The subjunctive with “να”
Expressing wish, purpose or obligation with να + verb; θέλω να, πρέπει να, μπορώ να.
Greek has no infinitive
Where English says “I want to learn”, Greek says literally “I want that I learn”: να followed by a conjugated verb. Both verbs agree in the same person — that is the one truly obligatory rule.
- Θέλω να μάθω ελληνικά.I want to learn Greek.
- Θέλει να μάθει ελληνικά.He wants to learn — both verbs in the 3rd person.
Once, or repeatedly?
This is the real difficulty of να. After να you choose between two forms of the same verb: one for a single action, one for a repeated or ongoing one. The choice is not optional — it changes the meaning.
- Θέλω να σε δω.I want to see you (once).
- Θέλω να σε βλέπω.I want to see you (regularly).
| μία φορά | συνέχεια | ρήμα |
|---|---|---|
| να γράψω | να γράφω | γράφω |
| να φάω | να τρώω | τρώω |
| να πάω | να πηγαίνω | πηγαίνω |
| να δω | να βλέπω | βλέπω |
What triggers να
A handful of verbs and function words are followed by να. Learn them as a block: once one appears, what follows is automatic.
- Πρέπει να φύγουμε τώρα.We have to leave now.
- Ήρθα για να σε δω.I came to see you.
- Ας φύγουμε νωρίς.Let’s leave early.
| ρήματα | εκφράσεις | σύνδεσμοι / μόρια |
|---|---|---|
| θέλω να | πρέπει να | για να |
| μπορώ να | είναι καλό να | πριν (να) |
| αρχίζω να | χρειάζεται να | ας + ρήμα (χωρίς να) |
Negation: να μην
After να the negative is never δεν but μην, and it sits between the two: θέλω να μην αργήσεις. This is a very common mistake, and it is heard immediately.
- Θέλω να μην αργήσεις.I want you not to be late.
- Προσπάθησε να μην το ξεχάσεις.Try not to forget it.
Често задавани въпроси
Why does Greek have no infinitive?
It lost the infinitive over its history and replaces it with «να» + a conjugated verb: where English says “I want to learn”, Greek says literally “I want that I learn” — «Θέλω να μάθω ελληνικά». Both verbs must be in the same person: «Θέλει να μάθει ελληνικά».
How do you negate a clause with να?
Never with «δεν», always with «μην», placed between the two: «Θέλω να μην αργήσεις» (I want you not to be late), «Προσπάθησε να μην το ξεχάσεις». This is a very common mistake and it is heard immediately.
Which Greek words are followed by να?
A small block worth learning together: «θέλω να», «πρέπει να», «μπορώ να», «ξέρω να», «για να» (in order to), «ας»: «Πρέπει να φύγουμε τώρα» (we must leave now), «Ήρθα για να σε δω» (I came to see you). Once one appears, what follows is automatic.