Greek Text:
"Το να περπατάς στη φύση είναι σαν να γίνεσαι μάρτυρας χιλίων θαυμάτων". - Mary Davis

English Translation:
"To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles." — Mary Davis

Grammar Notes:
Το να περπατάς στη φύση είναι σαν να γίνεσαι μάρτυρας χιλίων θαυμάτων.

- Το (*to*)
- Meaning: “The.”
- Grammar: This is a neuter definite article, used here with να περπατάς (to walk). In Greek, articles can often appear before verbs in phrases where the verb acts as a noun or subject, as it does in this construction.

- να (*na*)
- Meaning: “to.”
- Grammar: This particle introduces verbs in the subjunctive or infinitive forms. In Greek, να is commonly used to indicate actions that are generalized or ongoing, similar to “to” in English when it introduces infinitive verbs.

- περπατάς (*per-pa-TAS*)
- Meaning: “walking” or “to walk.”
- Grammar: This is the second person singular form of the verb περπατώ (*per-pa-TO*), meaning “to walk.” Here, it’s used as a verbal noun within this phrase, conveying the action of walking in nature.
- Infinitive: περπατώ (*per-pa-TO*) - to walk.

- στη (*stee*)
- Meaning: “in” or “to the.”
- Grammar: This is a contraction of σε (in/to) and την (the feminine definite article), used here because φύση is a feminine noun. In Greek, σε contracts with articles, and στη is used before feminine nouns in the singular form.

- φύση (*FEE-see*)
- Meaning: “nature.”
- Grammar: This is a feminine noun in the nominative (and also accusative) case, referring to the natural environment. In Greek, nouns are gendered and must match the form of preceding articles.
- Singular Nominative (feminine): φύση (*FEE-see*) - nature.

- είναι (*EE-ne*)
- Meaning: “is.”
- Grammar: This is the third person singular form of είμαι (*EE-me*), which means “to be.” It serves as the linking verb here, connecting the two parts of the sentence.
- Infinitive: είμαι (*EE-me*) - to be.

- σαν (*san*)
- Meaning: “like” or “as.”
- Grammar: This is a preposition used to introduce comparisons or metaphors, similar to “like” in English. It’s common when drawing an analogy or showing a similarity between two concepts.

- γίνεσαι (*YEE-ne-se*)
- Meaning: “become” or “becoming.”
- Grammar: This is the second person singular form of γίνομαι (*YEE-no-me*), which means “to become.” Here, it describes the experience of being or becoming a witness to nature’s wonders.
- Infinitive: γίνομαι (*YEE-no-me*) - to become.

- μάρτυρας (*MAR-tee-ras*)
- Meaning: “witness.”
- Grammar: This noun is in its singular form, used here to describe someone who observes or experiences something profound. In Greek, nouns don’t change based on gender agreement, but they do change form based on grammatical case.
- Nominative Singular: μάρτυρας (*MAR-tee-ras*) - witness.

- χιλίων (*hee-LEE-on*)
- Meaning: “of thousands.”
- Grammar: This is the genitive plural form of χίλια (*HEE-lya*), meaning “thousand.” The genitive case is used to show possession or quantity in Greek, similar to “of thousands” in English.

- θαυμάτων (*thav-MA-ton*)
- Meaning: “miracles” or “wonders.”
- Grammar: This is the genitive plural form of θαύμα (*THAV-ma*), which means “miracle.” Greek often uses the genitive to indicate quantity or part of a whole, as it does here, conveying “of miracles.”
- Nominative Singular: θαύμα (*THAV-ma*) - miracle.

### Grammar Tip:
Greek commonly uses να before verbs in phrases that express actions or intentions, similar to the English infinitive. Also, Greek prepositions like σε contract with definite articles based on the gender, number, and case of the noun, making στη a combined form here for “in the.”

### Related Words:
- παρατηρώ (*pa-ra-ti-RO*) - to observe
- θαυμάζω (*thav-MA-zo*) - to admire
- ομορφιά (*o-mor-FYA*) - beauty

Learn Greek online

★ Daily exercises with our free newsletter
★ Read daily world news
★ Chat with a celebrity with our AI Chatbot
★ Picture flashcards with grammar lessons explaining each word
★ Advanced and beginner flashcards
★ Over 200 languages to choose from
★ Write essays and get corrections from other users

Click here to Sign Up Free!

Or sign up via Google with one click:

Log in with Google
Beautiful Picture Flashcards like this one: