Learn Hardcore Greek: Η κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη, γιατί η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά. - The situation is already a bit difficult, because the date is near.

Why do we use the article η in η κατάσταση and η ημερομηνία? In English we just say “situation” or “the situation” depending on context.

In Greek, the definite article (ο, η, το) is used much more often than in English.

η κατάσταση = literally the situation
η ημερομηνία = literally the date

Here, Greek prefers the definite article even though in English you might say:

The situation is already a bit difficult, because the date is near. (natural)
The situation is already a bit difficult, because the deadline is near.

If you removed the article and said κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη or ημερομηνία είναι κοντά, it would sound wrong or at least very unnatural in Greek. In most cases, singular countable nouns need an article when they refer to a specific, known thing in the context, which is exactly the case here: a specific situation and a specific date you have in mind.

Why does δύσκολη end in -η and not something like δύσκολο or δύσκολος?

The adjective δύσκολος / δύσκολη / δύσκολο changes its ending to agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

η κατάσταση (the situation) is:
- feminine
- singular
- nominative

So the adjective must match:

masculine: δύσκολος
feminine: δύσκολη
neuter: δύσκολο

Because κατάσταση is feminine, we use δύσκολη:

Η κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη.
(The situation is already a bit difficult.)

With a neuter noun you would see:

Το πρόβλημα είναι δύσκολο.
(The problem is difficult.)

What exactly is λίγο doing here? Is it “little”, “a bit”, or “slightly”?

In this sentence, λίγο functions as an adverb meaning a little / a bit / slightly.

είναι δύσκολη = it is difficult
είναι λίγο δύσκολη = it is a bit difficult / it is slightly difficult

So λίγο is modifying the adjective δύσκολη.

Compare:

είναι πολύ δύσκολη = it is very difficult
είναι αρκετά δύσκολη = it is quite difficult
είναι λίγο δύσκολη = it is a bit difficult

Note that λίγο can also be used as a little (amount) with nouns, but here it clearly modifies the adjective.

Can we say η κατάσταση είναι λίγο ήδη δύσκολη or put ήδη somewhere else?

The usual, most natural word order is exactly what you have:

Η κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη.

Placing ήδη (already) before λίγο is the most standard: it comes close to the verb and before the phrase λίγο δύσκολη.

Other possible positions:

Η κατάσταση είναι λίγο ήδη δύσκολη. – understandable, but sounds awkward or at least less natural.
Ήδη η κατάσταση είναι λίγο δύσκολη. – also possible; this puts extra emphasis on ήδη.

For everyday speech and neutral style, είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη is the best version.

Why do we have είναι twice? Could we say Η κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη, γιατί η ημερομηνία κοντά without the second είναι?

You need είναι in both clauses.

First clause: Η κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη
(The situation is already a bit difficult)
Second clause: η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά
(the date is near)

In Greek, you cannot drop the verb είναι the way you sometimes can in English headlines or very informal styles.

So:

✗ η ημερομηνία κοντά – incorrect as a normal sentence
✓ η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά – correct

Each clause needs its own verb.

What does ήδη mean exactly, and how is it different from τώρα?

ήδη means already and shows that something has happened or a state has been reached earlier than expected.

Η κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη.
= The situation is already a bit difficult.
(earlier than we might have expected it to become difficult)

τώρα means now, and focuses on the present time, without the nuance of earlier-than-expected:

Η κατάσταση είναι τώρα λίγο δύσκολη.
= The situation is now a bit difficult.
(it has become difficult now, but no emphasis on it being earlier than expected)

So:

ήδη = already
τώρα = now

Why do we use γιατί here to mean because? I thought γιατί meant why.

γιατί in Greek can mean both:

why (in questions)
because (in answers / explanations)

In your sentence:

...γιατί η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά. = ...because the date is near.

If you turned it into a question:

Γιατί η κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη;
= Why is the situation already a bit difficult?

Then the answer could start with:

Γιατί η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά.
= Because the date is near.

There is also επειδή, which only means because.
You could also say:

Η κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη, επειδή η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά.

This is fully correct; in everyday speech, γιατί is extremely common as because.

What does ημερομηνία mean here? Is it like “date” in the sense of a calendar date, a romantic date, or a deadline?

The word ημερομηνία means calendar date (a specific day on the calendar).

Depending on the context, English might translate this as:

date (e.g. the exam date, the departure date)
deadline (if that is implied)

Examples:

Ποια είναι η ημερομηνία της εξέτασης;
= What is the date of the exam?

For a romantic date, Greek more often uses:

ραντεβού = meeting, appointment, date

For example:

Έχω ραντεβού το Σάββατο.
= I have a date / appointment on Saturday.

In your sentence, η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά just says: the date is near / soon. Whether that means exam date, deadline, travel date, etc., depends on the wider context.

How is κοντά used here? I learned it as near/close in space, not in time.

κοντά literally means near / close, and it can be used:

In space (physical distance)
- Το σπίτι μου είναι κοντά στο σχολείο.
  = My house is near the school.
In time (temporal distance) – as in your sentence
- Η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά.
  = The date is near / soon.

Greek often uses spatial words metaphorically for time, just like English does with a deadline is close / near.

You could also express similar meaning with:

η ημερομηνία πλησιάζει = the date is approaching
η ημερομηνία είναι πολύ κοντά = the date is very soon

Can we change the order of the clauses, like in English: Because the date is near, the situation is already a bit difficult?

Yes, you can reverse the order, just like in English:

Γιατί η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά, η κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη.

This is grammatically correct. In practice, Greek often prefers the version you have:

Η κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη, γιατί η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά.

Putting the cause first (Γιατί η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά...) can add a small emphasis to the reason. Both orders are acceptable; it is mainly a matter of style and emphasis.

Is there any special reason for the comma before γιατί? Is it always written like that?

The comma marks the boundary between two clauses:

Main clause: Η κατάσταση είναι ήδη λίγο δύσκολη
Subordinate clause (reason): γιατί η ημερομηνία είναι κοντά

In standard punctuation, you usually put a comma before γιατί when it introduces a because clause, similar to English:

..., γιατί ... = ..., because ...

There are some stylistic variations (especially in short sentences), but in this kind of structure the comma is normal and recommended.