Χωρίς κλειδί δεν ανοίγει η πόρτα.

not

Breakdown of Χωρίς κλειδί δεν ανοίγει η πόρτα.

• η πόρτα: the door
• ανοίγω: to open
• το κλειδί: the key

Questions & Answers about Χωρίς κλειδί δεν ανοίγει η πόρτα.

Why is the subject at the end of the sentence?

Greek word order is flexible and often verb–subject (V–S) or verb–object–subject. Fronting Χωρίς κλειδί sets the condition as the topic, and keeping η πόρτα to the end focuses it as the subject being affected. A perfectly neutral alternative is Η πόρτα δεν ανοίγει χωρίς κλειδί.

Why is there no article before κλειδί?

After χωρίς, Greek commonly omits the article when the meaning is indefinite/generic: χωρίς κλειδί = “without a key.” If you mean a specific, known key, you’d use the definite article: χωρίς το κλειδί = “without the key.”

Can I say χωρίς το κλειδί instead, and what changes?

Yes, χωρίς το κλειδί refers to a particular key already known in context (e.g., the key to this door). Χωρίς κλειδί is generic: any key at all.

What cases are used here, and why?

• κλειδί is accusative because the preposition χωρίς governs the accusative. (Neuter singular nominative and accusative look the same: το κλειδί.)
• η πόρτα is nominative because it’s the subject of the verb.
• If πόρτα were a direct object, it would be accusative: την πόρτα.