Language/Modern-greek-1453/Grammar/Question-words-and-basic-sentence-structure

Modern Greek (1453-) Grammar → Question words and basic sentence structure

Welcome to our lesson on Question Words and Basic Sentence Structure in Modern Greek! This is an exciting topic as it lays the groundwork for how we communicate in Greek. Understanding how to form questions and structure sentences is essential for effective conversation, whether you’re asking for directions, making plans, or simply getting to know someone.

In this lesson, we’ll explore the fundamental question words in Greek, how to use them in sentences, and the basic structure of Greek sentences. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to ask questions and form simple sentences, empowering you to engage in basic conversations.

The Importance of Question Words

Question words are crucial in any language, as they allow us to seek information and clarify our understanding. In Modern Greek, these words help you navigate conversations, whether in a café, a market, or while traveling. Mastering these will not only enhance your speaking skills but also boost your confidence in using the language.

Basic Sentence Structure

Before diving into question words, it's important to understand the basic structure of sentences in Modern Greek. A simple sentence typically follows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern, similar to English. However, Greek is quite flexible, allowing variations for emphasis or style.

1. Subject (Who?): The person or thing performing the action.

2. Verb (What action?): The action being performed.

3. Object (What is affected?): The person or thing receiving the action.

For example:

• Εγώ (I) τρώω (eat) μήλο (apple).

• I eat an apple.

This structure can change depending on what you want to emphasize in your sentence. However, for beginners, sticking to the SVO pattern will make it easier to communicate clearly.

Question Words in Modern Greek

Now let’s explore the most common question words in Greek. These words are essential tools for inquiry and will form the backbone of many of your conversations.

Modern Greek (1453-)	Pronunciation	English
ποιος (ποια, ποιο)	pjos (pia, pio)	who
τι	ti	what
πού	pu	where
πότε	pote	when
γιατί	giati	why
πώς	pos	how
πόσος (πόση, πόσο)	posos (posi, poso)	how much/many

These question words can be used in various contexts, helping you gather information or clarify details. Let’s look at each one in detail with examples.

Who (ποιος)

The word ποιος is used to ask about people. It can change based on gender and number:

• ποιος (pjos) for masculine singular

• ποια (pia) for feminine singular

• ποιο (pio) for neuter singular

Examples:

Modern Greek (1453-)	Pronunciation	English
Ποιος είναι αυτός;	Pjos ine aftos?	Who is this?
Ποια είναι η δασκάλα;	Pia ine i daskala?	Who is the teacher?
Ποιο είναι το βιβλίο;	Pio ine to vivlio?	Which is the book?

What (τι)

The word τι is used to inquire about objects or actions. It’s straightforward and commonly used.

Examples:

Modern Greek (1453-)	Pronunciation	English
Τι κάνεις;	Ti kanis?	What are you doing?
Τι είναι αυτό;	Ti ine afto?	What is this?

Where (πού)

πού is used to ask about locations.

Examples:

Modern Greek (1453-)	Pronunciation	English
Πού είναι το σπίτι;	Pu ine to spiti?	Where is the house?
Πού πηγαίνεις;	Pu pigenis?	Where are you going?

When (πότε)

πότε is used to inquire about time.

Examples:

Modern Greek (1453-)	Pronunciation	English
Πότε είναι το μάθημα;	Pote ine to mathima?	When is the class?
Πότε θα έρθεις;	Pote tha erthis?	When will you come?

Why (γιατί)

γιατί is used to ask for reasons or explanations.

Examples:

Modern Greek (1453-)	Pronunciation	English
Γιατί είσαι λυπημένος;	Giati ise lipimenos?	Why are you sad?
Γιατί δεν ήρθες;	Giati den irthes?	Why didn't you come?

How (πώς)

πώς is used to inquire about the manner or method.

Examples:

Modern Greek (1453-)	Pronunciation	English
Πώς πας στο σχολείο;	Pos pas sto scholeio?	How do you go to school?
Πώς είναι ο καιρός;	Pos ine o kairós?	How is the weather?

How much/many (πόσος)

πόσος is used to ask about quantity or price.

Examples:

Modern Greek (1453-)	Pronunciation	English
Πόσο κοστίζει;	Poso kostizi?	How much does it cost?
Πόσοι είναι οι φίλοι σου;	Posoi ine i filoi sou?	How many are your friends?

Forming Questions

In Greek, forming questions is often straightforward, but it can differ depending on the context (yes/no questions vs. open-ended questions).

1. Yes/No Questions: These can be formed simply by raising your intonation at the end of the statement or by adding the word μήπως (mipos) or όχι (ohi) at the end for emphasis.

• Example: Είναι καλός ο καιρός; (Is the weather good?)

