Learn Hardcore Greek: Όταν έχει βροχή, η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο. - When there is rain, practice doesn't take place at the field.

English normally uses “it + verb” (it rains, it is raining, it is cold), but Greek often uses έχει + noun to describe the weather. So the structure feels natural in Greek even though it looks strange literally in English.

Can I also say Όταν βρέχει instead of Όταν έχει βροχή? Is there any difference?

Yes, you can absolutely say Όταν βρέχει. It is very common and completely correct.

Όταν έχει βροχή, η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο.
Όταν βρέχει, η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο.

Both mean essentially “When it rains, practice doesn’t take place on the field.”

Small nuance:

βρέχει = it is raining (verb) – focuses on the action of raining.
έχει βροχή = there is rain / it is rainy (noun phrase) – focuses a bit more on the condition of there being rain.

In everyday speech, Όταν βρέχει is probably more frequent, but both sound natural.

Why is there no word for “it” in Όταν έχει βροχή?

Greek does not use a dummy subject like English “it” for weather.

English: It rains, It is raining
Greek: Βρέχει, Έχει βροχή, Κάνει κρύο

The verb form itself is enough; there is no separate pronoun for a meaningless “it.” So:

Όταν έχει βροχή = When (it) has rain → When it rains
Όταν βρέχει = When (it) rains

The subject is simply not expressed; this is normal for Greek.

Why does προπόνηση have the article η? Could we just say προπόνηση δεν γίνεται?

In the sentence, η προπόνηση means “the practice / the training session” – a specific, known event (e.g. your team’s regular practice). Greek normally uses the definite article in such cases, even where English might omit “the”:

Μου αρέσει η μουσική. – I like music.
Η προπόνηση αρχίζει στις έξι. – Practice starts at six.

So η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται fits the idea “(our) practice does not take place.”

You can say Προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο, but:

It sounds more emphatic, almost like: “No training takes place on the field.”
Dropping the article here stresses προπόνηση as a kind of activity in general, not the usual, specific session.

In everyday neutral speech, η προπόνηση is more typical when you mean the regular, known practice.

What exactly does γίνεται mean here? Why not use είναι or another verb?

The verb γίνομαι has several meanings, including:

to become
to be made / to be done
to take place, to happen

In this sentence, δεν γίνεται has the sense “does not take place / is not held.”

η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο
→ the practice does not take place on the field

Greek very often uses γίνεται for events:

Το μάθημα γίνεται αύριο. – The lesson takes place tomorrow.
Η συναυλία γίνεται στο θέατρο. – The concert is held at the theater.

If you said η προπόνηση δεν είναι στο γήπεδο, it would mean “practice is not at the field”, describing its location, but γίνεται is the standard verb for whether and where an event is held.

Could I change the word order and say Η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο όταν έχει βροχή?

Yes, that word order is also correct:

Όταν έχει βροχή, η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο.
Η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο όταν έχει βροχή.

Both are grammatical and natural.

Difference in feel:

Starting with Όταν έχει βροχή puts the condition in front, a bit like English “When it rains, …”.
Starting with Η προπόνηση… sounds a bit more like a statement about practice, and then you add όταν έχει βροχή as extra information.

In practice, both orders are common; it is mostly a matter of emphasis and style.

What does στο γήπεδο mean exactly, and why στο and not σε το?

στο γήπεδο means “at the field / on the pitch.”

σε = in / at / on
το = the (neuter singular)
σε + το → στο

Greek usually contracts σε with the definite article:

σε + τον → στον (e.g. στον δρόμο – on the road)
σε + την → στην (e.g. στην πόλη – in the city)
σε + το → στο (e.g. στο γήπεδο – at the field)
σε + τα → στα (e.g. στα βουνά – in the mountains)

So σε το γήπεδο is not used; it is always στο γήπεδο.

Why is the present tense used? Does it mean a general rule?

Yes. The present tense in Όταν έχει βροχή, η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο expresses a habitual / general rule, just like English:

When it rains, practice doesn’t take place on the field.

This is not about one particular day; it is about what always / usually happens whenever that condition is true.

Greek also uses the present tense for such general truths and repeated actions:

Όταν κάνει κρύο, φοράω μπουφάν. – When it is cold, I wear a jacket.
Όταν έχω χρόνο, διαβάζω. – When I have time, I read.

If you wanted to talk about a newly decided future policy, you might say:

Όταν έχει βροχή, η προπόνηση δεν θα γίνεται στο γήπεδο.
→ When it rains, practice will not be held on the field (from now on).

What does προπόνηση mean exactly? Is it the same as exercise?

η προπόνηση usually means training / practice, especially in a sports context:

team training
football practice
basketball practice, etc.

It can also be used more broadly for training in other skills, but its strong association is with sports training.

Other related words:

η άσκηση – an exercise (physical, written, mental)
η γυμναστική – physical exercise / working out (in general)
η εκπαίδευση – training / education (more formal, for jobs, military, etc.)

So η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο is specifically about the sports practice session not taking place on the field.

How would I say this sentence in the plural, if I am talking about training sessions in general?

If you want to talk about training sessions in the plural, you might say:

Όταν έχει βροχή, οι προπονήσεις δεν γίνονται στο γήπεδο.
→ When it rains, the practices are not held on the field.

Breakdown:

οι προπονήσεις = the training sessions (plural of η προπόνηση)
δεν γίνονται = do not take place (plural of δεν γίνεται)

How do you pronounce the key words in this sentence?

Approximate pronunciation (stress is on the accented syllable):

Όταν – /ˈotan/ – O‑tan
έχει – /ˈeçi/ – E‑chi (the χ is like German ch in ich)
βροχή – /vroˈçi/ – vro‑CHI
η προπόνηση – /i proˈponisi/ – ee pro‑PO‑ni‑see
δεν γίνεται – /ðen ˈʝinete/ – then YEE‑ne‑te
- δ = like th in this
- γ before ι or ε is a soft sound, similar to English y in yes but more fricative
στο γήπεδο – /sto ˈʝipedo/ – sto YEE‑pe‑tho
- final -δο sounds like tho with the th of this.

Putting it together (slowly):

Όταν έχει βροχή, η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο.
/ˈotan ˈeçi vroˈçi, i proˈponisi ðen ˈʝinete sto ˈʝipedo/

Could I say Η προπόνηση ακυρώνεται όταν έχει βροχή instead of δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο?

You can, but it does not mean exactly the same thing.

Η προπόνηση ακυρώνεται όταν έχει βροχή.
→ Practice is canceled when it rains.

This says that practice does not happen at all; it is canceled.

Η προπόνηση δεν γίνεται στο γήπεδο όταν έχει βροχή.
→ Practice does not take place on the field when it rains.

This only says it does not happen on the field; it might:

be moved indoors, or
take place somewhere else, or
be changed in some way.

So both sentences are correct, but they describe different situations.