Present Tense Conjugation (Group B)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Group B verbs end in -ώ and follow a specific pattern where the stress often shifts to the final syllable.
- Identify the verb by its -ώ ending, like 'αγαπώ' (I love).
- The stress pattern changes: 'αγαπώ', 'αγαπάς', 'αγαπά'.
- Always remember that the 'ε' sound often becomes 'ά' in the singular.
Conjugation of 'μιλάω' (to speak)
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
|
1st (I/We)
|
μιλάω
|
μιλάμε
|
|
2nd (You)
|
μιλάς
|
μιλάτε
|
|
3rd (He/She/It/They)
|
μιλάει
|
μιλούν
|
Alternative Forms
| Form | Standard | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
|
3rd Sing
|
μιλάει
|
μιλά
|
|
3rd Plural
|
μιλούν
|
μιλούνε
|
Meanings
Group B verbs are a major class of Greek verbs that express actions in the present tense with a distinct set of endings compared to Group A.
Active Present
Actions happening now or habitual actions.
“Μιλάω ελληνικά.”
“Αγαπάς το φαγητό;”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Verb
|
Εγώ μιλάω
|
|
Negative
|
Δεν + Verb
|
Δεν μιλάω
|
|
Question
|
Verb + ?
|
Μιλάς;
|
|
Short Answer
|
Ναι/Όχι + Verb
|
Ναι, μιλάω
|
|
3rd Person Alt
|
Verb + Short
|
Αυτός μιλά
|
Formalitätsspektrum
Ομιλώ προς αυτόν. (Communication)
Του μιλάω. (Communication)
Του μιλάω. (Communication)
Του τα λέω. (Communication)
Group B Verb Family
Common Verbs
- μιλάω speak
- αγαπώ love
- ρωτάω ask
Beispiele nach Niveau
Εγώ μιλάω ελληνικά.
I speak Greek.
Αγαπάς το φαγητό;
Do you love food?
Αυτός ρωτάει πολλά.
He asks many things.
Εμείς περπατάμε στο πάρκο.
We walk in the park.
Δεν μιλάω καλά γαλλικά.
I don't speak French well.
Τι ζητάτε από το κατάστημα;
What are you asking for from the store?
Αυτοί αγαπούν τη μουσική.
They love music.
Εσύ περπατάς γρήγορα.
You walk fast.
Πάντα ρωτάω τον δάσκαλο όταν δεν καταλαβαίνω.
I always ask the teacher when I don't understand.
Μιλάμε για το μέλλον μας.
We are talking about our future.
Αυτή η ταινία αγαπιέται από όλους.
This movie is loved by everyone.
Ζητάνε μια εξήγηση για το πρόβλημα.
They are asking for an explanation for the problem.
Δεν μπορώ να σταματήσω να μιλάω για αυτό.
I cannot stop talking about this.
Αγαπάμε να ταξιδεύουμε σε όλο τον κόσμο.
We love to travel all over the world.
Μου ζητάτε κάτι αδύνατο.
You are asking me for something impossible.
Περπατούν μέσα στη βροχή χωρίς ομπρέλα.
They are walking in the rain without an umbrella.
Η κοινωνία απαιτεί να μιλάμε με ειλικρίνεια.
Society demands that we speak with honesty.
Αγαπάει την τέχνη με πάθος.
He loves art with passion.
Ζητάνε την άμεση παρέμβαση των αρχών.
They are requesting the immediate intervention of the authorities.
Περπατάμε στα μονοπάτια της ιστορίας.
We are walking on the paths of history.
Αγαπώ την ελληνική γλώσσα για την εκφραστικότητά της.
I love the Greek language for its expressiveness.
Μιλούν με μια διάλεκτο που θυμίζει παλαιότερες εποχές.
They speak with a dialect that reminds one of older times.
Ζητάει να αναγνωριστεί η προσφορά του.
He requests that his contribution be recognized.
Περπατάει με μια αρχοντιά που εντυπωσιάζει.
He walks with a nobility that impresses.
