"Χρησιμοποιήστε το κουτάλι."

[Lng52-._]

So "χρησιμοποιήστε" = Perfective Imperative Mood/Tense. And, "χρησιμοποιείτε" = Imperfect Imperative Mood/Tense. How do you determine when to use the correct one?

[mizinamo]

As with past and future tenses, imperatives based on the aorist stem (often with an -σ- in them) are for single events, while those based on the present stem are for continuous, continual, repeating, or habitual events.

So you might say Χρησιμοποιήστε το κουτάλι! if you are talking to a guest to indicate that they should use a spoon now (at this meal), and Χρηστιμοποιείτε το κουτάλι! for example when you are talking to someone who has come from a country without spoons and you are teaching them that they should (in general, always, again and again) use the spoon.

[Kadmos_Thebes]

The sound of /s/ implies "once, not continually" χρησιμοποιήστε (use once), αγοράστε (buy once), τρέξτε! (run now!), χορέψτε (dance) etc.

To soften the imperative and make it sound a bit more polite or casual, we add Nα:

Να χρησιμοποιείτε το κουτάλι (continually)

Να χρησιμοποιήσετε το κουτάλι (once)
Notice that I've put one more ε there. It happens when we use the Να.

[GiEmmePi]

I know it does not say "το κουταλι σου", but could you not translate this with "Use your spoon"?

[D_..]

Yes, but be careful to match the number in the verb with the possessive: Χρησιμοποιήστε το κουτάλι σας (plural, polite, formal), χρησιμοποίησε το κουτάλι σου (singular, informal).

[GiEmmePi]

Sorry this is not what I meant to say. I have the impression (correct me if I am wrong) that in English the possessive is automatically used in this type of sentences ("Use your words!", "Take your elbows off the table!), but possibly not in Greek? In Italian you would not.

[D_..]

I wouldn't think that the possessive is necessary in English, but I am not a native speaker. Why would it have to be 'your' spoon? If you replace 'spoon' with another object maybe as in 'Use a/the chair to reach high shelves'?

In Greek, either the possessive or the article make sense depending on the situation.

[Phil682961]

It has to be "your elbows" but it doesn't have to be "your spoon".

[G.Georgopoulos]

True, since it could just be a spoon on the floor. "Grab that spoon and kill them" xD

[Delequesce7]

Just as an editing note, the τ in Χρησιμοποιήστε is completely inaudible in the audio recording.

[Dimitra956826]

I wouldn't say it's completely inaudible, just a bit muted. :/

(I did check the slow audio as well, to make sure everything is alright and nothing sounds sketchy.)