Learn Hardcore Greek: Η σιωπή είναι καλή όταν ακούω τη φωνή της δασκάλας στην εξέταση. - Silence is good when I hear the teacher’s female voice in the exam.

In Greek, abstract nouns like σιωπή (silence), αγάπη (love), ζωή (life) usually take the definite article when you make a general statement about them.

Η σιωπή είναι καλή. = Silence (in general) is good.
Σιωπή! = Silence! (an order, no article)

So, Greek prefers Η σιωπή είναι καλή where English would usually say “Silence is good” without “the”.

Why is the adjective καλή in that exact form and not καλός or καλό?

Greek adjectives must agree with the noun in:

gender
number
case

The noun σιωπή is:

feminine
singular
nominative (as the subject)

So the adjective “good” must also be feminine singular nominative:

masculine: καλός
feminine: καλή
neuter: καλό

Therefore: Η σιωπή είναι καλή (not καλός or καλό).

What exactly does όταν mean here, and how is it different from αν?

όταν introduces a time clause and means “when”:

όταν ακούω… = when I (am) hear(ing)…

αν introduces a condition and means “if”:

αν ακούω… = if I hear…

In this sentence, you’re describing what is true whenever you are hearing the teacher’s voice during an exam, so όταν (when) is correct:

Η σιωπή είναι καλή όταν ακούω…
Silence is good when I hear…

What tense is ακούω, and why not ακούσω?

ακούω is the present indicative, imperfective aspect.

Use:

ακούω (present) for ongoing, repeated, or general actions
→ when I (am) hearing / whenever I hear
ακούσω is the aorist subjunctive, used mainly after particles like να, όταν (in some future/one‑time contexts), αν, πριν, etc., especially for single, completed future events.

Here you mean a general rule: Whenever I hear the teacher’s voice in an exam, silence is good.
So the present ακούω fits better than an aorist form.

Why is it τη φωνή and not την φωνή? Isn’t the feminine accusative article την?

The full feminine accusative singular article is την.

In modern spelling, the final -ν is often dropped before many consonants, especially in casual writing, so you get τη.

Usual rule of thumb:

Keep ν before vowels and the consonants κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ.
It is often dropped before other consonants like φ, θ, χ, σ, ζ, etc.

Since φωνή starts with φ, both are seen:

τη φωνή (common modern spelling)
την φωνή (more careful or older style)

Grammatically they are the same form: feminine accusative singular definite article.

Why is φωνή in the accusative case? What is its role in the sentence?

In ακούω τη φωνή, the verb ακούω (to hear) takes a direct object.

The direct object in Greek is in the accusative case, so:

nominative: η φωνή (the voice – as subject)
accusative: τη(ν) φωνή (the voice – as object)

Here, τη φωνή is what is being heard → direct object of ακούω.

Why is it της δασκάλας after η φωνή? What case is that, and what does it express?

της δασκάλας is in the genitive singular feminine.

The genitive is used to show:

possession
“of” relationships

So:

η φωνή της δασκάλας = the voice of the teacher / the teacher’s voice.

Breakdown:

η δασκάλα (nominative) = the teacher (fem.)
της δασκάλας (genitive) = of the teacher

What is the difference between δασκάλα and δασκάλας?

They are different cases of the same feminine noun:

η δασκάλα = nominative singular (subject form)
Η δασκάλα μιλάει. – The teacher is speaking.
της δασκάλας = genitive singular (possessive / “of” form)
η φωνή της δασκάλας – the teacher’s voice

Basic singular forms:

nominative: η δασκάλα
genitive: της δασκάλας
accusative: τη(ν) δασκάλα

Why do we say στην εξέταση? What is going on with στην?

στην is the contraction of the preposition σε + the feminine accusative article την:

σε
- την εξέταση → στην εξέταση

So literally:

στην εξέταση = in the exam / during the exam

The preposition σε is usually followed by the accusative case in modern Greek and covers meanings like:

in / at / on / to
depending on context.

Here, the meaning is “in / during the exam”.

What case is εξέταση, and why?

In στην εξέταση, the noun εξέταση is in the accusative singular:

nominative: η εξέταση (the exam – subject)
accusative: την εξέταση (the exam – object / after prepositions)

Since σε always takes the accusative in modern Greek, we get (σε) την εξέταση → στην εξέταση.

Could the word order change? For example, can I say Η σιωπή, όταν ακούω τη φωνή της δασκάλας στην εξέταση, είναι καλή?

Yes, Greek word order is relatively flexible, especially with adverbial clauses like όταν….

All of these are grammatically possible:

Η σιωπή είναι καλή όταν ακούω τη φωνή της δασκάλας στην εξέταση.
Η σιωπή, όταν ακούω τη φωνή της δασκάλας στην εξέταση, είναι καλή.

The meaning is practically the same; the second version puts more emphasis on the condition “when I hear the teacher’s voice in the exam” as an inserted comment.

What you cannot do is break up phrases in unnatural ways, e.g. you can’t separate τη φωνή from της δασκάλας by putting other words in between.

Why is there no explicit “I” in ακούω? How do we know it means “I hear”?

Greek is a pro‑drop language: subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending already shows the person.

Conjugation of ακούω (present):

(εγώ) ακούω = I hear
(εσύ) ακούς = you hear (sg.)
(αυτός/αυτή/αυτό) ακούει = he/she/it hears

The -ω ending clearly marks first person singular, so adding εγώ is optional:

Όταν ακούω… = When I hear…
Όταν εγώ ακούω… = When I hear… (extra emphasis on I)

Could I say η ησυχία instead of η σιωπή? What’s the difference?

Yes, η ησυχία is also correct, but there is a nuance:

η σιωπή = silence, literally no one is speaking; focuses on lack of speech / sound.
η ησυχία = quietness, calm; a broader sense of peace and lack of noise.

In the context of an exam, both are reasonable:

Η σιωπή είναι καλή όταν ακούω τη φωνή της δασκάλας στην εξέταση.
→ Silence (no talking) is good when I hear the teacher’s voice in the exam.
Η ησυχία είναι καλή…
→ Quietness / calm is good…

σιωπή sounds a bit more like nobody talking, which fits exam conditions very well.

Does the Greek present ακούω here mean only “now”, or can it be used for general rules like in English?

The present tense in Greek, like in English, is used for general truths and repeated situations, not only for actions happening “right now”.

So:

Η σιωπή είναι καλή όταν ακούω τη φωνή της δασκάλας στην εξέταση.
means: Silence is good whenever I hear the teacher’s voice in an exam (general rule).

It’s not limited to one specific exam you are taking right now; it describes what is generally appropriate in that situation.