Greek active and passive verbs; “I rent” or “it is for rent”

Active and passive verbs can be one of the more confusing parts of Greek grammar, and they definitely take a little practice.

But don’t worry: σιγά-σιγά (siga-siga), little by little!

In this lesson, we’ll look at how to say “I rent” using the active form of the verb, as well as how the passive form is used when we want to say that something “is for rent.”

We’ll explain the difference, look at how the verb changes, and give you practical examples so you can start recognising and using both forms with confidence.

Prefer to watch and listen first?

Click here  and listen to the video first, and then come back to the lesson below

THE ACTIVE FORM OF THE VERB  “I rent”

• Ενοικιάζω/ νοικιάζω = to rent, to put something up for rent

 For this verb, it is the same whether you put the “ε” as the first letter or not.
However, in daily language you mostly use it without “ε”.

νοικιάζω  IS THE ACTIVE FORM and THE CONJUGATION IS AS FOLLOWS;

Εγώ                                      νοικιάζ-ω

Εσύ                                      νοικιάζ-εις

Αυτός,ή                              νοικιάζ-ει

Εμείς                                   νοικιάζ-ουμε

Εσείς                                   νοικιάζ-ετε

Αυτοί,ές,ά                          νοικιάζ-ουν

 

for example   

• Ο Γιώργος νοικιάζει ένα διαμέρισμα στην Αθήνα. (George rents an apartment in Athens.)
• Όταν ταξιδεύουμε στην Ελλάδα, νοικιάζουμε αυτοκίνητο. (When we travel to Greece, we rent a car.)
• Η Μαρία και η Ελένη νοικιάζουν συχνά ποδήλατα. (Maria and Eleni often rent bicycles.)

 

• WE CALL THIS THE ACTIVE FORM, BECAUSE ;
  George, we,  Maria and Eleni ACTUALLY DO THE ACTION….
  THIS MEANS…
  George  rents an apartment…,
  we rent a car,
  Maria and Eleni rent the bicycles.

 

NOTE: The conjugation of the active form is exactly like other verbs, such as

πίνω – to drink,
μένω – to live,
δουλέυω –  to work,
καταλαβαίνω – to understand
Click here to watch another video of the active verb ‘to understand’

 

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THE PASSIVE FORM

NOW WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THIS VERB ALSO PASSIVE, and they the meaning is ;  “it is for rent”.

YOU CAN CHANGE THE VERB TO PASSIVE, AS FOLLOWS

Active voice                                                    Passive Voice

νοικιάζ-ω (to rent)                       (νοικιάζ-ομαι) (to be rented, to be for rent)

 

i.e. You keep the same stem, but you change the ending

Keep in mind that for this verb we only use the third person (in singular and plural)

————————————————————————-

Εγώ                                      –

Εσύ                                      –

Αυτός,ή,ό                           νοικιάζ-εται

Εμείς                                   –

Εσείς                                   –

Αυτοί,ές,ά                          νοικιάζ-ονται

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Useful Sentences and examples

 

Active voice:

• Ο Γιώργος νοικιάζει ένα διαμέρισμα στην Αθήνα.
  (George rents an apartment in Athens.)

Passive voice :

• Ένα διαμέρισμα στην Αθήνα νοικιάζεται από τον Γιώργο.
  (An apartment in Athens is rented by George.)

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The most common use of “ενοικιάζεται» and “ενοικιάζονται» is on signs and announcements;
“for RENT”
Here we mostly use the extra “e” so  “ενοικιάζεται» and not “νοικιάζεται».

Some sentences;

• Ενοικιάζεται επιπλωμένο διαμέρισμα.
  (Furnished apartment for rent.)
• Ενοικιάζονται μηχανάκια.
  (Motorbikes for rent.)

 

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Video

To learn the correct pronunciation, also take a look at the video lesson
(click on the photo below)

 

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Extra vocabulary

 

 good to know;

the word “ενοίκιο» –>  “the rent”

-Το σπίτι δεν είναι δικό μου. Πληρώνω ενοίκιο.
(The house is not mine. I pay rent.)

ενοικιαζόμενα δωμάτια –>  “rooms to let”

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More verbs

If you want to have one more example with the Active and Passive voice,
then click here 

Active voice –> Passive Voice   –
Πλέν-ω (I wash)  –>  πλέν-ομαι   = TO BE WASHED

Or

Active voice –> Passive Voice   –
απαγορεύω (I forbid)  –>  απαγορεύεται   = TO BE FORBIDDEN
Click here

 

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