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Breakdown of Ο σκύλος είναι πίσω από την πόρτα.
είμαι
to be
ο σκύλος
the dog
η πόρτα
the door
πίσω από
behind
Questions & Answers about Ο σκύλος είναι πίσω από την πόρτα.
Why is it Ο σκύλος and not Η σκύλος or Το σκύλος?
Greek nouns have grammatical gender. The noun σκύλος is masculine, so it takes the masculine nominative singular article ο. Feminine would be η (e.g., η πόρτα), neuter το (e.g., το σκυλί).
Why is it την πόρτα and not η πόρτα? And why is there a final -ν?
- After prepositions like πίσω από, the noun goes in the accusative case. The feminine accusative singular article is την, so you get την πόρτα.
- The final -ν in την is normally kept before vowels and certain consonants: κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ. Since πόρτα starts with π, keeping ν is standard: την πόρτα. In casual speech you may hear τη πόρτα.
What exactly is είναι?
It’s the present tense of “to be” (3rd person). Present forms of είμαι:
- εγώ είμαι (I am)
- εσύ είσαι (you are)
- αυτός/αυτή/αυτό είναι (he/she/it is)
- εμείς είμαστε
- εσείς είστε
- αυτοί/αυτές/αυτά είναι (they are) Note that είναι is used for both singular (he/she/it) and plural (they).
Do I really need από after πίσω?
Usually yes when you specify what something is behind:
- With nouns: πίσω από + accusative, e.g., πίσω από την πόρτα.
- With pronouns you can also use the genitive without από: πίσω του/της/τους = behind him/her/them. Using πίσω της πόρτας with a noun is grammatical but sounds formal/old-fashioned; everyday Greek prefers πίσω από.
Can I write απ’ την πόρτα instead of από την πόρτα?
Yes, in informal style you’ll often see/hear απ’ (elision of από), especially before vowels. Before consonants like π, careful writing prefers the full από, but απ’ την πόρτα is common in speech.
Can I change the word order?
Yes. Greek word order is flexible:
- Ο σκύλος είναι πίσω από την πόρτα. (neutral)
- Πίσω από την πόρτα είναι ο σκύλος. (emphasis on the location) You still need the verb είναι in normal sentences.
How do I say “A dog is behind the door”?
Use the indefinite article:
- Ένας σκύλος είναι πίσω από την πόρτα. You can also say:
- Υπάρχει ένας σκύλος πίσω από την πόρτα. (= There is a dog behind the door.)
How would I say “at the door” instead of “behind the door”?
Use στη(ν) (= σε + την):
- Ο σκύλος είναι στην πόρτα. (at the door) Compare: πίσω από την πόρτα (behind the door), μπροστά από την πόρτα (in front of the door).
What’s the difference between σκύλος and σκυλί?
- σκύλος: masculine noun “dog” (often used for a specific or male dog).
- σκυλί: neuter noun “dog” (very common for dogs in general; plural σκυλιά). Both are standard; choice depends on context and speaker preference.
How do I pronounce the whole sentence?
- IPA: [o ˈskilos ˈine ˈpiso aˈpo tin ˈporta]
- Simple transliteration with stress marks: O skílos íne píso apó tin pórta. Notes: ει/η/ι/υ/οι are pronounced like “ee”; ο is a short “o”.
Could I drop είναι like in headlines?
In everyday speech/writing, keep είναι. In headlines, captions, or notes you might see it omitted for brevity: Ο σκύλος πίσω από την πόρτα. That’s not a full sentence in normal prose.
How would I make it plural?
Two common options:
- Masculine plural of σκύλος: Οι σκύλοι είναι πίσω από την πόρτα.
- Using the neuter plural of σκυλί (very common for “dogs” in general): Τα σκυλιά είναι πίσω από την πόρτα. For doors (plural): πίσω από τις πόρτες.
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