Breakdown of Αν δεν βρω καλή ανταπόκριση αύριο, θα πάρω ταξί μέχρι τον τερματικό σταθμό, γιατί δεν θέλω άλλη ακύρωση.
θέλω
to want
δεν
not
αύριο
tomorrow
καλός
good
Questions & Answers about Αν δεν βρω καλή ανταπόκριση αύριο, θα πάρω ταξί μέχρι τον τερματικό σταθμό, γιατί δεν θέλω άλλη ακύρωση.
How is the whole sentence put together grammatically?
It has three main parts:
- Αν δεν βρω καλή ανταπόκριση αύριο = If I don’t find a good connection tomorrow
- θα πάρω ταξί μέχρι τον τερματικό σταθμό = I’ll take a taxi to the terminal station
- γιατί δεν θέλω άλλη ακύρωση = because I don’t want another cancellation
So the pattern is:
- condition: Αν...
- result: θα...
- reason: γιατί...
This is a very common Greek structure for talking about a possible future situation and what you will do if it happens.
Why is it βρω and not βρίσκω or θα βρω after αν?
Because after αν in a future condition, Greek normally uses the perfective form of the verb, here βρω.
- βρίσκω = I find / I am finding
- βρω = find, as a single complete event
In this sentence, the speaker means if I fail to find one suitable connection tomorrow, so Greek uses βρω.
Αν δεν θα βρω is not the normal pattern here.
Greek usually says:
- αν βρω = if I find
- αν δεν βρω = if I don’t find
Many textbooks call βρω here the aorist subjunctive; some modern grammars describe it as the perfective non-past form. Either way, this is the form you expect after αν in this kind of sentence.
Why is there no να after ?