Greek Grammar List

A predicate adjective agrees with the subject after είμαι.

An attributive adjective commonly stands between the definite article and noun.

Many adjectives have masculine -ος, feminine -η and neuter -ο in the nominative singular.

Some adjectives use feminine -α alongside masculine -ος and neuter -ο.

A common neutral order is subject, verb and object, but Greek allows other orders for context and focus.

A direct object normally takes the accusative.

Many feminine nouns in -α keep the same singular nominative and accusative and form plural -ες.

Many feminine nouns in -η form plural -ες while singular nominative and accusative match.

A subject pronoun can be left out when the verb and context identify the subject.

Many masculine nouns in -ας lose final -ς in the singular accusative and form plural -ες.

Many masculine nouns in -ης use singular accusative -η and plural -ες.

Many masculine nouns in -ος have nominative plural -οι and singular accusative -ο.

An adjective agrees with its noun in gender, number and case.

Neuter nouns such as όνομα add -τ- in forms including plural ονόματα.

Many neuter nouns in -ο form a plural in -α.

Many neuter nouns in -ι form a plural in -ια.

Εδώ, εκεί, μέσα and έξω can indicate where something is or happens.

Addressing one person politely normally uses second-person plural verb forms.

Many stressed verbs allow forms such as μιλάω or μιλώ, μιλάς, μιλάει or μιλά.

A second common stressed pattern uses μπορώ, μπορείς, μπορεί, μπορούμε, μπορείτε and μπορούν.

Many active verbs use endings -ω, -εις, -ει, -ουμε, -ετε and -ουν or -ουνε.

The nominative names the subject of a finite verb.

Greek nouns belong to masculine, feminine or neuter gender.

Common words such as σήμερα, αύριο and τώρα can locate an event without changing the verb's agreement.

A yes/no question can keep statement word order and use question intonation.

Ένα, δύο, τρία and τέσσερα are common neuter counting forms.

Ένας, μία or μια, and ένα introduce one unspecified person or thing.

Έχω expresses possession and has the forms έχω, έχεις, έχει, έχουμε, έχετε and έχουν.

Ή joins alternatives and means or.

Αλλά joins contrasting words or clauses and means but.

Από takes an accusative phrase and often marks source or starting point.

A demonstrative before a definite noun normally appears with its article.

Για takes the accusative and can mark purpose, benefit or the topic of a conversation.

Γιατί introduces a question about a reason.

Put δεν before the verb to make an ordinary indicative statement negative.

Είμαι means I am; its present forms are είμαι, είσαι, είναι, είμαστε, είστε and είναι.

Εγώ and εσύ mean I and you; αυτός, αυτή and αυτό mean he, she and it or this one.

Εκείνος, εκείνη and εκείνο can point to something more distant or contrast it with something nearer.

Εμείς and εσείς mean we and you; αυτοί, αυτές and αυτά are plural third-person forms.

Θέλω can take an accusative noun phrase naming what is wanted.

Και joins words or clauses and commonly means and.

Με introduces accompaniment or a means and takes the accusative.

Με λένε plus a name is a common way to say what your name is.

The liked thing is the grammatical subject of αρέσει or αρέσουν.

Short genitive pronouns after a noun can identify its possessor.

Ναι means yes and όχι means no.

Ο, η and το introduce a definite singular noun in the nominative.

Nominative plural articles are οι for masculine and feminine, and τα for neuter.

Παρακαλώ can accompany a request or respond to thanks; ευχαριστώ expresses thanks.

Ποιος, ποια and ποιο ask who or which and agree with the noun or referent.

Πού asks where and takes a written accent in a direct or indirect question.

Πόσος, πόση and πόσο agree with what is measured or counted.

Πότε asks when an action or event happens.

Πώς asks how and takes an accent when it introduces a direct or indirect question.

Σε commonly marks location, destination or a recipient and takes an accusative phrase.

Σε combines with the definite articles to form στον, στην or στη, and στο.

Τι asks what and does not change for gender, number or case.

The singular accusative definite articles are τον, την or τη, and το.

Use τρεις and τέσσερις with masculine or feminine nouns, and τρία and τέσσερα with neuter nouns.

Υπάρχει presents one existing thing and υπάρχουν presents more than one.

Greek contrasts active and middle-passive verb forms, but form does not uniquely determine meaning.

The vocative is used to call or address someone directly and normally has no article.

Greek normally uses a definite article with a personal name inside an ordinary sentence.

Greek distinguishes an imperfective view of an action from a perfective view of it as a whole.

Βλέπω, λέω and πάω have common past forms είδα, είπα and πήγα.

