Back
Advanced

Conjunctions & Connectors

Coordinating vs subordinating

Coordinating: και, αλλά, ή, όμως

They join clauses without changing word order.

📊 Conjunction types
Type Examples Effect
coordinating και, αλλά, ή, όμως no word order change
subordinating επειδή, γιατί, αν, όταν introduces dependent clause
adverbial επομένως, ωστόσο, άρα normal order
sentence connectors
💬 Examples
Μιλώ και ακούω.
mee-LO ke a-KU-o
I speak and listen.
📝 και = and; normal word order
Θέλω να έρθω, αλλά είμαι κουρασμένος.
I want to come, but I am tired.
📝 αλλά = but; no word order change
Subordinating: no verb-to-end rule in Greek

Greek does not shift the verb to the end in subordinate clauses.

💬 Examples
Μένω σπίτι επειδή είμαι άρρωστος.
I stay home because I am ill.
📝 επειδή = because (more formal)
Αν έρθεις, θα φάμε μαζί.
If you come, we will eat together.
📝 αν = if; normal clause order
γιατί vs επειδή

Both mean because; γιατί is conversational, επειδή is more formal.

💬 Examples
Φεύγω γιατί είμαι κουρασμένος.
I am leaving because I am tired.
📝 γιατί = spoken/casual
Δεν ήρθε, επειδή αρρώστησε.
He did not come because he fell ill.
📝 επειδή = written/formal