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Verbs · entry 32 of 38

να γράψω or να γράφω: the Aspect Choice

να takes TWO different verb forms and they do not mean the same thing. να + the perfective (dependent) stem - να γράψω - views the action as ONE whole act: «Θέλω να γράψω ένα γράμμα» (I want to write a letter, and then it is written). να + the present (imperfective) stem - να γράφω - views it as ongoing, habitual or repeated: «Θέλω να γράφω κάθε μέρα» (I want to write every day). It is the same choice you already make between έγραψα and έγραφα, and between θα γράψω and θα γράφω - only the particle in front has changed. Two practical anchors: a single, bounded act takes the perfective, and a few verbs SELECT the imperfective outright because their meaning is about duration - αρχίζω να, συνεχίζω να and σταματάω να are always followed by the imperfective (αρχίζω να γράφω, never «*αρχίζω να γράψω»). The perfective is the commoner of the two after να, which is why it is the one you met first, but choosing it automatically is how a learner ends up saying «θέλω να πιω καφέ κάθε πρωί» when they mean a daily habit.

The rule

να takes two different verb forms and they do not mean the same thing. να + the perfective (dependent) stem - να γράψω - views the action as one whole act: «Θέλω να γράψω ένα γράμμα». να + the present (imperfective) stem - να γράφω - views it as ongoing, habitual or repeated: «Θέλω να γράφω κάθε μέρα». It is exactly the choice you already make between έγραψα and έγραφα, and between θα γράψω and θα γράφω; only the particle in front has changed. Two anchors settle most cases. A single, bounded act takes the perfective. And a few verbs select the imperfective outright because their meaning is about duration - αρχίζω να, συνεχίζω να and σταματάω να are always followed by the imperfective. The perfective is the commoner of the two, which is why it is met first, but taking it on autopilot is how a daily habit ends up described as a single event.