Before leaving home, you check your bag and ask whether your friend has the tickets. This everyday task gives έχω a clear purpose: say what you have, find out what another person has and report what is missing. Read the short conversation and keep track of the different speakers.
Check the bags
Άννα: Έχω τα εισιτήρια. Έχεις τα κλειδιά;
Νίκος: Ναι, έχω τα κλειδιά, αλλά δεν έχω νερό.
Άννα: Η Μαρία έχει νερό στην τσάντα της.
Νίκος: Έχουμε χρόνο για έναν καφέ;
Άννα: Ναι, έχουμε δέκα λεπτά.
Anna has the tickets and asks whether Nikos has the keys. He has them, but he does not have water. Anna says Maria has water in her bag. Nikos then asks whether they have time for a coffee. Anna says they have ten minutes. These details describe a fictional situation, not travel advice.
Change the person, not the object
Έχω τα εισιτήρια means I have the tickets. Έχεις τα εισιτήρια; asks one person informally whether they have them. Η Μαρία έχει τα εισιτήρια says that Maria has them. The tickets can stay the same while the verb changes according to the person who has them. Do not choose a plural verb just because εισιτήρια is plural.
| Πρόσωπο | έχω |
|---|---|
| εγώ | έχω |
| εσύ | έχεις |
| αυτός / αυτή / αυτό | έχει |
| εμείς | έχουμε |
| εσείς | έχετε |
| αυτοί / αυτές / αυτά | έχουν |
Having time and being somewhere
Έχουμε χρόνο; asks whether we have time. Έχουμε δέκα λεπτά answers that we have ten minutes. To say where you are, use είμαι instead: Είμαι στο σπίτι means I am at home. Έχω ένα σπίτι means I have a house. These sentences do not answer the same question.
Complete the check
- Anna speaks about herself: ___ τα εισιτήρια.
- Anna asks Nikos informally: ___ τα κλειδιά;
- Speak about Maria: Η Μαρία ___ νερό.
- Speak for the group: ___ δέκα λεπτά.
Show the answers
1. Έχω. 2. Έχεις. 3. έχει. 4. Έχουμε. In each sentence, the form follows the person who has the object or time, not the number of objects.
Make your own check
Use τα κλειδιά, τα εισιτήρια and νερό to make three statements about your bag. If something is missing, put δεν before the verb: Δεν έχω νερό. Then ask a partner Έχεις νερό; and change roles. Practise a negative reply as well as a positive one.
Review the είμαι and έχω forms, then practise identifying owners with Greek possessives.