2. Open-ended Questions: These typically begin with a question word.

• Example: Πώς είναι ο καιρός; (How is the weather?)

Both forms are essential for engaging in conversation, whether you seek specific information or just want to confirm something.

Basic Sentence Structure in Questions

When forming questions, the basic structure remains the same, but emphasis often shifts based on the information sought.

• Statement: Εγώ πηγαίνω στο σχολείο. (I go to school.)

• Question: Πού πηγαίνεις; (Where do you go?)

Notice how the question word replaces the information we want to know, transforming the statement into a question.

Practice Exercises

Now that you have a solid understanding of question words and basic sentence structure, let’s put your knowledge to the test with some exercises!

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct question word

1. ______ είναι το βιβλίο; (What is the book?)

2. ______ έρχεσαι; (When are you coming?)

3. ______ είναι ο φίλος σου; (Who is your friend?)

4. ______ είναι η ταινία; (How is the movie?)

5. ______ θέλεις να φας; (What do you want to eat?)

Solutions:

1. Τι

2. Πότε

3. Ποιος

4. Πώς

5. Τι

Exercise 2: Transform the statements into questions using the appropriate question word

1. Ο Γιώργος είναι φίλος μου. (George is my friend.) → ______ είναι ο Γιώργος; (Who is George?)

2. Η ταινία είναι καλή. (The movie is good.) → ______ είναι η ταινία; (How is the movie?)

3. Πηγαίνω στο πάρκο. (I go to the park.) → ______ πηγαίνεις; (Where are you going?)

4. Είναι 10 ευρώ. (It is 10 euros.) → ______ κοστίζει; (How much does it cost?)

5. Είμαι εδώ. (I am here.) → ______ είσαι εδώ; (Why are you here?)

Solutions:

1. Ποιος

2. Πώς

3. Πού

4. Πόσο

5. Γιατί

Exercise 3: Create questions using the question words provided

Use the following question words to create your own questions in Greek:

1. πώς

2. πού

3. πότε

4. τι

5. γιατί

Example Answers:

1. Πώς είσαι; (How are you?)

2. Πού μένεις; (Where do you live?)

3. Πότε είναι τα γενέθλιά σου; (When is your birthday?)

4. Τι κάνεις; (What are you doing?)

5. Γιατί μαθαίνεις ελληνικά; (Why are you learning Greek?)

Exercise 4: Match the question words to their meanings

| Question Word | Meaning |

|---------------|---------|

| ποιος | a) what |

| πού | b) where |

| πότε | c) when |

| τι | d) who |

| γιατί | e) why |

Solutions:

• ποιος → d

• πού → b

• πότε → c

• τι → a

• γιατί → e

Exercise 5: Answer the following questions in Greek

1. Πώς σε λένε; (What is your name?)

2. Πού μένεις; (Where do you live?)

3. Πότε είναι το μάθημα; (When is the class?)

4. Γιατί μαθαίνεις ελληνικά; (Why are you learning Greek?)

5. Τι αγαπάς να κάνεις; (What do you love to do?)

Solutions: (Sample answers)

1. Με λένε [Your Name]. (My name is [Your Name].)

2. Μένω στο [Your City]. (I live in [Your City].)

3. Το μάθημα είναι [Time]. (The class is at [Time].)

4. Μαθαίνω ελληνικά γιατί αγαπώ την γλώσσα. (I learn Greek because I love the language.)

5. Αγαπώ να διαβάζω. (I love to read.)

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this lesson! You’ve taken the first steps towards mastering question words and basic sentence structure in Modern Greek. Remember, practice makes perfect! Use these question words in your daily conversations, and don’t hesitate to ask questions. As you continue your learning journey, you’ll find that asking questions is one of the most powerful tools in communication.

Keep practicing, and soon enough, you’ll be engaging in lively conversations in Greek! Until next time, καλή τύχη! (Good luck!)

Table of Contents - Modern Greek (1453-) Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Greek Alphabet

• Greek Letters and Pronunciation
• Diphthongs and Special Combinations

  ---

Basic Greetings and Phrases

• Greetings and Introductions
• Common Everyday Phrases

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Noun Gender and Plurals

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
• Adverbs and Adverbial Phrases

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods and Drinks
• Ordering in a Restaurant

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Greek Traditions and Customs

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Greek Cuisine

  ---

Greek History and Geography

• Historical Overview
• Geographical Regions

Sources

• Modern-greek-1453 Grammar - The Greek sentence types

Other Lessons

• Greek adverbs through examples
• Sentense Structure
• The degrees of the adjective
• Questions
• Synonyms Antonyms
• Definite and Indefinite Article
• Les numéraux ordinaux cardinaux
• Pronoms interrogatifs
• Subject Verb Agreement
• The comma