Both δεν and μην can make a Greek expression negative, but they are not interchangeable. This worksheet practises one useful contrast: saying that something does not happen and telling one person not to do something. It does not cover every use of negation. Read the situation before choosing a phrase.
Compare two messages about a door
| Η πόρτα δεν ανοίγει. | The door does not open. |
| Μην ανοίγεις την πόρτα. | Do not open the door. |
The first sentence reports a problem or fact about the door. It does not tell the listener what to do. The second addresses one person and asks them not to perform an action. Notice that the verb changes too: ανοίγει refers to the door, while ανοίγεις addresses “you”. Swapping only the negative word would not correctly turn the first sentence into the second.
Use the situation to interpret the sentence
Imagine a fictional rehearsal room. Anna tries the door and tells Nikos Η πόρτα δεν ανοίγει. She reports what is happening. Later, while they are recording, Nikos says Μην ανοίγεις την πόρτα. He gives Anna an instruction. The same object appears in both situations, but the speaker’s purpose differs.
Choose and explain
- You report that the door will not open when you try it. Choose Η πόρτα δεν ανοίγει or Μην ανοίγεις την πόρτα.
- You ask one familiar person not to open the door. Which of the two messages fits?
- Complete the statement: Η Μαρία ___ μιλάει τώρα. Choose δεν or μην.
- In Μην ανοίγεις την πόρτα, is the speaker describing the door’s condition or addressing someone’s action?
Answers and reasons
1. Η πόρτα δεν ανοίγει: it reports that the door does not open. 2. Μην ανοίγεις την πόρτα: it tells one person not to open it. 3. δεν: Η Μαρία δεν μιλάει τώρα means “Maria is not speaking now”. 4. The speaker addresses someone’s action.
Do not translate every English “not” the same way
Compare another pair: Δεν θέλω καφέ — “I do not want coffee”; Θέλω να μην πιω καφέ — “I want not to drink coffee”. The second sentence places the negative inside a να phrase. This shows why “δεν for every negative sentence” and “μην only for commands” would both be incomplete rules. For this worksheet, concentrate on recognising the door statement and the direct instruction before expanding to other structures.
Make a two-line role card
Write the English situation on one side of a card and the complete Greek message on the other. Alternate between reporting the door problem and asking someone not to open it. Say the whole sentence, then check both the negative word and the verb ending. A correct choice of δεν or μην alone does not guarantee that the rest of the sentence fits.
Continue with sentence practice
Use the reference on negation and questions to see more examples. The guide to requests offers positive instructions and polite requests for comparison. Keep the complete expressions together while you practise.
Read the negation reference · Compare instructions and requests