Μου αρέσει ο κινηματογράφος αυτός, γιατί είναι ήσυχος εκτός από τα Σάββατα.

I like this cinema because it is quiet except on Saturdays.

Breakdown of Μου αρέσει ο κινηματογράφος αυτός, γιατί είναι ήσυχος εκτός από τα Σάββατα.

• είμαι: to be
• αυτός: this
• γιατί: because
• μου: me
• ήσυχος: quiet
• αρέσω: to like
• ο κινηματογράφος: the cinema
• εκτός από: except for
• τα Σάββατα: on Saturdays

Questions & Answers about Μου αρέσει ο κινηματογράφος αυτός, γιατί είναι ήσυχος εκτός από τα Σάββατα.

Why does the sentence use Μου αρέσει instead of a verb like αρέσω to mean "I like"?

In Greek, αρέσω works the opposite way from English to like.

• Literally, μου αρέσει ο κινηματογράφος αυτός is this cinema pleases me.
• μου = to me / for me (indirect object, genitive case)
• αρέσει = pleases (3rd person singular)
• ο κινηματογράφος αυτός = this cinema (the thing that pleases)

So the structure is:

[to-me] [pleases] [this-cinema]

In English we flip it into I like this cinema, but in Greek we keep the it pleases me logic, so we say μου αρέσει, not αρέσω.

What exactly is μου here, and why is it before αρέσει?

μου is the weak (unstressed) genitive form of εγώ (I). It corresponds to to me / for me / my depending on context.

In this sentence:

• μου = to me (indirect object)
• It comes before the verb because weak object pronouns normally go:
  • before a simple verb: μου αρέσει
  • or between an auxiliary and a main verb: μου έχει πει (he has told me)

So μου αρέσει is the standard way to say I like / it pleases me. Putting μου before the verb is normal Greek word order with weak pronouns.

Can I also say Μ’ αρέσει instead of Μου αρέσει?

Yes.

• Μ’ αρέσει is just μου αρέσει with elision: the ου is dropped and replaced by an apostrophe when followed by a word starting with a vowel (αρέσει).
• This is very common in speech and in informal writing.

So:

• Μου αρέσει ο κινηματογράφος αυτός (full form, neutral)
• Μ’ αρέσει ο κινηματογράφος αυτός (more colloquial, sounds very natural)

Both are correct.

Why is it ο κινηματογράφος αυτός and not αυτός ο κινηματογράφος? Is there a difference?

Both are grammatically correct and both can mean this cinema:

• αυτός ο κινηματογράφος
• ο κινηματογράφος αυτός

Differences:

1. More common order

   • In everyday speech, αυτός ο κινηματογράφος is more common and neutral.

2. Post‑posed demonstrative (… αυτός)

   • ο κινηματογράφος αυτός can sound a bit more specific, contrasting, or slightly more formal, like this particular cinema.
   • Greek often puts the demonstrative after the noun to give a sense of that one, this one here (as opposed to others).

In this sentence, ο κινηματογράφος αυτός fits the idea this specific cinema (not the others).

Why does the article ο and the adjective ήσυχος both end in -ος?

Because they agree with the noun κινηματογράφος, which is:

• gender: masculine
• number: singular
• case: nominative (subject of the verb είναι)

So we get:

• ο κινηματογράφος (masculine nominative singular)
• είναι ήσυχος (adjective also masculine nominative singular)

Agreement pattern:

• masculine: ο κινηματογράφος είναι ήσυχος
• feminine: η καφετέρια είναι ήσυχη
• neuter: το μαγαζί είναι ήσυχο

Could I drop the article and just say Μου αρέσει κινηματογράφος αυτός?

No, that would be wrong in standard Greek.

With specific nouns like this cinema, Greek normally requires the definite article:

• Μου αρέσει ο κινηματογράφος αυτός = I like this cinema.
• Μου αρέσει αυτός ο κινηματογράφος = I like this cinema.

Without the article (μου αρέσει κινηματογράφος) it sounds ungrammatical or at least very odd here. Greek uses the definite article much more than English.

