Breakdown of Μπορείς να το πεις άλλη μια φορά; Δεν θέλω να το επαναλάβεις πολύ γρήγορα.
Questions & Answers about Μπορείς να το πεις άλλη μια φορά; Δεν θέλω να το επαναλάβεις πολύ γρήγορα.
In Modern Greek, να is normally used before a verb in this kind of structure.
- μπορείς = you can
- να πεις = to say / say in a subordinate clause
So Μπορείς να το πεις; literally works like Can you say it?
Without να, the sentence would be ungrammatical in standard Modern Greek.
Because after μπορείς να, Greek usually uses a form from the perfective verb stem, not the ordinary present form.
Here are the relevant forms:
- λέω = I say / I am saying
- να λες = to be saying / to say repeatedly or generally
- να πεις = to say, once / in a complete act
In Μπορείς να το πεις άλλη μια φορά;, the speaker is asking for one complete repetition, so να το πεις is the natural choice.
το means it.
Greek object pronouns often come before the verb:
- το πεις = say it
- το επαναλάβεις = repeat it
So even though English says say it, Greek says it say in word order.