Πιο before an adjective forms a common comparative; από introduces the comparison standard.

An affirmative imperative gives an instruction to one familiar person.

Plural imperative forms address several people or one person politely.

Neuter nouns have matching nominative and accusative forms within each number.

After είμαι, a profession or nationality can appear without an article.

Many neuter nouns in -ος form plural -η and singular genitive -ους.

Nouns such as πόλη form nominative and accusative plural πόλεις.

Αν introduces an open condition whose fulfillment is possible or undecided.

The imperfect presents a past action as unfolding, repeated or background activity.

Forms such as γράψω and δω normally need a licensing particle or clause environment.

Many active aorists use -α, -ες, -ε, -αμε, -ατε and -αν or -ανε.

A genitive noun phrase can identify a possessor or another relation to a noun.

Many middle-passive presents use endings -ομαι, -εσαι, -εται, -όμαστε, -εστε and -ονται.

Unaccented που can introduce a relative clause describing a person or thing.

Short genitive pronouns can identify a recipient or experiencer before a verb.

Some nouns move their written stress in genitive forms.

Some past forms add a stressed ε- when the word needs an extra syllable for its past stress pattern.

The active aorist presents a past event as a whole.

Object clitics precede ordinary finite verbs but follow an affirmative imperative.

Current school spelling keeps ν in masculine τον and έναν, while feminine τη/την and δε(ν), μη(ν) follow contextual conventions.

Έχω plus an invariant perfect form presents a past event as relevant to the present.

Ήμουν and its paradigm express a past state with be.

Γιατί or επειδή can introduce a clause explaining why something happens.

Place δεν before θα to negate an ordinary future statement.

Είχα expresses possession or availability in the past.

Strong pronouns can follow a preposition or carry emphasis and contrast.

Θέλω να introduces the action someone wants to happen.

Θα plus an imperfective form can describe future activity in progress or repeated activity.

Θα plus a perfective dependent form presents a future event as a whole.

Κάθε stays unchanged before a singular noun and means each or every.

Κάποιος, κάποια and κάποιο can introduce an unspecified person or thing.

Κάτι means something; τίποτα can mean anything in a question or nothing with negation.

Κανείς and κανένας forms can mean anyone in questions or negative-polarity settings, and no one with negation.

Λέγομαι is a middle-passive form commonly used to give a name.

Short object pronouns replace an understood direct object and normally come before a finite indicative verb.

A prohibition uses μη(ν) with a finite form rather than a negated affirmative imperative.

Use μη or μην to negate the verb inside a να-clause.

Μπορώ να expresses ability or possibility with a finite να-clause.

Να introduces a finite verb whose ending agrees with its own subject.

A definite article with πιο plus an adjective can identify the highest degree in a group.

Invariant πολύ can intensify an adjective, adverb or verb.

Πολύς, πολλή and πολύ are adjective forms that agree with a noun.

Πρέπει να introduces something necessary or advisable.

Genitive definite articles are του, της and του in the singular, and των for all genders in the plural.

Όταν introduces a time clause meaning when or whenever.

Plural middle-passive verbs can express a reciprocal relation between participants.

A middle-passive form can describe a subject acting on itself.

Plural adjectives must agree in gender and case as well as number.

Μετά από introduces a noun phrase, while αφού can introduce a completed prior event in a clause.

The imperfect opens a past event's course or repetition; the aorist presents an event as a whole.

When two object clitics occur together, a genitive recipient normally precedes an accusative direct object.

Πιο can compare an adverb, while some common adverbs have one-word comparatives.

Forms in -οντας or -ώντας commonly add an accompanying action or manner.

An unstressed pronoun after a word can require an extra written accent on that word or on the first clitic.

Some nouns in -ος are feminine and take feminine agreement.

Many adjectives form manner adverbs in -α, as in ωραίος/ωραία.

Για να introduces the intended purpose of an action.

An imperfective imperative can encourage, continue or regulate an activity.

Some verbs have middle-passive forms with an ordinary active-like meaning.

A passive clause can name the agent with από plus an accusative phrase.

Many adjectives have comparative forms such as μικρότερος and δυνατότερος.

Many active perfective stems contain σ, sometimes written as part of ψ or ξ.

Some masculine nouns form plurals with -ηδες or -αδες rather than the shorter -ες.

An indirect question uses a question word or αν after a verb such as ξέρω or ρωτάω.

A noun phrase or strong pronoun can occur with a matching object clitic.

Ότι and unaccented πως can introduce a finite content clause meaning that.

Many participles in -μένος, -μένη and -μένο describe a resulting state and agree like adjectives.

