Άνοιξαν τη σαμπάνια χτες.

yesterday

Breakdown of Άνοιξαν τη σαμπάνια χτες.

• ανοίγω: to open
• η σαμπάνια: champagne

Questions & Answers about Άνοιξαν τη σαμπάνια χτες.

What does Άνοιξαν mean grammatically?

Άνοιξαν is the 3rd person plural aorist form of ανοίγω (to open).

So it means they opened.

A few useful details:

• ανοίγω = I open / to open
• άνοιξα = I opened
• άνοιξαν = they opened

The aorist is the usual Greek past tense for a single completed action. In this sentence, it presents the opening as a finished event.

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Why is there no Greek word for they in the sentence?

Greek often drops subject pronouns when they are not needed.

So instead of saying:

• Αυτοί άνοιξαν τη σαμπάνια χτες. = They opened the champagne yesterday.

Greek normally just says:

• Άνοιξαν τη σαμπάνια χτες.

The ending -αν in άνοιξαν already tells you the subject is they, so αυτοί is usually unnecessary unless you want emphasis or contrast.

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Why does the sentence have τη σαμπάνια and not just σαμπάνια?