Δεν μπορώ να καταπιώ αυτό το χάπι χωρίς νερό.

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Breakdown of Δεν μπορώ να καταπιώ αυτό το χάπι χωρίς νερό.

• αυτός: this
• δεν: not
• μπορώ: to be able

Questions & Answers about Δεν μπορώ να καταπιώ αυτό το χάπι χωρίς νερό.

Why does the sentence start with Δεν?

Δεν is the basic word for not in Modern Greek. It goes before the finite verb, so here it comes before μπορώ:

Δεν μπορώ = I cannot / I can’t

Greek usually puts the negative directly before the verb it negates. In this sentence, δεν negates the whole idea μπορώ να καταπιώ.

What does μπορώ mean here?

Μπορώ means I can / I am able to.

It is the 1st person singular form of μπορώ:

• μπορώ = I can
• μπορείς = you can
• μπορεί = he/she/it can

By itself, μπορώ can mean I am able. When it is followed by να + verb, it means I can do something.

So:

• μπορώ = I can
• μπορώ να καταπιώ = I can swallow

Why is να used before καταπιώ?

After verbs like μπορώ, Greek normally uses να plus another verb.

So the pattern is:

μπορώ να + verb = I can + verb

Examples:

• Μπορώ να έρθω. = I can come.
• Μπορώ να φύγω. = I can leave.
• Μπορώ να καταπιώ αυτό το χάπι. = I can swallow this pill.

English uses the bare infinitive after can (can swallow), but Modern Greek does not have an infinitive in this use. Instead, it uses να + a finite verb form.