Middle-passive imperfect forms describe ongoing or repeated past situations.

Many middle-passive aorists use a perfective stem followed by endings such as -ηκα, -ηκες and -ηκε.

A time or duration noun phrase can appear in the accusative without a preposition.

Some stressed active verbs have middle-passive presents in -ιέμαι.

A learned but common middle-passive class has forms in -ούμαι, -είσαι and -είται.

Αφού can introduce a reason treated as given or evident, roughly since.

Άλλος agrees with its noun or referent and can mean another, different or other.

Έχω combines with an invariant middle-passive perfect form such as γραφτεί or πλυθεί.

Δικός plus a short genitive pronoun expresses possession, often with contrast or without a following noun.

Είχα plus an invariant perfect form locates an event before another past reference point.

Ενώ can connect simultaneous events or contrast two situations.

Θα έχω plus an invariant perfect form presents an event as completed by a future reference point.

Καθένας, καθεμία and καθένα refer to each member individually and use singular agreement.

Και οι δύο and corresponding forms refer to both members of a pair.

Common comparative forms include καλύτερος, χειρότερος, περισσότερος and λιγότερος.

Μέχρι να and ώσπου να can mark the event that ends a period or activity.

An imperfective form after να presents an activity as unfolding, repeated or characteristic.

Ο εαυτός μου and corresponding forms make reflexive reference explicit.

Ο οποίος introduces a relative clause and agrees in gender and number with its antecedent.

Πριν από introduces a noun phrase; πριν or πριν να introduces a finite clause.

Ordinal numbers such as πρώτος, δεύτερος and τρίτος inflect like adjectives.

Τέτοιος agrees with a noun or referent and means such or of that kind.

Όλος agrees with a noun or pronoun phrase and can mean all or whole.

A nonrestrictive relative adds information about an already identified referent rather than selecting which one is meant.

Learned adjectives such as ακριβής use the same nominative singular form for masculine and feminine, with neuter ακριβές.

Adjectives such as βαθύς use feminine βαθιά and neuter βαθύ.

Some adjectives use a three-gender set such as ζηλιάρης, ζηλιάρα and ζηλιάρικο.

An adjective can stand with an article while its understood noun is omitted.

Some prefixed verbs show an internal augment in particular past forms, especially in learned usage.

States and other lexical verb meanings limit which aspect forms are natural or available.

Some common verbs use very different stems across present and perfective forms.

A noun phrase can follow an otherwise complete clause and clarify an earlier pronoun or clitic.

A mass noun can gain a count reading when it names servings, items or kinds.

Stress and word order can highlight a participant or phrase against alternatives.

Σαν commonly makes a comparison, while ως can mark a role or capacity.

Αν with the pluperfect and θα with the pluperfect can describe an unrealized past condition and consequence.

Perfective aspect presents an event as a whole without guaranteeing a successful intended result.

In ordinary Standard Modern Greek, a neuter plural subject normally takes a plural verb.

A relative clause with που can retain a pronoun for certain object, recipient or possessive relations.

A known object can be placed before the clause as its topic, often with a matching clitic inside.

A definite noun and a modifying adjective can each have an article in certain Greek noun phrases.

Greek reported speech selects tense from the intended time relation and viewpoint rather than applying obligatory tense backshift.

Αν with a past imperfect form and θα with a past imperfect form can express a hypothetical present or future situation.

Ακόμα κι αν introduces a condition that would not change the result.

Αν και introduces a concession: something holds despite a reason to expect otherwise.

Αντί να contrasts an expected or alternative action with what actually happens or is proposed.

Αρκεί να presents a condition as sufficient for the desired result.

Αρκετά can describe a sufficient degree before a για να-clause.

Εκτός αν introduces an exception to the condition under which the main clause holds.

Θα ήθελα expresses a wish or request more gently than θέλω.

Λόγω and εξαιτίας take a genitive phrase, while χάρη σε takes the accusative.

Μόλις can introduce an immediate time relation or express a very small degree.

Παρόλο που introduces a conceded fact or situation.

Πολύ with an adjective and a για να-clause can express a degree that prevents or makes an outcome unsuitable.

Τόσο with an adjective, adverb or verb can introduce a degree that leads to a που-clause.

Χωρίς να introduces a finite clause describing an absent accompanying action.

Ό,τι introduces an invariable free relative referring to a thing or action.

Όποιος and its inflected forms introduce a free relative referring to a person or thing.

Όποτε introduces an unspecified or repeated time when something happens.

Όπου introduces a place-relative clause without directly asking where.

