Modern Greek Grammar Lessons

 

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Lesson 4   Verbs Present Tense 1

singular   plural  
έχω I have έχουμε we have
έχεις you have έχετε you have
έχει he, she, it has έχουν they have

 

singular   plural  
δουλεύω I work δουλεύουμε we work
δουλεύεις you (s) work δουλεύετε you (p) work
δουλεύει he, she, it works δουλεύουν they work

 The sentences below show that -εις endings are used when addressing friends or children (familiar form) and -ετε when addressing people we are not familiar with or when children address an adult. 'Eχετε and δουλεύετε are used in the singular for this purpose. (polite form)  

έχεις αυτοκίνητο Γιάννη; do you have a car, Yianni?
έχετε αυτοκίνητο, κύριε Σμιθ; do you have a car, Mr Smith?
δουλεύεις σήμερα, Γιάννη; are you working today, Yianni?
δουλεύετε σήμερα, κύριε Σμιθ; are you working today, Mr Smith?

A great many verbs in the present tense have endings similar to έχω and  δουλεύω.

To become familiar with these endings, use the dictionary to complete Crosswords 6 and 7.