THE PRESENT TENSE
SIMPLE PRESENT
Explanation in English of Greek grammar points
Greek verbs like Greek nouns and adjectives, are not at all simple. Their endings change according to whether the subject is singular or plural, or 1 st person, 2 nd person or 3 rd person. In Greek personal pronouns are used for emphasis only, and not as forming part of the verb, as in the three other languages in the website. In addition, there are several different conjugations, which are all different from one another.
However, the grammar lessons for verbs start with verbal forms that you already know, from the first self-tuition lessons.
To be (είναι)
Singular
- Είμαι
- I am
- Είσαι
- you are
- Είναι
- he,she, it is
Plural
- Είμαστε
- We are
- Είστε
- you are
- Είναι
- they are
To have
- έχω
- I have
- έχεις
- you have
- έχει
- he,she, it has
- έχουμε
- We have
- έχετε
- you have
- έχουν
- they have
Regular verbs fall into two categories: those that put the stress on the penultimate syllable such as έχω and ( θέλω -want), and those with the stress on the last syllable like αγαπώ (love)
There are of course many exceptions.