Verbs

Of course, in English, nouns and pronouns aren’t enough. The words in red below are verbs, and we need them to make a complete sentence:

These are the pencils.
Sally became a doctor.
Federico shops at the store.

Generally, a verb describes existence (the first sentence), a condition (the second sentence), or an action (the third sentence).

Let’s start our discussion of verbs with one of the most useful verbs in English -- to be. Yes, go ahead. Make the joke. “or not to be.” Ha ha. It is to laugh.

to be
SingularPlural
First Person I amwe are
Second Person you areyou are
Third Person
he
she
it
} is
they are

When we combine the pronouns and verb forms, that’s called conjugating a verb. You’ll notice that the verb to be in English has several different forms. (Most other verbs, like walk or run, don't change as much.)

In Greek, the verb meaning to be also needs to be conjugated. Here it is:

SingularPlural
First Person εγώ είμαι
I am
εμείς είμαστε
we are
Second Personεσύ είσαι
you are
εσείς είστε
you are
Third Person
αυτός
he
αυτή
she
αυτό
it

είναι
is
αυτοί
they (m)
αυτές
they (f)
αυτά
they (n)

είναι
are

This verb is irregular in Greek, as it is in English, and in almost every other language. You’ll just have to memorize its forms. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be in a position to make a complete Greek sentence...

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