Personal pronouns
Strong and weak forms (εμένα / με, μου), clitic placement before the verb (μου το έδωσε) and after the imperative (δώσε μού το).
Strong and weak forms
Each pronoun has a strong form (εμένα) for emphasis and after prepositions, and a weak form (με, μου) that leans on the verb. In everyday speech the weak form is far more common.
- Εμένα δεν με ρώτησε κανείς.Nobody asked me.
- Αυτό το δώρο είναι για εσένα.This present is for you.
| πρόσωπο | δυνατός (αιτιατική) | αδύνατος (αιτιατική) | αδύνατος (γενική) |
|---|---|---|---|
| εγώ | εμένα | με | μου |
| εσύ | εσένα | σε | σου |
| αυτός | αυτόν | τον | του |
| αυτή | αυτήν | την | της |
| αυτό | αυτό | το | του |
| εμείς | εμάς | μας | μας |
| εσείς | εσάς | σας | σας |
| αυτοί/ές/ά | αυτούς/ές/ά | τους/τις/τα | τους |
Before the verb
Weak pronouns go immediately before the conjugated verb. With two pronouns, the genitive comes before the accusative: Μου το έδωσε (he gave it to me).
- Μου το έδωσε χθες.He gave it to me yesterday.
- Σου το είπα ήδη.I already told you.
After the imperative
With the imperative (and the -οντας gerund), weak pronouns follow the verb: Δώσε μου το βιβλίο. With two pronouns both orders occur: δώσε μού το or δώσ’ το μου.
- Πάρε με τηλέφωνο απόψε.Call me tonight.
- Δώσ’ το μου, σε παρακαλώ.Give it to me, please.
ο ίδιος and μόνος: himself, by himself
Ο ίδιος stresses identity: Ήρθε ο ίδιος ο διευθυντής (the director HIMSELF). Το ίδιο = the same thing. Μόνος + possessive stresses no help: Το έφτιαξα μόνος μου / μόνη μου. Both agree in gender and number.
- Ήρθε ο ίδιος ο διευθυντής.The director came in person.
- Σκέφτηκα ακριβώς το ίδιο.I thought exactly the same thing.
- Το έφτιαξα μόνη μου.I fixed it by myself.
Pyetjet e bëra shpesh
Where do weak pronouns go in a Greek sentence?
Immediately before the conjugated verb: «Μου το έδωσε χθες» (he gave it to me yesterday). With two pronouns, the genitive comes before the accusative. After an imperative, though, they follow the verb: «Δώσε μου το βιβλίο», «Πάρε με τηλέφωνο απόψε».
When do you use εμένα rather than με?
For emphasis or contrast, and always after a preposition: «Εμένα δεν με ρώτησε κανείς» (nobody asked ME), «Αυτό το δώρο είναι για εσένα» (this present is for you). In everyday speech the weak form is far more common.
What do ο ίδιος and μόνος μου mean?
«Ο ίδιος» stresses identity: «Ήρθε ο ίδιος ο διευθυντής» (the director HIMSELF came); «το ίδιο» means “the same thing”. «Μόνος» + a possessive stresses that nobody helped: «Το έφτιαξα μόνη μου» (I made it by myself). Both agree in gender and number.