Question 1

Why is there an article in Η φίλη μου?

Accepted Answer

In Greek, possessive expressions usually include the definite article. So η φίλη μου is the normal way to say my friend. English says my friend, but Greek usually says the equivalent of the friend of mine.

Question 2

Does η φίλη μου mean my friend or my girlfriend?

Accepted Answer

It can mean either my female friend or my girlfriend, depending on context. The noun φίλη is feminine, so it refers to a female person. If the meaning shown to the learner says my friend, then that is the intended meaning here.

Question 3

Why does μου come after φίλη?

Accepted Answer

Short possessive words like μου, σου, του, της usually come after the noun in Greek: η φίλη μου, το σπίτι μου, ο αδελφός της. That is the normal pattern. Greek does not usually put the equivalent of my before the noun the way English does.

Question 4

Why is there no word for she in the sentence?

Accepted Answer

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns when the subject is clear from context. Here Η φίλη μου already tells you who the subject is, so Greek does not need to add αυτή. The same thing happens in γιατί είναι πολύ κουρασμένη: the subject is still understood to be the friend.

Question 5

What exactly is αρνήθηκε?

Accepted Answer

Αρνήθηκε is the 3rd person singular past form of αρνούμαι. Here it means refused. Even though its ending may look passive to a learner, the meaning here is active: she refused.

Question 6

Why is να used before βγει?

Accepted Answer

Modern Greek usually does not use an infinitive the way English does. So where English says refused to go out, Greek says αρνήθηκε να βγει. The word να introduces a subjunctive-type verb form, so it is not exactly the same as English to, even though that is often the best translation.

Question 7

Why is it βγει and not another form like βγαίνει?

Accepted Answer

Βγει is the form used after να from the verb βγαίνω. It is the perfective/aorist subjunctive form, and it presents the action as a single complete event: to go out. A form like να βγαίνει would suggest something ongoing or habitual, which does not fit as well here.

Question 8

Why is βγει written without an accent, and how is it pronounced?

Accepted Answer

It is pronounced roughly vyee /vʝi/, usually as one syllable. Greek monosyllabic words normally do not take a written accent, so it is written βγει, not βγεί.

Question 9

What does απόψε mean?

Accepted Answer

Απόψε means tonight or this evening. It is an adverb, so it does not change form. In this sentence it tells you when the going out would happen.

Question 10

Can απόψε be moved to another place in the sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Greek word order is fairly flexible. For example, Απόψε η φίλη μου αρνήθηκε να βγει is also possible. Moving it changes the emphasis a little, but not the basic meaning.

Question 11

Why does γιατί mean because here, even though it can also mean why?

Accepted Answer

Γιατί can mean both why and because. Here it introduces the reason for the refusal, so it means because. If it were asking why, the sentence would be a question and would use question intonation or a Greek question mark ;.

Question 12

Why is είναι in the present tense after αρνήθηκε, which is past?

Accepted Answer

Greek can use the present here because the tiredness is presented as a current state: she refused because she is very tired. If you wanted to place that state fully in the past, ήταν πολύ κουρασμένη could also be possible in a different context.

Question 13

Why is it κουρασμένη?

Accepted Answer

Κουρασμένη agrees with η φίλη μου, which is feminine singular. So the adjective must also be feminine singular. If the subject were masculine, it would be κουρασμένος.

Question 14

What case is κουρασμένη in?

Accepted Answer

It is in the nominative, because it is a predicate adjective after είναι. In Greek, adjectives like this agree with the subject, not with an object. So η φίλη μου είναι κουρασμένη means my friend is tired, with both φίλη and κουρασμένη in the nominative.

Question 15

Why is there a comma before γιατί?

Accepted Answer

The comma separates the main clause from the clause giving the reason. In Greek, a comma before a γιατί clause like this is very common and helps readability.

Η φίλη μου αρνήθηκε να βγει απόψε, γιατί είναι πολύ κουρασμένη.

Breakdown of Η φίλη μου αρνήθηκε να βγει απόψε, γιατί είναι πολύ κουρασμένη.

Questions & Answers about Η φίλη μου αρνήθηκε να βγει απόψε, γιατί είναι πολύ κουρασμένη.

Master Greek — from Η φίλη μου αρνήθηκε να βγει απόψε, γιατί είναι πολύ κουρασμένη to fluency