πόσος em 30 segundos
- Asks 'how much' or 'how many'.
- Changes form to match noun's gender and number.
- Essential for basic questions about quantity.
- Very common in everyday Greek.
The Greek word 'πόσος' (poh-SOS) is a fundamental interrogative pronoun that translates to 'how much' or 'how many' in English. It is used to inquire about the quantity or amount of something. Think of it as asking for a numerical value or a measure. Unlike in English where we have separate words for countable and uncountable nouns ('how many' vs. 'how much'), Greek often uses variations of 'πόσος' to cover both, depending on the gender and number of the noun it refers to. This makes it a versatile word that you'll encounter very frequently in everyday conversations, especially when you're starting to learn Greek.
You'll hear 'πόσος' used in a variety of situations. Imagine you're at a market in Greece and want to know the price of an item. You might ask 'Πόσο κοστίζει;' (How much does it cost?). Or if you're at a restaurant and want to know how many people are at a table, you could ask 'Πόσοι είναι;' (How many are they?). Even when asking about abstract concepts, like the time or the distance, 'πόσος' plays a key role. Its primary function is to elicit information about quantity, making it an indispensable tool for understanding and interacting in Greek.
- Core Meaning
- To ask about quantity or amount.
- Grammatical Role
- Interrogative pronoun, agreeing in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies or refers to.
- Common Usage
- Asking prices, quantities of items, number of people, time, distance, and other measurable concepts.
Πόσο νερό θέλεις;
Πόσα βιβλία αγόρασες;
Understanding 'πόσος' is crucial for basic communication in Greek. It allows you to gather essential information about the world around you, from the mundane to the more complex. As you progress, you'll learn its various forms and how to use them correctly in different grammatical contexts. But for now, focus on its core meaning: asking 'how much' or 'how many'.
- Example Scenario 1
- At a bakery, you point to a delicious pastry and ask the baker, 'Πόσο αυτό;' (How much this?). The baker might reply with a price, like 'Δύο ευρώ.' (Two euros).
- Example Scenario 2
- You're meeting friends at a cafe and want to know how many are already there. You call your friend and ask, 'Πόσοι είναι ήδη εκεί;' (How many are already there?).
- Example Scenario 3
- When traveling, you might ask about the distance to your destination: 'Πόσο είναι μέχρι την Αθήνα;' (How far is it to Athens?).
Mastering 'πόσος' involves understanding its agreement with the noun it modifies. It's an interrogative pronoun, meaning it asks a question, and its form changes based on the gender, number, and case of the noun it relates to. This is a key concept in Greek grammar. Let's break down its common forms and how they are used in sentences.
The most common forms you'll encounter at the A1 CEFR level are:
- Πόσος (Masculine Singular Nominative)
- Used when asking about a masculine singular noun in the nominative case (the subject of the sentence). For example, 'Πόσος χρόνος έχει απομείνει;' (How much time has remained?). Here, 'χρόνος' is masculine singular.
- Πόση (Feminine Singular Nominative)
- Used for feminine singular nouns. For instance, 'Πόση ζάχαρη βάζεις στον καφέ σου;' (How much sugar do you put in your coffee?). 'Ζάχαρη' is feminine singular.
- Πόσο (Neuter Singular Nominative/Accusative)
- This is perhaps the most versatile form for beginners. It's used for neuter singular nouns, and also very commonly used on its own when asking about price or an unspecified amount. Examples: 'Πόσο γάλα θέλουμε;' (How much milk do we want?). 'Γάλα' is neuter singular. And for price: 'Πόσο κάνει αυτό το φόρεμα;' (How much does this dress cost?).
- Πόσοι (Masculine Plural Nominative)
- Used for masculine plural nouns. Example: 'Πόσοι φοιτητές είναι στην αίθουσα;' (How many students are in the room?). 'Φοιτητές' is masculine plural.
- Πόσες (Feminine Plural Nominative)
- Used for feminine plural nouns. Example: 'Πόσες ώρες κοιμήθηκες χθες;' (How many hours did you sleep yesterday?). 'Ώρες' is feminine plural.
- Πόσα (Neuter Plural Nominative/Accusative)
- Used for neuter plural nouns. Example: 'Πόσα χρήματα έχεις στην τσάντα σου;' (How much money do you have in your bag?). 'Χρήματα' is neuter plural.
Πόσο είναι το εισιτήριο;
It's important to note that 'πόσος' also changes for different grammatical cases (genitive, accusative, vocative), but at the A1 level, focusing on the nominative forms is sufficient to build a strong foundation. The context of the sentence will usually make it clear what you are asking about.
