Ο γιατρός ελέγχει το νύχι.

The doctor checks the fingernail.

Breakdown of Ο γιατρός ελέγχει το νύχι.

• ο γιατρός: the doctor
• ελέγχω: to check
• το νύχι: fingernail; toenail

Questions & Answers about Ο γιατρός ελέγχει το νύχι.

What does each word in Ο γιατρός ελέγχει το νύχι. do?

A quick breakdown:

• Ο = the for a masculine singular noun in the nominative case
• γιατρός = doctor
• ελέγχει = checks / is checking
• το = the for a neuter singular noun; here it goes with the object
• νύχι = nail (a fingernail or toenail, depending on context)

So the structure is:

Ο γιατρός = the doctor
ελέγχει = checks / is checking
το νύχι = the nail

Why are there two different words for the: ο and το?

Because Greek articles change to match the noun’s gender, number, and case.

In this sentence:

• ο γιατρός uses ο because γιατρός is masculine singular
• το νύχι uses το because νύχι is neuter singular

English just uses the for everything, but Greek has different forms.

Why is γιατρός masculine and neuter?