Leicht verwechselbar
Learners mix up the endings.
Using -ει vs -ά.
Using -ουν vs -ούνε.
Häufige Fehler
μιλέω
μιλάω
μιλάς (unstressed)
μιλάς (stressed)
αγαπώμαι
αγαπώ
μιλάουν
μιλούν
δεν αγαπάω
δεν αγαπώ
αυτοί μιλάτε
αυτοί μιλούν
μιλάει (no stress)
μιλάει (stress on ά)
μιλάμε (as noun)
μιλάμε (as verb)
ρωτάνε
ρωτούν
αγαπάτε (as 3rd person)
αγαπούν
μιλάω (in formal text)
ομιλώ
αγαπάει (in formal text)
αγαπά
ρωτάνε (in formal text)
ερωτούν
Satzmuster
Εγώ ___ ελληνικά.
Εσύ ___ το φαγητό;
Αυτοί ___ μια εξήγηση.
Εμείς ___ στο πάρκο.
Real World Usage
Ζητάω έναν καφέ.
Αγαπάς αυτό το τραγούδι;
Μιλάω τρεις γλώσσες.
Περπατάω προς το κέντρο.
Αγαπάμε την Ελλάδα!
Ρωτάω πού είναι η στάση.
Focus on the stress
Don't mix groups
Use the short form
Be expressive
Smart Tips
Look at the first person singular. If it ends in -ώ, use the Group B pattern.
Use the full forms like 'μιλούν' instead of 'μιλούνε'.
Use the short forms to keep the flow of the sentence.
Check if it has a stressed -ώ. If so, it's Group B.
Aussprache
Stress
Always stress the last syllable in the singular forms.
Vowel Shift
The 'α' in the stem often merges with the ending.
Question
Μιλάς; ↑
Rising pitch at the end indicates a question.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Remember 'B' for 'Big' stress: Group B verbs always have a big, stressed -ώ at the end.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a giant letter 'Ω' (Omega) wearing a crown, representing the stress on the final syllable of these verbs.
Rhyme
Group B ends in -ώ, say it loud and let it flow!
Story
Maria loves (αγαπά) to speak (μιλάει) to her friends. She asks (ρωτάει) them questions all day. They walk (περπατάνε) together in the sun.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Conjugate 'μιλάω' out loud while walking around your room for 5 minutes.
Kulturelle Hinweise
Athenians often use the short forms like 'μιλά' instead of 'μιλάει'.
Cypriot Greek has unique stress patterns and sometimes keeps older forms.
Speakers here tend to be very expressive with these verbs.
These verbs descend from Ancient Greek contract verbs ending in -άω, -έω, -όω.
Gesprächseinstiege
Τι γλώσσες μιλάς;
Αγαπάς το καλοκαίρι;
Τι ζητάς από έναν φίλο;
Γιατί περπατάς τόσο αργά;
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
Εγώ ___ ελληνικά.
Εσύ ___ το φαγητό.
Find and fix the mistake:
Αυτοί μιλάει ελληνικά.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I speak.
Answer starts with: Μιλ...
Εμείς ___.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
___ ___ ___.
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesΕγώ ___ ελληνικά.
Εσύ ___ το φαγητό.
Find and fix the mistake:
Αυτοί μιλάει ελληνικά.
το / αγαπάς / φαγητό / ;
I speak.
Εμείς ___.
Εσείς -> ?
___ ___ ___.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Almost all, yes. It's the defining feature.
It's a historical remnant of the contraction.
Yes, it's very common in speech.
No, it's a common colloquial form.
Check the stress. Group B is stressed on the ending.
No, the verb ending tells you who it is.
It changes the meaning or register.
Most follow the pattern, but some have stem changes.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Conjugation by person
Greek has fixed stress on the ending.
Conjugation by person
Greek endings are always pronounced clearly.
Verb conjugation
Greek Group B is a specific contraction class.
Verb endings
Greek requires subject-verb agreement.
Root-based conjugation
Greek uses suffixation for person.
No conjugation
Greek is highly inflected.