Όσο and τόσο can link two changing degrees, like the more...the more.

Όσος inflects to match an amount or group introduced by a relative clause.

Ώστε can introduce a result, while ώστε να commonly presents an intended, possible or consequent outcome.

Expressions such as φαίνεται, χρειάζεται and πρέπει can introduce a clause without an ordinary noun subject.

Και να can introduce a hypothetical concession whose result does not change.

Some feminine nouns have learned singular genitives in -εως alongside everyday forms.

Έχω can take an object and an agreeing participle describing that object's state.

Certain verbs allow a full genitive recipient phrase alongside short genitive pronouns or a σε-phrase.

Learned neuter nouns such as καθήκον have paradigms that differ from regular -ο nouns.

Nouns such as συγγραφέας and γραμματέας have learned plural forms in -είς.

Suffixes such as -μα and -ση form many nouns connected to actions or their results.

Learned present middle-passive participles in -όμενος or -ούμενος can act as adjectives or nouns.

A question can express surprise, challenge or an implied conclusion instead of requesting information.

Greek compounds often combine stems with a linking vowel, commonly -ο-.

Greek can combine δεν or μη(ν) with words such as κανείς, τίποτα and ποτέ to express one overall negation.

Diminutive suffixes can express small size, affection, familiarity or a speaker's attitude.

An independent να-clause with past morphology can express an unreal wish or regret.

Many verbs select either a να-clause or an ότι-clause according to their meaning.

Μόνο restricts the alternatives associated with its focus.

The position and focus of a negative determine which claim is denied.

An independent να-clause can express a wish, blessing or desired outcome.

Θα with a present or perfect form can express an inference about now or the past.

Πρέπει να can express a strong inference as well as obligation.

Ακόμα, πια and ήδη describe how a situation relates to an expected change over time.

Ας introduces a finite verb for a suggestion, permission, concession or acceptance.

Διπλός can mean double or twofold, while διπλάσιος expresses twice the quantity or size.

Μήπως can introduce a tentative question, an indirect question or a feared possibility.

Μεν and δε can balance two contrasting parts in careful or formal writing.

Ούτε can connect negative alternatives, often in a paired ούτε...ούτε structure.

Παρών, παρούσα and παρόν form an irregular gender set often used in formal descriptions or attendance.

The adjective πολύς has genitive forms such as πολλού, πολλής and πολλών.

Το can introduce a να-clause that names an action or situation as a whole.

Όχι μόνο...αλλά και adds a second item while emphasizing that the first description is insufficient.

Some learned adjectives have masculine/feminine -ων and neuter -ον, with oblique forms using a longer stem.

A hypothetical condition and its result can refer to different time periods.

An inflected relative phrase can sit inside a larger embedded clause while its preposition identifies its local role.

Connectors such as ωστόσο, συνεπώς and ως εκ τούτου show how a statement relates to the preceding argument.

Some common learned participles retain an older repeated or changed initial element.

Learned active participles in -ων, -ουσα and -ον survive as adjectives or nouns in formal Modern Greek.

Learned perfective passive participles such as υπογραφείς, υπογραφείσα and υπογραφέν occur in formal writing.

Some adjectives in -τός express possibility or suitability, while others describe a state or have a lexicalized meaning.

A narrator can use present forms to make a past event vivid or immediate.

Modern Greek preserves a few fixed expressions with historical dative forms.

Some formal phrases retain historical accusative forms inside established expressions.

Some adjectives have adverbs in both -α and -ως, and the two forms may differ in meaning or register.

Formal passive expressions such as λέγεται ότι or αναφέρεται ότι introduce a report without an explicit reporting agent.

Learned verbal adjectives in -τέος can express something required or appropriate to be done.

In historical or biographical narration, θα can present an event as later than the story's reference time.

Ανεξαρτήτως can introduce a genitive noun phrase or combine with από and an accusative phrase.

Learned prepositions and prepositional expressions such as βάσει, ενόψει and certain uses of επί take a genitive phrase.

Είτε...είτε presents alternatives, often with a main result that holds whichever alternative is true.

Εφόσον can introduce a condition or a reason treated as established.

Καθόσον can introduce a reason or limit the extent to which a statement is valid.

Κατά πόσο introduces a question about extent or whether a claim holds to a relevant degree.

Ουδείς, ουδεμία and ουδέν are learned negative forms found in formal language and fixed expressions.

Ούτως ώστε strengthens a formal connection to a result or intended outcome.

Προκειμένου να introduces a purpose in careful, administrative or news prose.

Το ότι introduces a finite clause treated as a fact or proposition inside a larger sentence.