Practice forming questions with different nouns to get a feel for the agreement. Start with simple sentences and gradually increase complexity. Pay attention to the gender and number of the nouns you encounter in your Greek learning materials.
- Sentence Construction Practice
- 1. Ask about the number of apples (neuter plural): 'Πόσα μήλα...?'
- 2. Ask about the amount of water (feminine singular): 'Πόση νερό...?'
- 3. Ask about the number of boys (masculine plural): 'Πόσοι αγόρια...?'
- 4. Ask about the duration of the movie (masculine singular): 'Πόσος ταινία...?'
You'll hear 'πόσος' and its various forms constantly in Greece and Cyprus, in almost any situation where you need to quantify something. It's not a formal or academic word; it's part of the everyday fabric of the Greek language. From casual chats with friends to interactions with shopkeepers, waiters, and even strangers, 'πόσος' is your go-to for asking about quantities.
Here are some common scenarios where you'll frequently encounter 'πόσος':
- Shopping
- 'Πόσο κάνει αυτό;' (How much does this cost?) is probably the most common phrase you'll hear and use. You'll also hear 'Πόσα θέλετε;' (How many do you want?) when buying items like fruits or vegetables.
- Restaurants and Cafes
- When ordering, you might ask 'Πόσα άτομα;' (How many people?) for a table reservation. The waiter might ask 'Πόσο σας αρέσει;' (How much do you like it?), though this is less common for beginners. More practically, asking 'Πόσο είναι ο λογαριασμός;' (How much is the bill?) is essential.
- Asking for Directions or Time
- 'Πόσο απέχει;' (How far is it?) or 'Πόσο μακριά είναι;' (How far is it?). Also, 'Πόση ώρα θα κάνουμε;' (How much time will we take?) or 'Πόση ώρα είναι τώρα;' (What time is it now?).
- Social Gatherings
- 'Πόσοι ήρθαν;' (How many came?) or 'Πόσα κεράσματα έχουμε;' (How many treats do we have?).
- General Conversation
- 'Πόσο καιρό είσαι εδώ;' (How long have you been here?) or 'Πόσο καλά μιλάς ελληνικά;' (How well do you speak Greek?).
Στην αγορά: 'Πόσο κάνουν αυτές οι ντομάτες;'
Στο σπίτι: 'Πόση ζάχαρη βάζεις στον καφέ;'
Even in media, like news reports or interviews, 'πόσος' is used to ask about numbers, statistics, or durations. For example, a reporter might ask 'Πόσοι άνθρωποι επηρεάστηκαν από την καταιγίδα;' (How many people were affected by the storm?).
To truly internalize 'πόσος', try to think in Greek whenever you encounter a situation where you need to ask about quantity. Instead of thinking in English and translating, try to directly form the Greek question using the appropriate form of 'πόσος'.
While 'πόσος' is a fundamental word, learners can make a few common mistakes, primarily related to its grammatical agreement and usage.
- Mistake 1: Incorrect Agreement
- The most frequent error is using the wrong form of 'πόσος' because it doesn't agree in gender and number with the noun it refers to. For example, saying 'Πόσος ζάχαρη;' instead of 'Πόση ζάχαρη;' (feminine singular). Or 'Πόσο βιβλία;' instead of 'Πόσα βιβλία;' (neuter plural).
- Mistake 2: Overusing the Neuter Singular 'Πόσο' for Everything
- While 'πόσο' is versatile, especially for prices, relying on it exclusively can sound unnatural when asking about specific countable nouns. For instance, asking 'Πόσο αγόρια παίζουν;' instead of 'Πόσοι αγόρια παίζουν;' (How many boys are playing?).
- Mistake 3: Confusing with 'Πολύς' (Much/Many)
- 'Πολύς' is an adjective meaning 'much' or 'many' and is used differently. 'Πόσος' is specifically for asking a question about quantity. You wouldn't ask 'Πολύς νερό;' (Much water?) to inquire about the amount; you'd ask 'Πόσο νερό;' (How much water?). Similarly, 'Πολλοί άνθρωποι' means 'many people', whereas 'Πόσοι άνθρωποι;' asks 'How many people?'.
- Mistake 4: Ignoring Case
- While less common at the A1 level, learners might not realize that 'πόσος' also changes form for other cases (genitive, accusative). For example, asking about the price of something in the accusative case would use 'πόσο' (e.g., 'Πόσο το εισιτήριο;' - How much the ticket?). Incorrectly using the nominative form in these contexts can lead to errors.
