Η επιδότηση καλύπτει την επιλέξιμη δαπάνη.

Breakdown of Η επιδότηση καλύπτει την επιλέξιμη δαπάνη.

καλύπτω
to cover
η επιδότηση
the subsidy
η επιλέξιμη δαπάνη
the eligible expense

Questions & Answers about Η επιδότηση καλύπτει την επιλέξιμη δαπάνη.

How do you pronounce Η επιδότηση καλύπτει την επιλέξιμη δαπάνη?

A natural pronunciation is roughly:

ee e-pee-THO-tee-see ka-LEEP-tee teen e-pee-LEK-see-mee tha-PA-nee

A more careful breakdown:

  • Η = ee
  • επιδότηση = e-pee-THO-tee-see
  • καλύπτει = ka-LEEP-tee
  • την = teen
  • επιλέξιμη = e-pee-LEK-see-mee
  • δαπάνη = tha-PA-nee

Notes:

  • δ in Modern Greek sounds like th in this, not like English d
  • θ would be the th in think, but this sentence does not contain θ
  • the stressed syllable is marked by the accent: επιδότηση, καλύπτει, επιλέξιμη, δαπάνη
What does each word do in the sentence?

Here is the role of each word:

  • Η = the
    feminine singular nominative article

  • επιδότηση = subsidy / grant / funding support
    this is the subject of the sentence

  • καλύπτει = covers
    the verb

  • την = the
    feminine singular accusative article

  • επιλέξιμη = eligible
    adjective describing δαπάνη

  • δαπάνη = expense / expenditure
    this is the direct object

So the structure is:

The subsidy + covers + the eligible expense

Why do we have η before επιδότηση but την before δαπάνη?

Because Greek articles change depending on the grammatical role of the noun.

In this sentence:

  • η επιδότηση is the subject, so it is in the nominative
  • την επιλέξιμη δαπάνη is the direct object, so it is in the accusative

Both nouns are feminine singular, but the article changes by case:

  • nominative feminine singular: η
  • accusative feminine singular: την

So:

  • η επιδότηση = the subsidy as subject
  • την δαπάνη = the expense as object
Why is δαπάνη still δαπάνη if it is in the accusative?

Because some feminine nouns have the same form in the nominative and accusative singular.

For η δαπάνη:

  • nominative singular: η δαπάνη
  • accusative singular: τη(ν) δαπάνη

The article changes clearly, but the noun itself does not change in this case.

This is normal in Greek. The case is often shown by:

  • the article
  • the adjective
  • the sentence structure

not always by a different noun ending.

Why is επιλέξιμη in that form?

Because adjectives in Greek must agree with the noun they describe.

επιλέξιμη describes δαπάνη, which is:

  • feminine
  • singular
  • accusative

So the adjective must also be:

  • feminine
  • singular
  • accusative

The basic adjective forms are:

  • masculine: επιλέξιμος
  • feminine: επιλέξιμη
  • neuter: επιλέξιμο

In the feminine singular, the nominative and accusative are often identical in form, so you get:

  • η επιλέξιμη δαπάνη
  • την επιλέξιμη δαπάνη
What form is καλύπτει?

καλύπτει is:

  • present tense
  • active voice
  • third person singular

It comes from the verb καλύπτω = to cover

Present tense:

  • καλύπτω = I cover
  • καλύπτεις = you cover
  • καλύπτει = he/she/it covers
  • καλύπτουμε = we cover
  • καλύπτετε = you all cover
  • καλύπτουν(ε) = they cover

So Η επιδότηση καλύπτει... means The subsidy covers...

Can Greek leave out the subject pronoun here?

Yes. Greek usually does leave out subject pronouns unless they are needed for emphasis.

You would not normally say:

  • Αυτή καλύπτει την επιλέξιμη δαπάνη

unless you wanted to stress it/she specifically.

Because καλύπτει already tells you the subject is third person singular, and because η επιδότηση is present, no pronoun is needed.

Greek is a pro-drop language, unlike English.

Is the word order fixed?

No, Greek word order is more flexible than English, although subject–verb–object is the most neutral order here:

  • Η επιδότηση καλύπτει την επιλέξιμη δαπάνη.

You could also say:

  • Την επιλέξιμη δαπάνη καλύπτει η επιδότηση.

This still means the same thing, but the emphasis changes. The fronted object sounds more marked, as if highlighting the eligible expense.

Because Greek uses case marking, word order can move more freely than in English.

Why is it την and not τη?

Both are related.

  • την is the full standard accusative form
  • τη is a very common shortened form before consonants in everyday speech and writing

So you may see:

  • την επιλέξιμη δαπάνη
  • τη δαπάνη

In your sentence, την is perfectly standard and careful. Before a vowel, την is especially common because the final -ν helps the sound flow:

  • την επιλέξιμη...

Before some consonants, many speakers would naturally say τη in fast speech.

What is the difference between δαπάνη, έξοδο, and κόστος?

They are related, but not identical.

  • δαπάνη = expense / expenditure
    often used in formal, administrative, legal, accounting, or policy contexts

  • έξοδο = expense / outgoing payment
    common in everyday language and accounting

  • κόστος = cost
    focuses more on the amount something costs

In a bureaucratic or funding-related sentence, δαπάνη is very natural.
So επιλέξιμη δαπάνη is a standard phrase meaning eligible expense or eligible expenditure.

Is επιδότηση the same as subsidy, grant, or allowance?

It depends on context.

επιδότηση usually means some kind of financial support, especially from the state, an institution, or a program. Depending on the situation, English might translate it as:

  • subsidy
  • grant
  • financial support
  • sometimes allowance, though that is less exact in many cases

In funding and administrative texts, subsidy is often a good translation.

Why are there accents on these words?

The accent marks the stressed syllable in Modern Greek.

In this sentence:

  • επιδότηση → stress on δό
  • καλύπτει → stress on λύ
  • επιλέξιμη → stress on λέ
  • δαπάνη → stress on πά

These accents are important because:

  • they show pronunciation
  • they are part of correct spelling
  • stress can distinguish different forms or even different words

So you should learn Greek words together with their accent.

Is this a common type of sentence in official Greek?

Yes, very much so.

This sentence sounds formal and administrative. Words like:

  • επιδότηση
  • επιλέξιμη
  • δαπάνη

are especially common in:

  • government documents
  • EU funding texts
  • contracts
  • application guidelines
  • accounting and compliance language

A more everyday Greek sentence might use simpler vocabulary, but this sentence is very natural in official or professional contexts.

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