Τα φώτα ανάβουν ταυτόχρονα.

the light

Breakdown of Τα φώτα ανάβουν ταυτόχρονα.

• ανάβω: to turn on
• ταυτόχρονα: simultaneously

Questions & Answers about Τα φώτα ανάβουν ταυτόχρονα.

What does τα mean here?

Τα is the definite article for a neuter plural noun.

So:

• τα φώτα = the lights

Greek articles change for gender, number, and case, so learners need to pay more attention to them than in English. Here τα matches φώτα.

A useful detail: τα is the same form for both nominative and accusative neuter plural.

Why is it φώτα? What is the singular?

The singular is το φως = the light.

The plural is τα φώτα = the lights.

This is a noun with an irregular-looking plural, so it is best learned as a pair:

• το φως
• τα φώτα

In everyday Greek, φώτα often refers to actual lights, lamps, or lighting.

What form is ανάβουν?

Ανάβουν is the 3rd person plural present tense of ανάβω.

So it corresponds to they light / they turn on / they come on, depending on context.

Why plural? Because the subject is τα φώτα, which is plural.

A helpful breakdown:

• ανάβω = I light / I turn on
• ανάβεις = you light / turn on
• ανάβει = he/she/it lights / turns on
• ανάβουν = they light / turn on / come on