Αφού έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά, προχωράω με την αίτηση σήμερα.

Breakdown of Αφού έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά, προχωράω με την αίτηση σήμερα.

έχω
to have
σήμερα
today
με
with
όλος
all
η αίτηση
the application
αφού
since
το δικαιολογητικό
the supporting document
προχωράω
to proceed

Questions & Answers about Αφού έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά, προχωράω με την αίτηση σήμερα.

What does Αφού mean here?

Here Αφού means something like since, now that, or once.

In this sentence, it introduces the reason or condition that makes the next action possible:

  • Αφού έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά = Since / now that I have all the supporting documents

So it is not just about time; it also carries a causal idea: because this is now true, I can go ahead.

A few natural English equivalents are:

  • Since I have all the documents...
  • Now that I have all the documents...
  • Once I have all the documents...
    • though in this exact Greek sentence, the sense is more I already have them now
Why is it έχω and not some other form?

Έχω means I have. It is the 1st person singular present tense of έχω.

Greek often leaves out the subject pronoun, so έχω by itself already means I have. You do not need εγώ unless you want emphasis.

So:

  • έχω = I have
  • εγώ έχω = I have / I’m the one who has

In this sentence, έχω is enough because the verb ending already shows the subject.

Why is there no εγώ for I?

Greek is a pro-drop language, which means subject pronouns are often omitted when the verb ending already makes the subject clear.

Here:

  • έχω clearly means I have
  • προχωράω clearly means I proceed / I’m proceeding

So adding εγώ would usually only be for emphasis, contrast, or clarification.

For example:

  • Αφού έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά... = neutral
  • Αφού εγώ έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά... = more like since I have all the documents (perhaps contrasting with someone else)
Why is it όλα τα δικαιολογητικά? How does this phrase work?

This phrase means all the supporting documents / all the required paperwork.

It breaks down like this:

  • όλα = all
  • τα = the
  • δικαιολογητικά = supporting documents / required documents

Grammatically, all three are:

  • neuter
  • plural
  • here functioning as the object of έχω

So they agree with each other.

You can think of the structure as:

  • όλα τα + plural noun = all the ...

Examples:

  • όλα τα βιβλία = all the books
  • όλα τα παιδιά = all the children
  • όλα τα δικαιολογητικά = all the supporting documents
What exactly does δικαιολογητικά mean?

Δικαιολογητικά is a very common administrative word in Greek. It usually means:

  • supporting documents
  • required paperwork
  • documentation

It is especially common in contexts like:

  • applications
  • visas
  • public services
  • university enrollment
  • legal or bureaucratic procedures

So in real life, δικαιολογητικά might include things like:

  • ID copies
  • certificates
  • proof of address
  • tax documents
  • photos
  • signed forms

It does not usually mean justifications here, even though the word may look related to that idea historically.

Why is it προχωράω? Can I also say προχωρώ?

Yes, both προχωράω and προχωρώ are used.

They are two common present-tense forms of the same verb:

  • προχωράω
  • προχωρώ

Both mean I proceed / I move forward.

In everyday Greek, the -άω form is very common and natural in speech. The form is also standard and widely used. The choice often depends on style, region, and personal preference.

So these are both fine:

  • προχωράω με την αίτηση σήμερα
  • προχωρώ με την αίτηση σήμερα

Same meaning, slightly different form.

What does προχωράω με την αίτηση mean literally and naturally?

Literally, προχωράω means I move forward or I proceed, and με την αίτηση means with the application.

So the phrase means:

  • I move forward with the application
  • I proceed with the application
  • I go ahead with the application

This is a very natural administrative or practical expression in Greek.

It suggests that the speaker is now taking the next step because everything needed is ready.

Why is it με την αίτηση and not another preposition?

The preposition με here means with, and in this context it is used idiomatically with προχωράω to mean proceed with something.

So:

  • προχωράω με την αίτηση = I proceed with the application

This is not a word-for-word English-style construction you need to overanalyze; it is simply a natural Greek way to express moving ahead in a process.

You may also see slightly different structures in Greek depending on the verb and context, but προχωράω με + noun is common and natural.

Also, after με, the noun phrase goes in the accusative, which is why you get:

  • την αίτηση not
  • η αίτηση
Why is it την αίτηση?

Την αίτηση is the accusative singular form of η αίτηση.

Breakdown:

  • η αίτηση = the application
    • nominative
  • την αίτηση = the application
    • accusative

After the preposition με, Greek uses the accusative case, so you need:

  • με την αίτηση

not

  • με η αίτηση

This is a very common pattern in Greek:

  • με το παιδί
  • με τη φίλη
  • με την αίτηση
Why is there a comma after δικαιολογητικά?

The comma separates the introductory clause from the main clause:

  • Αφού έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά, = subordinate clause
  • προχωράω με την αίτηση σήμερα. = main clause

This is similar to English when a dependent clause comes first:

  • Since I have all the documents, I’m proceeding with the application today.

So the comma is standard and natural here.

What tense is this sentence in?

The main verbs are both in the present tense:

  • έχω = I have
  • προχωράω = I proceed / I’m proceeding

In Greek, the present tense can cover several English ideas depending on context:

  • a current state: I have
  • an action happening now: I’m proceeding
  • a near-future or planned action, especially with time words like σήμερα: I’m going ahead today

So προχωράω ... σήμερα can sound like:

  • I’m proceeding with the application today
  • I’m going ahead with the application today
Why is σήμερα at the end? Could it go somewhere else?

Yes, Greek word order is fairly flexible, and σήμερα can move depending on emphasis.

The original:

  • Αφού έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά, προχωράω με την αίτηση σήμερα.

This sounds natural and puts today near the end, almost as the final practical detail.

You could also say:

  • Αφού έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά, σήμερα προχωράω με την αίτηση.
  • Σήμερα προχωράω με την αίτηση, αφού έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά.

These are all possible, but the emphasis shifts a little:

  • σήμερα earlier in the sentence gives more prominence to today
  • σήμερα at the end sounds slightly more neutral or conversational
Can the order of the two clauses be reversed?

Yes. Greek allows that.

You can say:

  • Αφού έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά, προχωράω με την αίτηση σήμερα.
  • Προχωράω με την αίτηση σήμερα, αφού έχω όλα τα δικαιολογητικά.

Both are grammatical.

The version with Αφού... first feels a bit more like:

  • Since I have everything ready, I’m going ahead today

The version with the main clause first can feel a bit more like:

  • I’m going ahead with the application today, since I have all the documents

So the difference is mainly one of information flow and emphasis, not basic meaning.

Is this sentence formal, neutral, or informal?

It is mostly neutral everyday Greek.

A few points:

  • δικαιολογητικά and αίτηση are administrative words, so the topic is somewhat formal or bureaucratic.
  • But the sentence itself sounds like normal spoken or written modern Greek.
  • προχωράω feels natural and conversational, though still perfectly standard.

So this is the kind of sentence you might say in real life when talking about paperwork, appointments, or applications. It is not slang, but it is not stiff or overly official either.

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