Η ώρα πλησιάζει δυο, κι ακόμα να φτάσουμε στο σπίτι του θείου μου

[Theseus]

Να again! It means presumably 'it's nearly two o'clock & we still have to get to my uncle's house' or am I wrong? Why couldn't the author have written δεν φτάσαμε ακόμα: 'we still haven't arrived....' what is the difference between using να & not a straightforward negative indicative sentence instead of the subjunctive?

 

[Lefki]

Ah, the subjunctive... What a tricky modality it is! :)

You have grasped the meaning of the sentence perfectly: The speaker is indeed saying that it is nearly two o' clock and they still haven't arrived at their destination.

Now, the να+subjunctive structure infuses the speaker's attitude into this statement. The indicative is about (statement of) facts, but the subjunctive is about feelings. While "ακόμα δεν φτάσαμε" would simply state a fact, "ακόμα να φτάσουμε" reveals how the speaker feels about the fact that they haven't arrived at the uncle's house yet. The way I read it, the speaker is saying (i.e. implying) something along the lines of: It is late and I am tired of being on the road for so long. I am frustrated that it is taking us so long to get to my uncle's house.

Just getting the ball rolling here. I'm sure you'll be getting more insights into this. For now, HTH. :)

 

[pontios]

Nicely explained, Lefki.

To make sense of the tricky Greek syntax, I wonder if it could be restated as -- "we've yet to reach" = ακόμα (έχουμε) να φτάσουμε? Still jumbled, I suppose .. the words are in a different order - but it might help to make sense of it?
At least the negating -- we still haven't reached is taken care of .. with "we've yet to reach".

I'm assuming of course that έχουμε could be implied here, without altering the meaning (I'm not sure if that's so).

 

[daeman]

... The way I read it, the speaker is saying (i.e. implying) something along the lines of: It is late and I am tired of being on the road for so long. I am frustrated that it is taking us so long to get to my uncle's house.

Just getting the ball rolling here. I'm sure you'll be getting more insights into this. For now, HTH. :)

Είναι μακριά ακόμα, μπαρμπα-Στρουμφ; / Is it much further, Papa Smurf?

Just kicking the ball down the road field. Or off, in the forest.
Over the hills and far away, but close enough.

 

[Lefki]

Είναι μακριά ακόμα, μπαρμπα-Στρουμφ; / Is it much further, Papa Smurf?

a.k.a.
Are we there yet?
Are we there yet?
Are we there yet?

(ad infinitum and ad nauseam...) :)

 

[Theseus]

Thanks for all this information. I'm getting there I hope. Daeman, where on earth do you get all these relevant & amazing snippets on every topic from? From Greek rebetika through Astérix & arriving at the Smurfs--your mind must be a mine of everything under the sun (I started on earth & ended with the sun)! Too much smurfing on the internet. This use of the subjunctive explained so lucidly above reminds me of our children, and everyone else's, going on holiday. Shades of those long ago days.... We have travelled, say, one mile & the inevitable and oft-repeated refrain, mentioned by Lefki & Daeman, begins to be heard:"Are we there yet? Είναι μακριά ακόμα;" Definitely the subjunctive of frustration!:)