Learn Hardcore Greek: Σήμερα το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο.

το is the neuter definite article (singular, nominative/accusative).
πρόγραμμα is a neuter noun. Nouns ending in -μα are almost always neuter (το γράμμα, το σώμα, το ποίημα, το πρόβλημα, το πρόγραμμα, etc.).

So we must say το πρόγραμμα, not ο πρόγραμμα (masc.) or η πρόγραμμα (fem.).

Indefinite versions:

ένα πρόγραμμα = a program / a schedule
το πρόγραμμα = the program / the schedule

Why does εύκολο end in -ο and not εύκολος or εύκολη?

The adjective must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

πρόγραμμα is neuter, singular, nominative.
So the adjective must also be neuter, singular, nominative: εύκολο.

Basic forms of the adjective “easy”:

masculine: εύκολος (π.χ. ο εύκολος δρόμος)
feminine: εύκολη (π.χ. η εύκολη άσκηση)
neuter: εύκολο (π.χ. το εύκολο πρόγραμμα)

Because we have το πρόγραμμα (neuter), we must say εύκολο.

Could the word order be different? For example, can I say Το πρόγραμμα σήμερα είναι εύκολο?

Yes. Greek word order is fairly flexible, especially with adverbs like σήμερα (“today”).

These are all grammatically correct:

Σήμερα το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο. (Neutral, very common.)
Το πρόγραμμα σήμερα είναι εύκολο. (Also natural; slight focus on “the program today.”)
Το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο σήμερα. (Focus can fall on the idea “it is easy today,” maybe in contrast with other days.)
Εύκολο είναι σήμερα το πρόγραμμα. (More marked; emphasizes εύκολο.)

The basic structure remains [subject] [verb] [complements], but adverbs like σήμερα can move around for emphasis or rhythm.

Where is the subject in this sentence? Do we need a pronoun like “it”?

In Σήμερα το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο, the subject is το πρόγραμμα.

Greek usually does not use a pronoun like English “it” when the subject is a noun:

English: It (the schedule) is easy.
Greek: Το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο. (No extra “it.”)

Greek does have subject pronouns (αυτός, αυτή, αυτό, etc.), but here they are unnecessary and would sound unnatural if you tried to match English literally.

Do we always need the verb είναι (“is”)? Can we drop it like in Russian or Arabic sometimes?

In modern Greek, the verb είμαι (“to be”) is normally required in the present tense.

So:

Σήμερα το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο. ✅
Σήμερα το πρόγραμμα εύκολο. ❌ (incorrect in standard modern Greek)

Unlike some languages where the copula can be omitted in the present tense, standard modern Greek keeps είναι.

What exactly does πρόγραμμα mean here? Does it only mean “TV program”?

πρόγραμμα has several meanings in Greek, just like in English:

Schedule / timetable
- Το πρόγραμμα του μαθήματος = the class schedule
- Σήμερα το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο. = Today the schedule (what we have to do) is easy.
TV or radio program
- Βλέπω ένα τηλεοπτικό πρόγραμμα. = I’m watching a TV program.
Software program
- Ένα πρόγραμμα υπολογιστή = a computer program

In your sentence, context tells you it means something like schedule / plan for the day.

Why is το πρόγραμμα in the nominative case? How can I recognize that?

In Σήμερα το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο, το πρόγραμμα is the subject of the verb είναι, so it’s in the nominative case.

For this noun:

Nominative singular: το πρόγραμμα (subject)
Accusative singular: το πρόγραμμα (object)

They look the same in the singular neuter, which can be confusing. You tell the case by function in the sentence:

Το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο.
- subject → nominative
Βλέπω το πρόγραμμα. = I see the program.
- direct object → accusative

Both are το πρόγραμμα, but the role (subject vs object) is different.

How do I pronounce πρόγραμμα and εύκολο correctly? Anything tricky?

Pronunciation tips:

πρόγραμμα

Syllables: πρό–γραμ–μα
Stress on the first syllable: ΠΡΟ-
γρ is like English gr, but Greek γ is a voiced sound between g and a soft French/Spanish g before a, o, u.
Final -μα is pronounced -ma.

εύκολο

Syllables: εύ–κο–λο
Stress on the first syllable: ΕΥ-
εύ here is pronounced like ef, because it’s followed by the voiceless consonant κ:
- εύκολο ≈ ef-ko-lo
Final -ο is a clear o sound (like in Italian or Spanish).

So roughly:

πρόγραμμα ≈ PRO-gram-ma
εύκολο ≈ EF-ko-lo

Why does Σήμερα have an accent on the first syllable? What does the accent mark do?

Greek uses a single accent mark (΄) to show which syllable is stressed.

Σήμερα is written with an accent on ί: Σήμερα.
That tells you the stress is on the first syllable: ΣΗ-με-ρα.

The accent mark:

Does not change the vowel quality (like in French).
Only shows which syllable is stressed, which is important for correct pronunciation and sometimes for distinguishing words.

If the subject were plural, how would the sentence change?

Let’s make πρόγραμμα plural:

Nominative plural: τα προγράμματα (“the programs” / “the schedules”)

Then everything that agrees with it must also be neuter plural:

Σήμερα τα προγράμματα είναι εύκολα.
- τα προγράμματα = neuter plural subject
- είναι = same form (είναι is used for he/she/it/they)
- εύκολα = neuter plural form of the adjective

Singular vs plural:

Το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο.
Τα προγράμματα είναι εύκολα.

How would I say “Today the program is hard” instead of “easy”?

The common adjective for “hard / difficult” is δύσκολος, δύσκολη, δύσκολο.

Since πρόγραμμα is neuter:

Σήμερα το πρόγραμμα είναι δύσκολο. = Today the program/schedule is hard.

Basic pattern:

easy: εύκολος / εύκολη / εύκολο
hard: δύσκολος / δύσκολη / δύσκολο

Can σήμερα go at the end of the sentence? Does that change the meaning?

Yes, you can say:

Το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο σήμερα.

It’s grammatically correct. The difference is subtle and mostly about emphasis:

Σήμερα το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο.
- Neutral; simply states today’s situation.
Το πρόγραμμα είναι εύκολο σήμερα.
- Slightly more focus on “today” as a contrast (for example, compared to yesterday or usually).

In everyday speech, both are fine; context and intonation will show the nuance.