Language/Modern-greek-1453/Grammar/Modal-verbs

Modern Greek (1453-) → Grammar → Impersonals verbs

As a Greek language teacher for 20 years, I am pleased to introduce you to the world of Modal Verbs in Modern Greek. These verbs are essential in expressing one's attitude or opinion towards an action, event, or situation. In this lesson, we will cover the most common modal verbs in Greek and their usage in various contexts.

Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Relative Pronouns & Future Tense.

Definition

Impersonal verbs in Greek exclusively feature 3rd person singular finite forms and convey one of three types of meaning: (a) meteorological conditions; (b) emotional and physical state/experience; (c) modality. In Greek, impersonal verbs predominantly convey meteorological conditions and modality.

Common Impersonals Verbs

Here are some of the most common impersonals verbs used in Greek with their translations, pronunciations and examples:

Modern Greek (1453-)	Pronunciation	English
Πρέπει (Prepei)	/ˈpre.pi/	Should/must
θέλει (thèli)	/ˈθe.lo/	Want/would like to
Μπορεί (Bori)	/ˈbo.ɾo/	Can/may/able to
Πρέπει να (Prepei na)	/ˈpre.pi na/	Have to/must/should
Πρόκειται να (Prokeite na)	/ˈpro.ke.te na/	Going to/about to
Απαγορεύεται	apagorevete	not permitted
Δύναται (Dynamai)	/ˈði.na.te/	May/can

For example:

• Πρέπει να φύγω . (Prepei na fygo ) = I must leave .
• Απαγορεύεται το κάπνισμα. ( apagorevete to kqpnismq) = the smoking
• Μπορεί να βοηθήσει; (Borei na voithisi?) = Can you help?

Usage of Impersonal verbs

Modal verbs are often used in combination with other verbs to modify their meaning or express different shades of meaning. Here are some common ways in which modal verbs are used:

1. Advice/Recommendation: Πρέπει να (Prepei na)

"Πρέπει να" means "one should" or "must". It is used to give advice or recommendations.

• Πρέπει να φορέσεις ζεστά ρούχα. (Prepei na foresis zesta rouha.) = You should wear warm clothes.

2. Ability: Μπορώ (Boro)

"Μπορεί" means "can" or "able to". It describes the ability to do something.

• Μπορεί να παίξει πιάνο. (Boro na paxo piano.) = I can play the piano.

3. Obligation: Πρέπει να (Prepei na)

"Πρέπει να" also means "must" or "should" when it expresses obligation.

• Πρέπει να έχω άδεια για να φύγω. (Prepei na eho adeia gia na fygο.) = I must have permission to leave.

4. Intention: Θέλει (Thelo)

"Θέλει" means "want" or "would like to". It expresses a personal intention or desire.

• Θέλει να πάει διακοπές. (Thelo na pao diakopes.) = I want to go on vacation.

5. Probability: Πιθανόν (Pithanon)

"Πιθανόν" means "probably" or "likely". It expresses an estimation or assumption about something.

• Πιθανόν θα βρέξει αύριο. (Pithanon tha vrexei aurio.) = It will probably rain tomorrow.

6. Permission: Μπορώ (Boro)

"Μπορώ" can also indicate permission or the lack thereof.

• Αύριο μπορεί να έρθω σπίτι σου (Boro na ertho sto spiti sou?) = Can I come to your house?

7. Supposition: Προφανώς (Profanos)

"Προφανώς" means "obviously" or "evidently". It expresses a supposition or conclusion based on available evidence or information.

• Προφανώς δεν είναι εύκολο να τελειώσεις την εργασία μόνος σου. (Profanos den einai evkolo na teleiosis tin ergasia monos sou.) = Obviously, it's not easy to finish the job by yourself.

Common Expressions with Modal Verbs

Here are some common expressions with modal verbs used in Greek:

• Πρέπει να πω ότι... (Prepei na po oti...) = I must say that...
• Δεν μπορώ να πιστέψω ότι... (Den borο na pistepso oti...) = I cannot believe that...
• Θα ήθελα να... (Tha ithela na...) = I would like to...
• Πιθανόν να... (Pithanon na...) = It is likely that...
• Προφανώς... (Profanos...) = Obviously...

Exercises

1. Complete the following sentences:

• Πρέπει ___ πολύ καλά.

Answer: να μιλώ (Prepei na milo poly kala.) = I must speak very well.

2. Translate the following sentence in Greek:

• I can sing.

Answer: Μπορώ να τραγουδήσω. (Boro na tragoudiso.)

3. Translate the following sentence in Greek:

• You should call her.

Answer: Πρέπει να την καλέσεις. (Prepei na tin kalesis.)

4. Complete the following sentences with "Θέλω" or "Μπορώ":

• ___ να πάω σινεμά αύριο το βράδυ.

Answer: Θέλω (Thelo na pao sinema aurio to vradi.) = I want to go to the cinema tomorrow night.

• ___ να έχω ολοκληρώσει τη δουλειά σε μια ώρα.

Answer: Μπορώ (Boro na eho oloklirοseι ti douleia se mia ora.) = I can finish the job in an hour.

Sources

• Greek verbs: Modal verbs
• Modern Greek grammar

Other Lessons

• Syllabification
• Nouns and gender
• Verbes elliptiques, impersonnels et irréguliers
• Greek Deponent Verbs
• Writing and spelling
• 0 to A1 Course
• Questions
• The Greek sentence types
• Direct and indirect speech
• The final v