Aspect With States

Level 4

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

How It Works

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

Ξέρω has no freely interchangeable everyday perfective partner, while έμαθα often means found out or learned. Do not invent a stem to make every verb fit a perfective/imperfective pair.

GreekMeaning
Ξέρω την απάντηση.I know the answer.
Έμαθα την απάντηση χθες.I found out the answer yesterday.
Ήξερα την απάντηση.I knew the answer.

Examples (3)

  1. Ξέρω την απάντηση.

    I know the answer.

  2. Έμαθα την απάντηση χθες.

    I found out the answer yesterday.

  3. Ήξερα την απάντηση.

    I knew the answer.

How It Connects

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

Aspect With StatesLevel 4

Learn This First

Distinguish a whole-event view from an unfolding or habitual view before choosing the form in this construction.