Σήμερα ο ουρανός είναι μπλε και δεν έχει σύννεφα.

Today the sky is blue and there are no clouds.

Breakdown of Σήμερα ο ουρανός είναι μπλε και δεν έχει σύννεφα.

• είμαι: to be
• και: and
• έχω: to have
• δεν: not

Questions & Answers about Σήμερα ο ουρανός είναι μπλε και δεν έχει σύννεφα.

Why do we say ο ουρανός with the in Greek when in English we just say sky without the?

In Greek, nouns very often need the definite article (ο, η, το) where English leaves it out.

• ο ουρανός = the sky, but it can also just mean sky in a general way.
• In Greek, when you talk about things like the sky, the sun, the sea, you usually use the article.

So Σήμερα ο ουρανός είναι μπλε is the normal, natural way to say Today (the) sky is blue, even though in English you do not say the sky every time in this kind of sentence.

What is the grammatical role and gender of ουρανός and σύννεφα?

• ουρανός

  • Gender: masculine
  • Number: singular
  • Case: nominative (subject of the verb είναι)
  • Full phrase: ο ουρανός = the sky

• σύννεφα

  • Gender: neuter
  • Number: plural
  • Case: accusative here (direct object of έχει)
  • Singular: το σύννεφο = the cloud
  • Plural: τα σύννεφα = the clouds

So in the first part, ο ουρανός is the subject (the thing that is blue), and in δεν έχει σύννεφα, σύννεφα are the things that are not present (no clouds).

Why is there no word for it in the second part? Why don’t we say something like αυτός δεν έχει σύννεφα?