- Mistake 5: Misunderstanding Uncountable vs. Countable
- In English, we distinguish 'how much' (uncountable) and 'how many' (countable). Greek's system with 'πόσος' is more nuanced. While 'πόσος' (masc), 'πόση' (fem), 'πόσο' (neut) singular often imply uncountable or singular countable, and 'πόσοι' (masc pl), 'πόσες' (fem pl), 'πόσα' (neut pl) are for countable plurals, the distinction isn't always a direct one-to-one translation. For example, 'πόσο νερό' (how much water - neuter singular) is correct for uncountable, but 'πόση ζάχαρη' (how much sugar - feminine singular) is also correct. The key is the noun's gender and number.
Λάθος: Πόσος φίλοι ήρθαν;
Practice makes perfect. The more you read, listen, and speak Greek, the more intuitive the agreement will become. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; they are a natural part of the learning process. Focus on understanding the rule of agreement, and with consistent practice, you'll master it.
While 'πόσος' is the primary word for asking 'how much' or 'how many', there are other words and phrases that serve similar functions or are used in specific contexts. Understanding these can enrich your vocabulary and help you express nuances more precisely.
- 'Πόσο' (as an adverb)
- When 'πόσο' is used as an adverb, it means 'how' or 'how much' in terms of degree or intensity, rather than quantity. It doesn't change form. Examples: 'Πόσο ψηλά είναι;' (How high is it?). 'Πόσο γρήγορα τρέχει;' (How fast does it run?). This is distinct from 'πόσος' as an interrogative pronoun referring to a noun's quantity.
- 'Πολύς' (Much/Many)
- 'Πολύς' is an adjective that means 'much' or 'many'. Unlike 'πόσος', it is not interrogative; it's descriptive. It also agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun. Examples: 'Έχω πολύ χρόνο.' (I have much time - masculine singular). 'Υπάρχουν πολλοί άνθρωποι.' (There are many people - masculine plural). 'Πολύς' states a large quantity, whereas 'πόσος' asks about it.
- 'Λίγος' (Little/Few)
- Similar to 'πολύς', 'λίγος' is a descriptive adjective meaning 'little' or 'few'. It also agrees with the noun. Examples: 'Έχω λίγο νερό.' (I have little water - neuter singular). 'Λίγες μέρες έμειναν.' (Few days remained - feminine plural). It quantifies a small amount, contrasting with 'πόσος' which queries the amount.
- Phrases for Asking Price
- While 'Πόσο κάνει;' is standard, you might also hear variations like 'Τιμή;' (Price?) in very informal settings, or 'Πόσο το παίρνεις;' (How much are you taking it for? - informal, often in bargaining). The simplest and most direct is 'Πόσο;' (How much?).
- 'Όσος' (As much as/As many as)
- This is a relative pronoun and conjunction. It indicates a quantity that is equal to another. It also agrees with the noun. Example: 'Θα πάρω όσα χρειάζομαι.' (I will take as many as I need - neuter plural). It's not a question word like 'πόσος'.
Comparison: 'Πόσο νερό θέλεις;' (How much water do you want?) vs. 'Θέλω πολύ νερό.' (I want much water.)
Comparison: 'Πόσοι μαθητές είναι εδώ;' (How many students are here?) vs. 'Εδώ είναι πολλοί μαθητές.' (There are many students here.)
Exemplos por nível
Πόσο νερό θέλεις;
How much water do you want?
'πόσο' agrees with the neuter singular noun 'νερό' (water).
Πόση ώρα είναι;
How much time is it? / What time is it?
'πόση' agrees with the feminine singular noun 'ώρα' (hour/time).
Πόσο κοστίζει αυτό;
How much does this cost?
'πόσο' is used here as the neuter singular form, commonly used for price inquiries.
Πόσοι φίλοι έρχονται;
How many friends are coming?
'πόσοι' agrees with the masculine plural noun 'φίλοι' (friends).
Πόσες σελίδες έχει το βιβλίο;
How many pages does the book have?
'πόσες' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'σελίδες' (pages).
Πόσα λεφτά έχεις;
How much money do you have?
'πόσα' agrees with the neuter plural noun 'λεφτά' (money).
Πόσο ψωμί θέλουμε;
How much bread do we want?
'πόσο' agrees with the neuter singular noun 'ψωμί' (bread).
Πόσος χρόνος απομένει;
How much time remains?
