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ρήματαModern Greek Verbs

πρέπει — must, ought to, have to

Free lesson: when to use the imperfect and aorist →

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See this verb in use

Πρέπει να φύγω τώρα.

I must leave now.

Πρέπει is impersonal and stays in the third-person singular. The verb after να shows who acts: πρέπει να φύγω, I must leave; πρέπει να φύγουμε, we must leave.

Compare the meanings: θέλω (thelo) — to want · μπορώ (mporo) — can; to be able to

πρέπει expresses necessity, obligation, advice or an inference. In this use it is impersonal and stays in the third-person singular. The verb after να changes for the person doing the action.

Βασικοί τύποι — Main forms

Tense or construction Form
Present πρέπει να …
Past obligation έπρεπε να …
Future or tentative inference θα πρέπει να …
Advice / conditional θα έπρεπε να …

Usage notes · Σημειώσεις χρήσης

  • There is no ordinary six-person conjugation of πρέπει in the meaning “must.” Compare πρέπει να φύγω (I must leave), πρέπει να φύγεις (you must leave), πρέπει να φύγουμε (we must leave).
  • The tense and aspect of the verb after να express the time and kind of action: πρέπει να φύγω (I must leave); πρέπει να έχει φύγει (he or she must have left).
  • There is no ordinary imperative or event perfect of impersonal πρέπει. For commands or obligations, use an appropriate sentence with πρέπει να or another verb.

Πρέπει να φύγουμε τώρα.

We must leave now.

Έπρεπε να είχα τηλεφωνήσει νωρίτερα.

I should have called earlier.

Reference: Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek — πρέπει.

Source: Modern Greek Verbs
https://moderngreekverbs.com/prepei/
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