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Transitive and Intransitive Greek Verbs Posted by on Jan 30, 2017 in Grammar

In this post there is a list of common verbs that can be used with a direct object or without one. The object shows the person or the thing the action of the verb affects. When a verb is used without an object , it is the action of the verb that is important.

By Following Hadrian under a CC license on Flickr.

ανοίγω (to open)

  1. Ανοίγω τα παράθυρα. I am opening the windows.

The noun παράθυρα is the object of the verb ανοίγω.

  1. Η τράπεζα ανοίγει στις 8:30. The bank opens at 8:30.

In this case, the verb ανοίγω does not have an object. The focus is on the action of the verb.

κλείνω (to close)

  1. Κλείνω την πόρτα. I am closing the door.
  2. Το φαρμακείο κλείνει αργά. The pharmacy closes late.

βάφω (to paint)

  1. Ο Στέφανος βάφει το σπίτι. Stefanos is painting the house.
  2. Το κόκκινο κρασί βάφει. Red wine stains.

βράζω (to boil)

  1. Βράζουμε χόρτα. We are boiling greens.
  2. Το νερό βράζει εδώ και ένα λεπτό. The water is boiling for one minute.

γράφω (to write)

  1. Πότε θα γράψεις το email; When will you write the email?
  2. Γιατί γράφεις με μολύβι; Why are you writing with a pencil?

παίζω (to play)

  1. Τα παιδιά παίζουν ποδόσφαιρο. The children are playing soccer.
  2. Γιατί παίζει η τηλεόραση; Why is the television on? (Lit: why is the television playing?)

τρώω (to eat)

  1. Τρώμε μουσακά. We are eating mousaka.

2. Όταν είμαστε στην Ελλάδα, τρώμε πολύ! When we are in Greece we eat much!

πίνω (to drink)

  1. Χθες το βράδυ ήπια μία μπίρα. Last night I drank one beer.
  2. Η γυναίκα του τον άφησε γιατί έπινε. His wife left him because he used to drink.

καίω (to burn)

  1. Έκαψα το φαγητό γιατί έβλεπα τηλεόραση. I burned the food because I was watching television.
  2. Ο ήλιος καίει. The sun is burning (= too hot).

σταματάω (to stop)

  1. Ο αστυνομικός σταμάτησε τον άντρα. The policeman stopped the man.
  2. Το λεωφορείο σταματάει στο αεροδρόμιο. The bus stops at the airport.

ξεκινάω (to start)

  1. Ο Μιχάλης ξεκίνησε το αυτοκίνητο. Michalis started the car.
  2. Λυπάμαι, δεν μπορείτε να μπείτε. Το έργο έχει ξεκινήσει. I am sorry, you cannot go in. The movie has started.

καταλαβαίνω (to understand)

  1. Καταλαβαίνω τις ερωτήσεις. I understand the questions.
  2. Η Μαρία καταλαβαίνει. Maria understands (she shows understanding).

φτιάχνω (to make, fix)

  1. Φτιάχνεις κοσμήματα; Are you making jewelry?
  2. Ο καιρός φτιάχνει. The weather is getting better.

By By: ME Photography under a CC license on Flickr

 

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About the Author: Ourania

Ourania lives in Athens. She holds a degree in French Literature and a Master’s degree in Special Education for Children. Since 2008, she has been teaching Greek to foreigners.