Can I sit here? Can you repeat that? Both questions use can in English, but one asks permission for your own action and the other asks someone else to act. Greek μπορώ να is useful in both situations. This worksheet helps you choose the person and interpret the question from its context.
Ask for help in class
Άννα: Μπορώ να καθίσω εδώ;
Εκπαιδευτικός: Ναι, βέβαια.
Άννα: Μπορείτε να επαναλάβετε τη λέξη, παρακαλώ;
Εκπαιδευτικός: Καλημέρα.
Άννα: Μπορείτε να γράψετε τη λέξη στον πίνακα;
Anna asks whether she may sit there. The teacher says yes. Anna then asks the teacher to repeat the word. After hearing καλημέρα, she asks whether they can write it on the board. The requests become clear because Anna is asking the teacher to do something, not testing the teacher’s abilities.
Who will perform the action?
Μπορώ να καθίσω εδώ; asks permission for me to sit here. Μπορείς να επαναλάβεις τη λέξη; addresses one person informally and asks that person to repeat the word. Μπορείτε να επαναλάβετε τη λέξη; addresses several people or one person formally. In each of these examples, both verbs refer to the same person or people.
Ability or a request?
Μπορώ να διαβάσω αυτό το κείμενο means I can read this text: it can state an ability. Μπορείτε να γράψετε τη λέξη; can function as a request in the classroom. The verb alone does not determine the intention. Context, tone and words such as παρακαλώ help the listener interpret it. Using μπορείτε does not make every request automatically polite.
Choose the question
- You ask permission to sit: ___ να καθίσω εδώ; Choose Μπορώ or Μπορείτε.
- You ask one friend informally to repeat: Μπορείς να ___ τη λέξη; Choose επαναλάβεις or επαναλάβετε.
- You address a teacher formally: ___ να γράψετε τη λέξη; Choose Μπορείς or Μπορείτε.
- In Anna’s last question, who is asked to write: Anna or the teacher?
Show the answers
1. Μπορώ: Anna herself would sit. 2. επαναλάβεις: one person is addressed informally. 3. Μπορείτε: it matches γράψετε and the formal address. 4. The teacher.
Practise a repair question
Choose one question to use when you do not understand: Μπορείτε να επαναλάβετε τη λέξη, παρακαλώ; Say it aloud, then imagine speaking to a friend and change both forms: Μπορείς να επαναλάβεις τη λέξη; Keep the requested action the same while changing how you address the person.
Review the μπορώ conjugation family and practise more ways to ask for repetition or slower speech.