αντί να

Instead of Doing Something

Level 4Sounds Like antí na

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

How It Works

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

The να-clause has its own finite verb and can have a different subject. A noun alternative uses αντί with a genitive phrase or another established nominal construction.

Greek	Meaning
Αντί να φύγω, έμεινα.	Instead of leaving, I stayed.
Διαβάζει αντί να κοιμάται.	He or she is reading instead of sleeping.
Αντί να περιμένεις, τηλεφώνησε.	Instead of waiting, call.

Examples (3)

Αντί να φύγω, έμεινα.
Instead of leaving, I stayed.
Διαβάζει αντί να κοιμάται.
He or she is reading instead of sleeping.
Αντί να περιμένεις, τηλεφώνησε.
Instead of waiting, call.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

αντί ναLevel 4Instead of Doing Something

Learn This First

Recognize a finite action clause before describing its absence, an alternative to it or a jointly proposed action.

να + finite verbClauses with Να
Recognize a finite action clause before describing its absence, an alternative to it or a jointly proposed action.
Level 2

Words in This Pattern

αντί

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