Breakdown of Δεν παρεμβαίνω εύκολα, αλλά παρεμβαίνω όταν υπάρχει κίνδυνος.
δεν
not
αλλά
but
όταν
when
υπάρχω
to exist
Questions & Answers about Δεν παρεμβαίνω εύκολα, αλλά παρεμβαίνω όταν υπάρχει κίνδυνος.
What does δεν do in this sentence?
Δεν is the standard way to make a verb negative in Modern Greek. It means not and normally goes directly before the verb:
- δεν παρεμβαίνω = I do not intervene / I don’t step in
- δεν υπάρχει = there is not / there isn’t
In your sentence:
- Δεν παρεμβαίνω εύκολα = I don’t intervene easily
Greek does not use a separate word like English do in negatives, so δεν + verb is enough.
What form is παρεμβαίνω?
Παρεμβαίνω is:
- 1st person singular
- present tense
- active voice
So it means I intervene, I step in, or sometimes I interfere, depending on context.
In this sentence, the present tense expresses a general habit or tendency, not necessarily something happening right now:
- Δεν παρεμβαίνω εύκολα = I’m not someone who steps in easily
- ...αλλά παρεμβαίνω όταν... = ...but I do step in when...
Why is παρεμβαίνω repeated? Could Greek leave it out after αλλά?