Πριν φύγω για τη δουλειά, βάζω το μεσημεριανό μου στο τάπερ.

the work

Breakdown of Πριν φύγω για τη δουλειά, βάζω το μεσημεριανό μου στο τάπερ.

• μου: my
• πριν: before
• για: for

Questions & Answers about Πριν φύγω για τη δουλειά, βάζω το μεσημεριανό μου στο τάπερ.

What does Πριν φύγω mean exactly, and what kind of verb form is φύγω?

Πριν means before.
φύγω is the perfective subjunctive form of φεύγω (to leave).

So Πριν φύγω means before I leave.

A very important point for learners: φύγω here is not a past tense, even though it looks like an aorist-based form. After πριν, Greek often uses this kind of form to refer to a single event that is about to happen relative to the main clause.

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Why is it φύγω and not φεύγω?

Because Greek makes an aspect distinction:

• φεύγω = imperfective / ongoing / general leaving
• φύγω = perfective / one complete act of leaving

After πριν, when you mean before I do the one act of leaving, Greek normally uses the perfective form:

• Πριν φύγω = before I leave

Using φεύγω here would not sound natural in this sentence.

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Why is there no word for I in the sentence?