Αν συνεχιστεί αυτή η κίνηση, κοντεύουμε να χάσουμε το τρένο.

In Greek, when you use a demonstrative like αυτός / αυτή / αυτό (this / that), you normally also keep the definite article before the noun:

• αυτή η κίνηση = this traffic
• αυτό το τρένο = this train

So Greek often has a pattern like:

• demonstrative + article + noun

This is completely normal, even though it feels doubled to an English speaker.

Literally, κίνηση can mean movement. But in everyday Greek it very often means traffic.

So in this sentence:

• αυτή η κίνηση = this traffic
• more naturally in English: if this traffic continues or if traffic stays like this

This is a very common use of κίνηση, especially when talking about roads, cars, delays, and congestion.

συνεχιστεί is the form used here because Greek is expressing a possible future condition after αν.

It comes from συνεχίζω (to continue), and here it means:

• if it continues
• if it keeps up

More specifically, συνεχιστεί is an aorist subjunctive form. For learners, the important thing is this:

• after αν, Greek often uses this kind of form for a future or open condition
• English uses if + present
• Greek often uses αν + aorist subjunctive

So:

• Αν συνεχιστεί... = If it continues...

Even though the Greek form looks more complicated than the English one, the meaning is straightforward.

Because Greek is not describing an ongoing fact here; it is setting up a future condition:

• If this traffic continues...

συνεχιστεί presents the continuation as a single possible event/situation going forward.

By contrast, συνεχίζεται is an indicative form and would usually be used more for stating a fact:

• Η κίνηση συνεχίζεται = The traffic continues / is continuing

So after αν in this kind of sentence, συνεχιστεί is the expected choice.

κοντεύω να + verb means:

• to be close to doing something
• to be about to do something
• sometimes to almost do something

So:

• κοντεύουμε να χάσουμε το τρένο = we’re close to missing the train
• also naturally: we’re about to miss the train or we’re almost going to miss the train

The verb κοντεύω literally has the idea of coming near.

Modern Greek does not use the infinitive the way English does. Instead, it usually uses:

• να + verb

So where English says:

• to miss the train

Greek says:

• να χάσουμε το τρένο

After expressions like κοντεύω, θέλω, μπορώ, πρέπει, etc., Greek very often uses να + verb.

This is about aspect.

• να χάσουμε = aorist subjunctive
• να χάνουμε = present subjunctive

Here, missing the train is seen as a single whole event, so Greek uses the aorist:

• να χάσουμε το τρένο = to miss the train

If you used να χάνουμε, it would suggest something more ongoing, repeated, or habitual, which does not fit well here.

So the sentence uses the natural form for one specific event.

Because the speaker is describing the situation right now:

• right now, we are close to missing the train

So the sentence combines:

• a future/open condition: Αν συνεχιστεί αυτή η κίνηση = If this traffic continues
• a present situation: κοντεύουμε να χάσουμε το τρένο = we’re close to missing the train

This is very natural. The idea is:

• At this moment, we are getting dangerously close; if things keep going like this, we may miss it.

Yes, formally it is a passive-form verb. But in Greek, passive forms are often used where English would not use a passive translation.

Here:

• Αν συνεχιστεί αυτή η κίνηση literally looks something like If this traffic is continued
• but natural English is If this traffic continues or If this traffic keeps up

So you should not always expect Greek passive morphology to become an English passive sentence. Very often it just gives an intransitive meaning.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English word order.

For example, you could also say:

• Αν αυτή η κίνηση συνεχιστεί, κοντεύουμε να χάσουμε το τρένο.

This means the same thing.

The original version:

• Αν συνεχιστεί αυτή η κίνηση, κοντεύουμε να χάσουμε το τρένο.

is perfectly natural too. Greek often moves elements around for emphasis, rhythm, or style, without changing the basic meaning.

Yes. το τρένο means the train, usually the one that is relevant in the situation — the train we are trying to catch.

In context, Greek often uses the definite article the same way English does here:

• χάσουμε το τρένο = miss the train

So this does not necessarily mean a train already mentioned earlier; it can simply mean the train that matters right now.