Day 13 | I do, I don't

Today I thought I would look at how you ask for something and then flip it on its side by telling how you don't want something.  Lets start nice and easy

I want a sandwich

Θέλω ένα σαντουιτς

Thelo ena sandwich (yes, it's the same!)

He wants a sandwich

θέλει ένα σάντουιτς

Thelee ena sandwich

One thing interesting here is that we're not using the "I" or "He" here which I expected (no εγώ or αυτός).  Instead we use the verb itself, which in this case is "want".  Notice how this verb changes with each sentance to align with who we are talking about.  Want is spelt θέλο for I and Θέλει for he, instead of just one want which we have in English.  Because this changes there is no need to put the person at the start and so rely on the verb instead.  I am going to put some more here which I think might help people in vocabulary as well as grammar:

She wants a coffee

θέλει έναν καφέ

Thelee enan kafeh

You want a beer

Θέλετε μια μπύρα

Thelete mia beerah

They want a taxi

θέλουν ένα ταξί

Theloon ena taxee

I want a sleep  

Θέλω έναν ύπνο

Thelo enan hypno 

The eagle-eyed amongst you might have spotted another combination not picked up yet in this blog.  The sound "b" has popped up despite not being in the Greek Alphabet and this comes about from putting the letter μ and π (m and and p) together.  Because of this we can say beer.

OK, so since I have told you to have a beer, the correct response would be to decline it (right?).  There is actually an advantage to say this in Greek because the simple trick is put a δεν at the start of any sentance to negate it.  

I don't want a beer

Δεν θέλω μια μπύρα

Then thelo mia beerah

You wouldn't normally say you don't want one beer (so I'd advise dropping the μια).  If you are that adament about refusing beer then you might want to drop a "never" in it, which is a negative placed at the end of the verb.  Might seem complex but likely to be useful for all them beers you're avoiding.  Note you have to keep the δεν at the start though.

I never want a beer

Δεν θέλω ποτέ μπύρα

Then thelo mia beerah

Pretty useful stuff I reckon.  Let me know what you think.  Keep sober ;)




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