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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 :)
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
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".
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?