Type A verbs in Greek: Greek Grammar for Beginners
Today we’ll talk about Type A verbs in Greek! We’ll have a Grammar lesson.
When you speak Greek, you need to add verbs in your speaking. The first type of verbs you need to know are called A verbs. And all the most common verbs in Greek are A verbs.
By the end of this article, you’ll know, once and for all, how to use and conjugate all the most common Greek verbs, so that you use them in your speaking! Let’s get started!
When you speak Greek, you need to add verbs in your speaking. The first type of verbs you need to know are called A verbs. And all the most common verbs in Greek are A verbs.
By the end of this article, you’ll know, once and for all, how to use and conjugate all the most common Greek verbs, so that you use them in your speaking! Let’s get started!
Type A verbs in Greek
Generally, when we introduce a verb we don’t say like in English the verb “to be”, “to do”, “to work”. We say it in the 1st person, like “I am”, “I do”, “I work”.
Let’s see the verb “I live”. In Greek it’s μένω (meno).
μένω is an A verb because it ends in -ω. All the verbs that end in -ω are called A verbs.
Let’s conjugate μένω (meno). All A verbs like μένω use specific endings. Here they are ..
I live – μένω (meno)
you live – μένεις (menis)
he/she/it live – μένει (meni)
we live – μένουμε (menume)
you (plural) live – μένετε (menete)
they live – μένουν (menun) Let’s see another A verb.
Let’s see κάνω (kano), which means I do. We’ll use the same A endings.
I do – κάνω – (kano)
you do κάνεις (kanis)
he/she/it does – κάνει (kani)
we do – κάνουμε (kanume)
you (plural) do – κάνετε (kanete)
they do – κάνουν (kanun)
Let’s see the verb “I live”. In Greek it’s μένω (meno).
μένω is an A verb because it ends in -ω. All the verbs that end in -ω are called A verbs.
Let’s conjugate μένω (meno). All A verbs like μένω use specific endings. Here they are ..
I live – μένω (meno)
you live – μένεις (menis)
he/she/it live – μένει (meni)
we live – μένουμε (menume)
you (plural) live – μένετε (menete)
they live – μένουν (menun) Let’s see another A verb.
Let’s see κάνω (kano), which means I do. We’ll use the same A endings.
I do – κάνω – (kano)
you do κάνεις (kanis)
he/she/it does – κάνει (kani)
we do – κάνουμε (kanume)
you (plural) do – κάνετε (kanete)
they do – κάνουν (kanun)
Tip #1
The person is inside the verb.
If you say, for example, μένω, you mean I live. I will understand by the ending -ω that you mean I live. You don’t have to say εγώ (I) μένω (I live). The word εγώ is not needed with verbs. You may use it only for emphasis or contrast.
For example
εγώ μένω εδώ, όχι εσύ.
I live here, not you.
If you say μένουμε, you mean we live. You don’t need to say εμείς μένουμε. I will understand by the ending -ουμε that you mean we live.
If you say, for example, μένω, you mean I live. I will understand by the ending -ω that you mean I live. You don’t have to say εγώ (I) μένω (I live). The word εγώ is not needed with verbs. You may use it only for emphasis or contrast.
For example
εγώ μένω εδώ, όχι εσύ.
I live here, not you.
If you say μένουμε, you mean we live. You don’t need to say εμείς μένουμε. I will understand by the ending -ουμε that you mean we live.
Tip #2
In English, there are 2 forms.
They call them Present Simple and Present Continuous.
For example
I work (every day) or I am working (now)
In Greek, δουλεύω can mean I work or I am working. We have 1 form. We’ll understand by context if the meaning is I work or I’m working.
For example
I work (every day) or I am working (now)
In Greek, δουλεύω can mean I work or I am working. We have 1 form. We’ll understand by context if the meaning is I work or I’m working.
The 10 Most Common A verbs
The 10 most common Greek A verbs you need to know are
1. κάνω – kano – I do
2. μένω – meno – I live
3. έχω – eho – I have
4. δουλεύω – thulevo – I work
5. πίνω – pino – I drink
6. διαβάζω – thiavazo – I read, I study
7. σπουδάζω – sputhazo – I study in college
8. πηγαίνω – piyeno – I go
9. αρχίζω – arhizo – I start
10. γράφω – ghrafo – I write
1. κάνω – kano – I do
2. μένω – meno – I live
3. έχω – eho – I have
4. δουλεύω – thulevo – I work
5. πίνω – pino – I drink
6. διαβάζω – thiavazo – I read, I study
7. σπουδάζω – sputhazo – I study in college
8. πηγαίνω – piyeno – I go
9. αρχίζω – arhizo – I start
10. γράφω – ghrafo – I write
That’s all about the A verbs in Greek!
Now you’re an expert when you want to use verbs in your speaking. And you have everything you need to get started! Today is the perfect time to start speaking using your first verbs, and there’s no better way than by practicing every day!
Τα λέμε,
Θανάσης
(If you like my free lessons and you’d like to donate and support this website, treat me a tasty Greek coffee ☕ Your contribution helps me continue to create great free content.)
Now you’re an expert when you want to use verbs in your speaking. And you have everything you need to get started! Today is the perfect time to start speaking using your first verbs, and there’s no better way than by practicing every day!
Τα λέμε,
Θανάσης
(If you like my free lessons and you’d like to donate and support this website, treat me a tasty Greek coffee ☕ Your contribution helps me continue to create great free content.)
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