Learn Hardcore Greek: Στη συνάντηση η γνώμη σου ακούγεται ελεύθερα και είναι σημαντική. - In the meeting your opinion is heard freely and it is important.

σε + τη(ν) = στη(ν)
We write στη before words starting with most consonants, including σ, as in συνάντηση.
We write στην before words starting with α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω (vowels) or some consonant clusters like στρ-, σκ-, etc.

Examples:

Στη συνάντηση = at the meeting
Στην αίθουσα = in the hall
Σε συνάντηση (without article) would mean at a meeting (non-specific), not at the meeting (specific).

Why is it η γνώμη σου and not η σου γνώμη?

In Modern Greek, the usual order with possessives is:

article + noun + possessive pronoun
→ η γνώμη σου = your opinion

Putting the possessive before the noun (η σου γνώμη) is old-fashioned/literary or poetic and sounds unnatural in everyday speech.

Some patterns:

το βιβλίο μου = my book
οι φίλοι μας = our friends
η δουλειά του = his job

What form of the verb is ακούγεται and what does it literally mean?

ακούγεται is:

Present tense
Passive voice
3rd person singular
From the verb ακούω (to hear)

Literally, η γνώμη σου ακούγεται = your opinion is heard.

In natural English we’d often translate it as your opinion is heard or your opinion is listened to, and in context it implies your opinion is allowed to be expressed and taken into account.

Why is ελεύθερα used here and not ελεύθερη?

ελεύθερα is the adverb form of the adjective ελεύθερος, -η, -ο (free).

ελεύθερος = free (masc. adj.)
ελεύθερη = free (fem. adj.)
ελεύθερο = free (neut. adj.)
ελεύθερα = freely (adverb)

We use an adverb to modify a verb:

ακούγεται ελεύθερα = is heard freely (i.e. without restriction)

If you said ακούγεται ελεύθερη, that would grammatically describe η γνώμη as free, not the manner in which it is heard. It would sound odd in this sentence.

Why is σημαντική in the feminine form? What is it agreeing with?

σημαντική is a feminine singular adjective. It agrees with η γνώμη because γνώμη is a feminine noun.

Agreement pattern:

η γνώμη σου είναι σημαντική = your (feminine) opinion is important
ο λόγος σου είναι σημαντικός = your (masculine) speech/reason is important
το σχόλιό σου είναι σημαντικό = your (neuter) comment is important

In Greek, adjectives must match the noun in gender, number, and case.

Why is the word order Στη συνάντηση η γνώμη σου ακούγεται… and not Η γνώμη σου ακούγεται… στη συνάντηση?

Greek word order is flexible. Both are grammatically correct:

Στη συνάντηση η γνώμη σου ακούγεται ελεύθερα και είναι σημαντική.
Emphasis: At the meeting, your opinion is heard freely and is important (contrast with other situations).
Η γνώμη σου στη συνάντηση ακούγεται ελεύθερα και είναι σημαντική.
Slightly more neutral; first highlights your opinion, then specifies at the meeting.

Placing Στη συνάντηση at the beginning gives that phrase topical or contrastive emphasis: it frames the context first.

Could you leave out the article and say Σε συνάντηση η γνώμη σου ακούγεται…? What would change?

You can say it, but the meaning changes:

Στη συνάντηση = at the meeting (a specific one both speaker and listener know about)
Σε συνάντηση = at a meeting / in (any) meeting (non-specific, more general or vague)

So:

Σε συνάντηση η γνώμη σου ακούγεται ελεύθερα…
would sound more like a general statement about what happens in some meeting situation, not one particular meeting everybody knows about.

Is σου stressed? How is η γνώμη σου pronounced?

In Modern Greek, the possessive pronoun σου is typically unstressed and written without an accent.

η γνώμη σου is pronounced roughly:
[i ˈɣno.mi su]
The main stress is on γνώμη (on γνώ), not on σου.

The clitic pronouns (μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους) usually follow the noun and are unstressed in normal speech.

What is the nuance of ακούγεται here compared to a more direct verb like εκφράζεται?

ακούγεται (is heard) focuses on the result: your opinion actually reaches people’s ears; it is allowed and not suppressed.
εκφράζεται (is expressed) focuses on the act of expressing: you are able to put your opinion into words.

So:

η γνώμη σου ακούγεται ελεύθερα suggests you speak and people actually listen / it is heard openly.
η γνώμη σου εκφράζεται ελεύθερα suggests you are free to express your opinion, with less emphasis on whether others listen.

What is the difference between γνώμη and άποψη?

Both can mean opinion, but there is a slight nuance:

γνώμη: very common, general word for opinion / view.
- Ποια είναι η γνώμη σου; = What’s your opinion?
άποψη: also opinion / point of view, sometimes with a slightly more viewpoint / perspective feel, often used in more formal or argumentative contexts.
- Σεβόμαστε την άποψή σου. = We respect your point of view.

In this sentence, you could say:

Στη συνάντηση η άποψή σου ακούγεται ελεύθερα και είναι σημαντική.

It would still be natural and correct.

Could you drop είναι and say …ακούγεται ελεύθερα και σημαντική?

No, that would be ungrammatical.

ακούγεται ελεύθερα: verb + adverb (complete idea)
είναι σημαντική: verb είναι
- adjective σημαντική

You need the verb είναι to link η γνώμη σου to σημαντική:

…και είναι σημαντική = and (it) is important

Without είναι, σημαντική would just be a loose adjective with nothing tying it grammatically to the subject.