightly different in emphasis.
The given order is very natural and neutral in everyday Greek.
Can λες και be replaced by σαν να?
Often yes, with only a small difference in tone.
For example:
- Λες και δεν με άκουσε καθόλου
- Σαν να μην με άκουσε καθόλου
Both mean as if he/she didn’t hear/listen to me at all.
A useful rough distinction:
- λες και = very common, conversational, vivid
- σαν να = also very common, sometimes a bit more neutral
So a learner should recognize both.
Why is there a comma after καθόλου?
Because the sentence begins with a kind of introductory comment:
- Λες και δεν με άκουσε καθόλου, ...
Then the main statement follows:
- μου έκανε πάλι την ίδια ερώτηση
The comma helps separate the as if... clause from the main action. In writing, this is standard and makes the structure easier to read.
Is the subject missing? Who is doing the actions?
Yes, the subject is omitted because Greek often leaves it out when it is clear from the verb ending or the context.
Here:
- άκουσε = he/she heard
- έκανε = he/she did/made
So the subject is understood as he or she, depending on context.
Greek does this very often, much more than English does.
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