Η καθυστέρηση προκάλεσε χάος.

The delay caused chaos.

Breakdown of Η καθυστέρηση προκάλεσε χάος.

• η καθυστέρηση: the delay
• προκαλώ: to cause; provoke
• το χάος: chaos

Questions & Answers about Η καθυστέρηση προκάλεσε χάος.

Why is there Η at the beginning?

Η is the definite article, meaning the.

In this sentence, it is:

• feminine
• singular
• nominative

It matches καθυστέρηση, which is a feminine singular noun and the subject of the sentence.

A useful detail: at the start of a sentence it is capitalized as Η, but normally you will see η.

How do I know that καθυστέρηση is the subject?

Because η καθυστέρηση is in the nominative, which is the case normally used for the subject.

So:

• η καθυστέρηση = the subject
• χάος = the thing affected by the action, so the object

In other words, the delay is what did the causing.

What tense is προκάλεσε?

προκάλεσε is the aorist, which is the normal Greek tense for a completed action in the past.

Here it means caused as a single completed event.

Compare:

• προκάλεσε = caused
• προκαλούσε = was causing / used to cause

So this sentence presents the causing as a finished past event.