Αυτή η δεξιότητα είναι πολύ σημαντική.

to be

Breakdown of Αυτή η δεξιότητα είναι πολύ σημαντική.

• αυτός: this
• πολύ: very
• σημαντικός: important
• η δεξιότητα: the skill

Questions & Answers about Αυτή η δεξιότητα είναι πολύ σημαντική.

What does each word in Αυτή η δεξιότητα είναι πολύ σημαντική correspond to in English?

Roughly word‑for‑word, it corresponds to:

• Αυτή – this (feminine, subject)
• η – the (feminine definite article)
• δεξιότητα – skill / ability
• είναι – is (3rd person singular of είμαι, to be)
• πολύ – very
• σημαντική – important (feminine form)

So the whole sentence means: “This skill is very important.”

Why do we need both Αυτή and η before δεξιότητα? In English we just say “this skill,” not “this the skill.”

In Modern Greek, when you use a demonstrative (αυτός, αυτή, αυτό etc.) before a noun, you almost always also use the definite article:

• Αυτή η δεξιότητα – this skill
• Αυτό το βιβλίο – this book
• Αυτές οι ιδέες – these ideas

So the pattern is:

[Demonstrative] + [Article] + [Noun]

Leaving out the article (Αυτή δεξιότητα) is either incorrect or sounds very unnatural in standard modern Greek, except in some fixed phrases or very specific contexts. For everyday speech, always include the article.

Why is δεξιότητα considered feminine? How can I tell the gender?

In Greek, every noun has a grammatical gender: masculine, feminine, or neuter. Δεξιότητα is feminine.

Clues:

• The article η (the) is the feminine nominative singular article.
• Many feminine nouns end in -α or -η, and -ότητα is a common feminine ending (e.g. ικανότητα “ability”, δυσκολότητα “difficulty” etc.).

You usually learn the gender of each noun together with the noun itself. The safest way is to memorize a noun together with its article:

• η δεξιότητα – the skill (f.)
• ο μαθητής – the student (m.)
• το βιβλίο – the book (n.)

Why does σημαντική end in -ή? I’ve seen σημαντικός and σημαντικό as well.

Σημαντικός, σημαντική, σημαντικό is an adjective meaning important, and it changes form to agree with the noun in:

• gender (masculine / feminine / neuter)
• number (singular / plural)
• case (nominative, accusative, etc.)

The basic forms are:

• σημαντικός – masculine (e.g. ο σημαντικός ρόλος – the important role)
• σημαντική – feminine (e.g. η σημαντική δεξιότητα – the important skill)
• σημαντικό – neuter (e.g. το σημαντικό μάθημα – the important lesson)

Since δεξιότητα is feminine singular and in the nominative case (as the subject), the adjective must match it: σημαντική.

Could I say Αυτή δεξιότητα είναι πολύ σημαντική without the article η?

No, not in normal modern Greek. You’re expected to use the article:

• ✅ Αυτή η δεξιότητα είναι πολύ σημαντική.
• ❌ Αυτή δεξιότητα είναι πολύ σημαντική.

Greek uses the article much more regularly than English does, especially with specific, countable nouns. With demonstratives (αυτός/αυτή/αυτό), the article is practically obligatory before the noun.

Is the word order fixed? Could I move πολύ or σημαντική somewhere else in the sentence?

The natural order here is:

Subject – Verb – πολύ – Adjective
Αυτή η δεξιότητα – είναι – πολύ – σημαντική.

Some variations are possible but less neutral:

• Αυτή η δεξιότητα είναι σημαντική. (just removes very)
• Είναι πολύ σημαντική αυτή η δεξιότητα. (emphasizes “this skill”, common in speech)

But:

• Αυτή η δεξιότητα είναι σημαντική πολύ. – sounds unnatural in modern Greek.

In general, πολύ as very usually goes right before the adjective or adverb it modifies: πολύ σημαντική, πολύ καλός, πολύ γρήγορα, etc.

Why is it Αυτή and not Αυτήν? When do I use Αυτήν?

Αυτή and αυτήν are forms of the same word αυτή (this, feminine). The difference is case:

• Αυτή – nominative singular feminine (used as subject)
  
  • Αυτή η δεξιότητα είναι… – This skill is…
• (Αυτή)ν – accusative singular feminine (used as direct object)
  
  • Βλέπω αυτήν τη δεξιότητα. – I see this skill.

In everyday speech and writing, the final -ν is often dropped unless the next word starts with certain consonants (like κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, μπ, ντ, γκ) or a vowel. So you may see:

• Βλέπω αυτή τη δεξιότητα. (same meaning; very common)

In your sentence, Αυτή is the subject, so nominative is required: Αυτή.

Does πολύ ever change form, or is it always πολύ?

It depends on its function:

1. As an adverb meaning very or a lot, it is indeclinable (does not change):

   • είναι πολύ σημαντική – she/it is very important
   • δουλεύει πολύ – he/she works a lot

2. As an adjective meaning many/much, it changes form:

   • πολύς (m.), πολλή (f.), πολύ (n.) – nominative singular
   • πολλοί, πολλές, πολλά – plural forms
     Examples:
   • πολλή δουλειά – a lot of work
   • πολλά βιβλία – many books

In your sentence, πολύ is an adverb modifying σημαντική, so it stays πολύ.

How do you pronounce δεξιότητα and where is the stress?

Δεξιότητα is pronounced:

• de-ksee-Ó-ti-ta

Syllable breakdown: δε-ξι-ό-τη-τα
The stress mark ό shows the stressed syllable: the third one from the end.

Approximate sounds (using English):

• δε – like the but with a clearer e (as in bed)
• ξι – like ksee (x = ks)
• ό – like o in more (but shorter)
• τη – like ti in tip
• τα – like ta in taco (short a)

How would the sentence change with a masculine or neuter noun instead of δεξιότητα?

The demonstrative, article, and adjective all change to match the noun’s gender.

Masculine example:

• Αυτός ο μαθητής είναι πολύ σημαντικός.
  
  • This student is very important.
  • Masculine forms: Αυτός – ο – μαθητής – σημαντικός

Neuter example:

• Αυτό το μάθημα είναι πολύ σημαντικό.
  
  • This lesson is very important.
  • Neuter forms: Αυτό – το – μάθημα – σημαντικό

Compare with your original feminine sentence:

• Αυτή η δεξιότητα είναι πολύ σημαντική.
  
  • Feminine forms: Αυτή – η – δεξιότητα – σημαντική

This shows how Greek agreement works across demonstrative, article, noun, and adjective.