Η απάντηση είναι απλή.

to be

Breakdown of Η απάντηση είναι απλή.

• η απάντηση: the answer
• απλός: simple

Questions & Answers about Η απάντηση είναι απλή.

What is the very first Η? Is it the letter H?

It’s the feminine definite article η (meaning “the”), capitalized at the start of the sentence. The Greek letter Η/η (eta) is pronounced like the English long ee sound, not like an English H. So Η here is pronounced [i].

Why is the article feminine here?

Because απάντηση (answer) is a feminine noun. Many nouns ending in -ση are feminine in Greek, so they take the article η in the nominative singular.

How do you pronounce the whole sentence?

• IPA: [i aˈpandisi ˈine aˈpli]
• Syllable stress: a-PAN-dee-see | EE-neh | a-PLEE
• Smooth reading: ee a-PAN-dee-see EE-neh a-PLEE

Why does απλή end in -ή?

Adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. The base adjective is:

• Masculine: απλός
• Feminine: απλή
• Neuter: απλό Here it’s feminine singular nominative to match η απάντηση.

What form of the verb is είναι?

It’s the 3rd person singular of είμαι (to be), and it’s also used for 3rd person plural.

• εγώ είμαι (I am)
• εσύ είσαι (you are)
• αυτός/αυτή/αυτό είναι (he/she/it is)
• εμείς είμαστε
• εσείς είστε/είσαστε
• αυτοί/αυτές/αυτά είναι (they are)

Can I omit είναι?

Not in normal sentences; you usually keep είναι. In headlines or very elliptical style you might see something like Απλή η απάντηση (predicate first for emphasis), but everyday speech keeps the verb.

Is the definite article necessary? Could I say Απάντηση είναι απλή?

For the meaning “the answer is simple,” you normally include the article: Η απάντηση είναι απλή. Without an article it sounds odd or overly generic. If you want “an answer is simple,” use the indefinite: Μια απάντηση είναι απλή. For “It is a simple answer,” say Είναι μια απλή απάντηση.

Can I change the word order?

Yes, Greek allows some flexibility for emphasis:

• Neutral: Η απάντηση είναι απλή.
• Emphasis on the adjective: Απλή είναι η απάντηση. Both are correct; the first is the default.

What would the plural be?

• Οι απαντήσεις είναι απλές. (The answers are simple.) Note that:
• οι = feminine nominative plural article
• απαντήσεις = plural noun
• απλές = feminine nominative plural adjective
• είναι stays the same for plural.

Can I use εύκολη instead of απλή?

They’re close but not identical:

• απλή = simple (not complicated)
• εύκολη = easy (not difficult) So Η απάντηση είναι απλή stresses lack of complexity; Η απάντηση είναι εύκολη suggests it’s easy to find/understand.

What’s the difference between απλή and απλά?

• απλή = feminine adjective (simple).
• απλά = adverb (simply) or neuter plural adjective (simple, plural). Examples:
• Η απάντηση είναι απλή. (adjective)
• Η απάντηση είναι απλά ναι. = The answer is simply yes. (adverb)
• Τα πράγματα είναι απλά. = The things are simple. (neuter plural adjective)

Why do η and ει sound the same, and what about αι in είναι?

Modern Greek has several spellings for the ee sound: ι, η, υ, ει, οι, υι (all pronounced [i]). In είναι, ει is [i], while the ending -αι is pronounced [e]. So είναι is [ˈine].

Where do the accent marks go, and why?

Modern Greek uses one stress mark (τόνος) on polysyllabic words:

• απάντηση (stress on πάν)
• είναι (stress on εί)
• απλή (stress on λή) The article η never carries an accent.

What punctuation would a Greek question use, and why is there a dot here?

Greek uses the semicolon (;) as the question mark. A period (.) ends statements. Our sentence is a statement, so it correctly ends with a period.

How do the forms change in other cases?

Singular (feminine):

• Nominative (subject): η απλή απάντηση
• Genitive (of): της απλής απάντησης
• Accusative (object): την απλή απάντηση Examples:
• Βλέπω την απλή απάντηση. (I see the simple answer.)
• Ο τίτλος της απλής απάντησης… (The title of the simple answer…)