Tato položka je chybná.

Because položka is a feminine singular noun, and tato is the feminine singular form of this.

The demonstrative changes to match the noun:

• tento = masculine
• tato = feminine
• toto = neuter

So:

• tento dokument
• tato položka
• toto pole

In this sentence, tato agrees with položka.

Yes, položka is feminine.

A very common clue is the ending -a, which often marks feminine nouns in Czech. So a learner will often correctly guess that položka is feminine.

Here it is in the nominative singular form, because it is the subject of the sentence.

Položka is a very common Czech word meaning something like item, entry, line item, or record, depending on context.

For example, it can be used for:

• an item in a list
• an entry in a form or database
• a menu item
• a line in an invoice or order

So it is a flexible word, and the exact English translation depends on the situation.

Je is the 3rd person singular present tense of být = to be.

So:

• jsem = I am
• jsi/jseš = you are
• je = he/she/it is

In this sentence, je means is.

Unlike in some note-like or headline styles, in a normal full sentence like this, je is normally kept.

Because Czech adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in:

• gender
• number
• case

Since položka is feminine singular nominative, the adjective must also be feminine singular nominative:

• masculine: chybný
• feminine: chybná
• neuter: chybné

So chybná matches položka.

The dictionary form is chybný.

That is the masculine singular nominative form, which is the standard form Czech dictionaries usually list for adjectives.

So if you look this word up, you will usually find chybný, even though the sentence uses chybná.

Because položka is the subject, and after být with an adjective, Czech uses a predicate adjective that also stays in the nominative and agrees with the subject.

So:

• položka = nominative subject
• chybná = nominative adjective agreeing with that subject

This is normal Czech grammar:

• Ten dům je velký.
• Ta kniha je zajímavá.
• To auto je nové.

Not exactly.

• chybná means incorrect, erroneous, containing an error
• špatná means bad, wrong, poor, more generally

So for an entry, record, or form item, chybná is often more precise, because it suggests there is an error in it.

For example:

• chybná položka = an incorrect/erroneous item
• špatná položka = a bad/wrong item, which is broader and less specific

This word order is the neutral, standard one:

• Tato položka je chybná.

Czech word order is more flexible than English, but changes in order usually change emphasis rather than basic meaning.

For example:

• Chybná je tato položka.
  This puts stronger emphasis on this item as the one that is incorrect.

The original order is the most natural if you are simply stating the fact.

Roughly:

TA-to PO-lozh-ka ye KHYB-naa

A more accurate pronunciation is approximately:

[ˈtato ˈpoloʒka jɛ ˈxɪbnaː]

A few useful points:

• Czech stress is usually on the first syllable of each word.
• ž sounds like the s in measure.
• j sounds like English y in yes.
• ch is the throaty sound heard in Scottish loch or German Bach.

Yes. Tahle položka je chybná is a very natural spoken Czech version.

The difference is mostly in style:

• tato položka = standard, neutral, often a bit more formal or written
• tahle položka = common in everyday speech

Both mean this item, but tato looks a bit more standard in careful written Czech.

Because Czech has no articles.

English needs words like a and the, but Czech usually does not. Context tells you whether something is definite or indefinite.

Here, tato already makes the noun specific, because it means this. So Czech does not need an article before položka.