Toto je základní program.

to be

Breakdown of Toto je základní program.

• tento: this
• program: the program
• základní: basic; fundamental

Questions & Answers about Toto je základní program.

What does toto mean, and how is it different from to?

Toto means this and is the neuter singular form of the demonstrative pronoun ten / ta / to.

In everyday Czech, to is often used where English would say this or it, so you may hear both:

• Toto je základní program.
• To je základní program.

Both can mean This is a basic program, but toto sounds a bit more explicit or emphatic. To is more common in casual speech.

Why is it je here?

Je is the 3rd person singular form of the verb být (to be), so it means is.

So the structure is:

• Toto = this
• je = is
• základní program = basic program

Unlike Russian or some other Slavic languages, Czech normally uses the present-tense form of to be, so you do need je here.

Why is it základní and not some other ending?