'πόσος' agrees with the masculine singular noun 'χρόνος' (time).
Πόσο καιρό ζεις στην Αθήνα;
How long have you been living in Athens?
'πόσο' here acts as an adverb modifying 'καιρό' (time/period), indicating duration.
Πόσοι άνθρωποι παρακολούθησαν την εκδήλωση;
How many people attended the event?
'πόσοι' agrees with the masculine plural noun 'άνθρωποι' (people).
Πόσες φωτογραφίες τράβηξες στις διακοπές σου;
How many photos did you take on your vacation?
'πόσες' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'φωτογραφίες' (photos).
Πόσο αλάτι βάζεις στο φαγητό;
How much salt do you put in the food?
'πόσο' agrees with the neuter singular noun 'αλάτι' (salt).
Πόσα δωμάτια έχει το ξενοδοχείο;
How many rooms does the hotel have?
'πόσα' agrees with the neuter plural noun 'δωμάτια' (rooms).
Πόσο βαθιά είναι η θάλασσα εδώ;
How deep is the sea here?
'πόσο' here functions as an adverb modifying 'βαθιά' (deep).
Πόσοι μαθητές διάβασαν το κεφάλαιο;
How many students read the chapter?
'πόσοι' agrees with the masculine plural noun 'μαθητές' (students).
Πόσες φορές έχεις επισκεφθεί την Ελλάδα;
How many times have you visited Greece?
'πόσες' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'φορές' (times).
Πόσο αξίζει η γνώση;
How much is knowledge worth?
'πόσο' is used here to inquire about the value or worth of an abstract concept ('γνώση' - knowledge).
Πόσοι από εσάς συμφωνείτε με αυτήν την πρόταση;
How many of you agree with this proposal?
'πόσοι' is used with the genitive pronoun 'από εσάς' (of you) to specify the group.
Πόσες λεπτομέρειες θυμάσαι από εκείνο το γεγονός;
How many details do you remember from that event?
'πόσες' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'λεπτομέρειες' (details).
Πόσο γρήγορα μπορείς να ολοκληρώσεις την εργασία;
How quickly can you complete the task?
'πόσο' functions as an adverb modifying 'γρήγορα' (quickly).
Πόσα χρήματα χρειάζεσαι για να αγοράσεις το αυτοκίνητο;
How much money do you need to buy the car?
'πόσα' agrees with the neuter plural noun 'χρήματα' (money).
Πόσο συχνά επισκέπτεσαι τους γονείς σου;
How often do you visit your parents?
'πόσο' here functions as an adverb modifying 'συχνά' (often).
Πόσοι από τους υποψηφίους πέρασαν τις εξετάσεις;
How many of the candidates passed the exams?
'πόσοι' is used with the genitive 'από τους υποψηφίους' (of the candidates).
Πόσες ημέρες διαρκεί η απεργία;
How many days does the strike last?
'πόσες' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'ημέρες' (days).
Πόσο σημαντική είναι η γνώμη του κοινού για τις πολιτικές αποφάσεις;
How important is public opinion for political decisions?
'πόσο' functions as an adverb modifying the adjective 'σημαντική' (important).
Πόσοι από τους παράγοντες συνέβαλαν στην επιτυχία του έργου;
How many of the factors contributed to the success of the project?
'πόσοι' is used with the genitive 'από τους παράγοντες' (of the factors).
Πόσες εναλλακτικές λύσεις έχουμε εξετάσει μέχρι στιγμής;
How many alternative solutions have we considered so far?
'πόσες' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'εναλλακτικές λύσεις' (alternative solutions).
Πόσο μακριά είναι το ιδανικό σενάριο;
How far is the ideal scenario?
'πόσο' acts as an adverb modifying 'μακριά' (far), referring to abstract distance.
Πόσα κεφάλαια του βιβλίου έχουν μεταφραστεί;
How many chapters of the book have been translated?
'πόσα' agrees with the neuter plural noun 'κεφάλαια' (chapters).
Πόσο αποτελεσματική είναι αυτή η μέθοδος στην πράξη;
How effective is this method in practice?
'πόσο' functions as an adverb modifying the adjective 'αποτελεσματική' (effective).
Πόσοι από τους συμμετέχοντες εξέφρασαν δυσαρέσκεια;
How many of the participants expressed dissatisfaction?
'πόσοι' is used with the genitive 'από τους συμμετέχοντες' (of the participants).
Πόσες ώρες αφιερώνεις στην προσωπική σου ανάπτυξη;
How many hours do you dedicate to your personal development?
