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- "Διαβάζω εφημερίδα."
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@Vidder Either you say Διαβάζω εφημερίδα or Διαβάζω μία εφημερίδα is correct. In Greek, the definite article and ένας/μία/ένα are often omitted for brevity reasons!!! Same thing with Εγώ διαβάζω and Διαβάζω. The -ω ending implies that the verb is 1st person singular, therefore εγώ is unnecessary and can be omitted too :)
I have passed through 2 phrases, one of them i recall states: διαβαζουν βιβλία, without any indefinite article. So my question is: isn't there plural forms for indefinite articles, or it is purely coincidence of omitting those articles?
Yes, there are indefinite articles in Greek...e.g. "ένα/μια" but as you can see from the sentences you have done so far are not used as broadly as in English. You would only used the indefinite article if you wanted to specify that it was "one item".
So, a sentence such as ...."I am a doctor." is "Είμαι γιατρός." no article. I can't be more than one doctor.
See here: https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/20152037
https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/19938742
You should use the tips to become accustomed to the means of expressions in Greek...or any other language.
TIPS TO MAKE LEARNING EASIER and EFFECTIVE + HOW TO REPORT A PROBLEM
…..
https://forum.duolingo.com/comment/22424028
And check out the Greek Forum here with more links.
https://forum.duolingo.com/topic/936
Like Vidder said, in the sentence "Διαβάζω εφημερίδα," why isn't there an article in the sentence, like "a" or "the?" In other words, "Διαβάζω μια εφημερίδα" or "Διαβάζω η εφημερίδα?"
1791
In Greek you can use indefinite article (ένας/μια/ένα) when you're reading any newspaper just because you had nothing to do. You use definite article (ο/η/το) when both yourself and your interlocutor know the object (e.g. the sports newspaper). When both of these have no interest or importance but the important is the action, you don't have to use an article (e.g. Πίνω καφέ / Διαβάζω εφημερίδα / Φτιάχνω αυγά / Μαγειρεύω κρέας / Παίζω μπάλα). All of the above can easily respond to the question Τί κάνεις τώρα; and in fact do not need an article. This phenomenon is usual in Greek.
So. . . can this not be translated either "I read a newspaper" or " I read THE newspaper"? If both can be left out, how do I know that the correct translation is "a" here instead of "the"? (I chose "the," and it said I was incorrect. I suppose if both the speaker AND the audience do not already know anything about the aforementioned newspaper, the indefinite article is to be assumed; HOWEVER, given that I only have ONE sentence to work with and not a paragraph, it is difficult to make definitive assumptions.
Thanks!
- 1791
This is an extra use case that is available only in Greek. When you have to translate one single sentence in English, like in this case, the correct translation is by using the indefinite article as you cannot translate literally "I read newspaper".
The English translation should include "a" because "I read newspaper" isn't proper English.
I read "a" generic newspaper, (no article); vs. I read "the" newspaper, (needs a μια).
Correct is: I read newspaper. So no present continues. Because without an article it means like in English: i read newspaper (in general) . With article it means either the (specific) newspaper or a (a unspecified) newspaper. I have asked a native speaker :)
Sorry, that's not correct. In English, you must have: "I read the newspaper." or "I read a newspaper."
I ok that i didn't know. Because in German is it possible like this and would be the correct translation. So how to explain in English that you read newspaper but not necessarily at the moment Maybe: i read the newspaper. (like: I play the guitar) But we need here in simple pesent instead of present continues in any case?
"I read the newspaper." is general. "I am reading the newspaper." means at the moment. In Greek, there is only one kind of present so here both are correct.
Διαβάζω εφημερίδα I read newspaper.
Διαβάζω μία εφημερίδα I am reading a newspaper.
Διαβάζω η εφημερίδα I am reading the newspaper
On the other hand "I read a newspaper" is not the correct translation.
