είμαι and έχω
The two commonest verbs in Greek follow neither group cleanly, so both are learnt as sets. είμαι (“I am”) runs είμαι, είσαι, είναι, είμαστε, είστε, είναι - note that ONE form, είναι, covers both “he/she/it is” and “they are”. έχω (“I have”) is an ordinary Group-1 verb in the present: έχω, έχεις, έχει, έχουμε, έχετε, έχουν, exactly the γράφω endings. Because Greek marks the person in the ending, the subject pronoun is normally left out: «Είμαι Έλληνας», «Έχεις νερό;». είμαι is also the verb that links a subject to a description, and what follows it AGREES with the subject: «Ο δάσκαλος είναι καλός», «Η πόρτα είναι καλή».
The rule
The two commonest verbs in the language belong cleanly to neither group, so both are stored as sets. είμαι (“I am”) runs είμαι, είσαι, είναι, είμαστε, είστε, είναι - and note the one form doing two jobs: είναι is both “he/she/it is” and “they are”. έχω (“I have”) is by contrast a perfectly ordinary Group-1 verb in the present, έχω, έχεις, έχει, έχουμε, έχετε, έχουν, on exactly the γράφω endings. Because the ending already carries the person, the subject pronoun is normally left out. είμαι is also the linking verb, and whatever follows it agrees with the subject: ο δάσκαλος είναι καλός, η πόρτα είναι καλή, τα παιδιά είναι καλά. Neither verb has a future of its own shape - θα είμαι and θα έχω simply put θα in front of the present.
Paradigm
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | είμαι† | είμαστε† |
| 2nd | είσαι† | είστε† |
| 3rd | είναι† | είναι† |
- είμαι belongs to no conjugation group - its endings (-μαι, -σαι, -ναι, -μαστε, -στε, -ναι) are learnt as a set.
- VARIANT: είστε (drilled) ~ είσαστε (equally standard, flagged not resolved).
- είναι serves BOTH the 3rd singular and the 3rd plural - one form, two persons.
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | έχω | έχουμε† |
| 2nd | έχεις | έχετε |
| 3rd | έχει | έχουν† |
- VARIANT: έχουμε (drilled) ~ έχομε (older/formal).
- VARIANT: έχουν (drilled) ~ έχουνε.