'πόσες' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'ώρες' (hours).
Πόσο βαθιά ριζωμένη είναι αυτή η προκατάληψη στην κοινωνία μας;
How deeply rooted is this prejudice in our society?
'πόσο' functions as an adverb modifying 'βαθιά ριζωμένη' (deeply rooted), referring to the degree of entrenchment.
Πόσοι από τους ιστορικούς παράγοντες επηρέασαν την έκβαση της μάχης;
How many of the historical factors influenced the outcome of the battle?
'πόσοι' is used with the genitive 'από τους ιστορικούς παράγοντες' (of the historical factors).
Πόσες διαστάσεις έχει το πρόβλημα της κλιματικής αλλαγής;
How many dimensions does the problem of climate change have?
'πόσες' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'διαστάσεις' (dimensions).
Πόσο μακριά από την πραγματικότητα είναι αυτά τα ιδεώδη;
How far from reality are these ideals?
'πόσο' functions as an adverb modifying 'μακριά' (far), referring to the conceptual distance.
Πόσα από τα αρχικά σχέδια υλοποιήθηκαν τελικά;
How many of the original plans were actually implemented?
'πόσα' agrees with the neuter plural noun 'σχέδια' (plans).
Πόσο ευάλωτο είναι το σύστημα σε εξωτερικές επιθέσεις;
How vulnerable is the system to external attacks?
'πόσο' functions as an adverb modifying the adjective 'ευάλωτο' (vulnerable).
Πόσοι από τους κριτικούς αναγνώρισαν την αξία του έργου;
How many of the critics recognized the value of the work?
'πόσοι' is used with the genitive 'από τους κριτικούς' (of the critics).
Πόσες φορές πρέπει να επαναληφθεί η διαδικασία για να είναι επιτυχής;
How many times must the process be repeated to be successful?
'πόσες' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'φορές' (times).
Πόσο ανιχνεύσιμη είναι η αλήθεια πίσω από τα φαινόμενα;
How traceable is the truth behind the phenomena?
'πόσο' functions as an adverb modifying 'ανιχνεύσιμη' (traceable), referring to the degree of detectability.
Πόσοι από τους αρχαίους φιλοσόφους προσέγγισαν την έννοια της αρετής;
How many of the ancient philosophers approached the concept of virtue?
'πόσοι' is used with the genitive 'από τους αρχαίους φιλοσόφους' (of the ancient philosophers).
Πόσες πτυχές της ανθρώπινης ύπαρξης φωτίζονται από αυτό το έργο τέχνης;
How many aspects of human existence are illuminated by this work of art?
'πόσες' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'πτυχές' (aspects).
Πόσο μακρινή φαντάζει η ελπίδα σε περιόδους κρίσης;
How distant does hope seem in times of crisis?
'πόσο' functions as an adverb modifying 'μακρινή' (distant), referring to perceived distance.
Πόσα από τα δόγματα της εποχής αμφισβητήθηκαν από τους διαφωτιστές;
How many of the doctrines of the era were challenged by the Enlightenment thinkers?
'πόσα' agrees with the neuter plural noun 'δόγματα' (doctrines).
Πόσο εγγενής είναι η τάση για αυτοκαταστροφή στον άνθρωπο;
How inherent is the tendency for self-destruction in humans?
'πόσο' functions as an adverb modifying the adjective 'εγγενής' (inherent).
Πόσοι από τους σύγχρονους στοχαστές επανεξετάζουν τις κλασικές αρχές;
How many of the contemporary thinkers are re-examining classical principles?
'πόσοι' is used with the genitive 'από τους σύγχρονους στοχαστές' (of the contemporary thinkers).
Πόσες φορές η ιστορία επαναλαμβάνεται ως φάρσα;
How many times does history repeat itself as a farce?
'πόσες' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'φορές' (times).
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
Πόσο κάνει;
Πόσο καιρό;
Πόσοι;
Πόσο;
Πόσο καλά;
Πόσο περίπου;
Πόσο τοις εκατό;
Πόσο έχω να περιμένω;
Summary
The Greek word 'πόσος' is crucial for asking about quantity ('how much' or 'how many'). Remember its forms change to agree with the gender and number of the noun, like in 'πόσο νερό;' (how much water?) and 'πόσοι φίλοι;' (how many friends?).
- Asks 'how much' or 'how many'.
- Changes form to match noun's gender and number.
- Essential for basic questions about quantity.
- Very common in everyday Greek.