What does γιατί mean here: why or because?

In Greek, γιατί can mean both:

• why?:
  Γιατί σου αρέσει αυτός ο κινηματογράφος; = Why do you like this cinema?
• because:
  Μου αρέσει ο κινηματογράφος αυτός, γιατί είναι ήσυχος… = I like this cinema, because it is quiet…

In your sentence, γιατί clearly means because since it introduces the reason:

… γιατί είναι ήσυχος εκτός από τα Σάββατα.
… because it is quiet except on Saturdays.

Why is there a comma before γιατί?

The comma separates:

• the main clause: Μου αρέσει ο κινηματογράφος αυτός
• from the reason clause: γιατί είναι ήσυχος εκτός από τα Σάββατα

In English we often also use a comma before because when the reason is added after a complete sentence:

• I like this cinema, because it is quiet…

In Greek, the comma here is normal and helps readability, but you may also see it omitted in short, simple sentences. With γιατί introducing a full reason clause, a comma is generally a good idea.

What exactly does εκτός από mean, and which case does it take?

εκτός από means except (for) / apart from.

• It is a prepositional phrase: εκτός (outside) + από (from).
• In modern Greek it is normally followed by the accusative case.

In your sentence:

• τα Σάββατα is accusative plural (neuter).
• εκτός από τα Σάββατα = except (on) Saturdays

You can use εκτός από with nouns or pronouns:

• εκτός από μένα = except for me
• εκτός από την Κυριακή = except on Sunday

Why is it τα Σάββατα (plural) and not just το Σάββατο?

Because τα Σάββατα means on Saturdays (in general, every Saturday).

• το Σάββατο = on Saturday (usually one specific Saturday: this coming Saturday, last Saturday, etc.)
• τα Σάββατα = on Saturdays (repeatedly / habitually)

So:

• Είναι ήσυχος εκτός από το Σάββατο.
  = It is quiet except (this/that) Saturday.
• Είναι ήσυχος εκτός από τα Σάββατα.
  = It is quiet except on Saturdays (generally).

Your sentence describes a habitual situation, so the plural τα Σάββατα is used.

Should Σάββατα be capitalized in Greek?

By the official modern spelling rules:

• Days of the week are written with a lowercase initial in Greek:
  • τα Σάββατα → more standard as τα Σάββατα or τα σάββατα depending on the style guide, but school grammars usually recommend lowercase: τα σάββατα.

In practice:

• Many people still write days of the week with a capital letter, influenced by older conventions or by English.
• So τα Σάββατα is commonly seen, even if τα σάββατα is more strictly in line with modern rules.

For learners, it is safe (and correct) to write them in lowercase: τα σάββατα, τις Δευτέρες → τις δευτέρες, etc.

Does ο κινηματογράφος here mean the physical cinema building or cinema as an art form?

It can mean both in general, but in this specific sentence the meaning is clearly the place / building, because of:

• the demonstrative: ο κινηματογράφος αυτός = this cinema (here / that one)
  That points to a specific location.
• the description: είναι ήσυχος εκτός από τα Σάββατα
  Being quiet except on Saturdays is a property of a physical place.

If you remove αυτός, then Μου αρέσει ο κινηματογράφος by itself is more likely to mean I like cinema (movies) as an art form / medium.

Is κινηματογράφος the only word for cinema, or can I also say σινεμά?

You can use both, but there is a nuance:

• ο κινηματογράφος

  • more formal or neutral
  • can mean:
    • the place: Πάμε στον κινηματογράφο; = Shall we go to the cinema?
    • the art/medium: Μου αρέσει ο κινηματογράφος. = I like cinema (as an art).

• το σινεμά

  • very common in everyday speech
  • almost always the place or the activity:
    • Πάμε σινεμά; = Shall we go to the movies?

In your sentence, you could naturally say:

• Μου αρέσει αυτό το σινεμά, γιατί είναι ήσυχο εκτός από τα Σάββατα.

That sounds very colloquial and natural.