 | how to use άμα - grammer questions |
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Hi Everyone, I am confused about the word άμα. Ι thought that it meant "if" but I have heard Greek speakers use άμα where I thought you would use μά (meaning "but"?) Could this be a difference in dialect for some speakers to use άμα instead of μά? As well, I have seen the word θές, for example, να θές, and I am not sure why is it not να θέλεις or να θελήσεις in the subjunctive tense? Thanks! Βικτορία |
| Re: how to use άμα - grammer questions |
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Hi Victoria, I don't know about άμα. As for θες, it's a common familiar contraction of θέλεις. It can be used anywhere θέλεις would be used instead, so you can say να θες as well instead of να θέλεις. Also note that while it does exist, the θελήσω form is hardly ever used. Mostly people use θέλω like κάνω, and don't make a distinction between continuous and non-continuous forms (using ήθελα instead of θέλησα, for instance). |
| Re: how to use άμα - grammer questions |
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Hi Victoria, Generally speaking, άμα, is as you said used in the same form as the english "if" and , μά, for the english "but". Sometimes you can use instead of άμα the word αν/εαν, and for the word μά, the word αλλά. It's the same. All i can think of, is that you prolly misheard or something like that cause Greeks tend to speak fast  Check this grammar book might help you. Cheers! and good luck! DQueen |
