Learn Hardcore Greek: Ακολουθώ τις οδηγίες της ήρεμα καθώς περιμένω στην ουρά. - I follow her instructions calmly as I wait in the line.

simple present: Ακολουθώ τις οδηγίες της. → I follow her instructions.
present continuous / progressive: Ακολουθώ τις οδηγίες της (τώρα). → I’m following her instructions (now).

In this sentence, because there is also καθώς περιμένω στην ουρά, it clearly describes an action in progress at the same time as another ongoing action. So the most natural English is:

I’m following her instructions calmly as I wait in line.

There is no separate “-ing” form in Greek; the simple present covers that meaning when context shows it’s a continuing action.

Why is it τις οδηγίες and not something else like οι οδηγίες?

Τις οδηγίες is:

τις = the definite article, feminine accusative plural
οδηγίες = accusative plural of η οδηγία (instruction)

So τις οδηγίες = the instructions as a direct object of the verb ακολουθώ.

Compare:

Οι οδηγίες είναι σαφείς.
Οι οδηγίες = nominative plural (subject) → The instructions are clear.
Ακολουθώ τις οδηγίες.
Τις οδηγίες = accusative plural (direct object) → I follow the instructions.

Greek articles change form depending on case (nominative, genitive, accusative), gender, and number. Here we need accusative because the instructions are what you are following.

Why do we have both τις and της in τις οδηγίες της? Aren’t they the same word?

They look similar but they are different words with different functions:

τις (with iota):
- Definite article, feminine accusative plural
- Means the
- Here: τις οδηγίες → the instructions
της (with eta):
- Possessive pronoun in the genitive, third person singular feminine
- Means her / of her
- Here: της → her

So:

τις οδηγίες της = the instructions of her → her instructions

In Greek, the possessive pronoun normally comes after the noun:

το βιβλίο μου = my book
η τσάντα του = his bag
οι φίλοι μας = our friends
τις οδηγίες της = her instructions

Could we say της οδηγίες instead of τις οδηγίες της?

No. Της οδηγίες is ungrammatical here.

You need:

A definite article before the noun (because we’re talking about specific instructions)
The possessive pronoun after the noun

So the normal pattern is:

τις οδηγίες της = the instructions her → her instructions

If you want to emphasize that they are her instructions (and not someone else’s), you could say:

Ακολουθώ τις δικές της οδηγίες.
(δικές της adds emphasis: her own instructions)

Why is it ήρεμα and not ήρεμος? What form is ήρεμα?

Ήρεμα is an adverb, meaning calmly.

ήρεμος, -η, -ο = the adjective calm (masc/fem/neut)
ήρεμα = the adverb calmly

In Greek, a very common way to form an adverb is:

Start from the neuter singular of the adjective and use it as an adverb.

Examples:

γρήγορος → γρήγορο → γρήγορα = quick → (in a) quick way → quickly
ήσυχος → ήσυχο → ήσυχα = quiet → (in a) quiet way → quietly
ήρεμος → ήρεμο → ήρεμα = calm → (in a) calm way → calmly

So:

Ακολουθώ τις οδηγίες της ήρεμα. = I follow her instructions calmly.
(not ήρεμος, which would be an adjective, e.g. είμαι ήρεμος = I am calm.)

Can ήρεμα go in another position in the sentence? Does the word order change the meaning?

Yes, ήρεμα (an adverb) is quite flexible. All of these are correct:

Ακολουθώ ήρεμα τις οδηγίες της καθώς περιμένω στην ουρά.
Ήρεμα ακολουθώ τις οδηγίες της καθώς περιμένω στην ουρά.
Ακολουθώ τις οδηγίες της καθώς περιμένω στην ουρά, ήρεμα.

The basic meaning “I follow her instructions calmly” stays the same.

Subtle differences:

Ακολουθώ ήρεμα τις οδηγίες της…
Focuses slightly more on the manner of following (how I follow).
Ήρεμα ακολουθώ τις οδηγίες της…
Puts a bit more emphasis on the calm attitude in general.
…, ήρεμα. at the end can sound slightly more like an afterthought or added comment.

But in everyday speech, these nuances are minor; all are natural.

What does καθώς mean here, and how is it different from ενώ or όταν?

In this sentence, καθώς means as / while, expressing two actions happening at the same time:

Ακολουθώ τις οδηγίες της ήρεμα καθώς περιμένω στην ουρά.
→ I follow her instructions calmly as/while I wait in line.

Comparison:

καθώς
- Focuses on simultaneous actions.
- Neutral in tone.
- Common when describing what is happening at the same time.
ενώ
- Often means while / whereas, but can also imply contrast:
  - Ενώ περίμενα στην ουρά, εκείνη μιλούσε στο τηλέφωνο.
    → While I was waiting in line, she was talking on the phone.
  - Also: Εγώ δουλεύω, ενώ αυτός ξεκουράζεται. (contrast)
όταν
- Means when (time, not necessarily continuous or simultaneous):
  - Όταν περιμένω στην ουρά, βαριέμαι. → When I wait in line, I get bored.

Here, καθώς is ideal because it highlights two ongoing actions in parallel: following instructions and waiting in line.

What exactly is στην in στην ουρά, and what case is ουρά?

Στην is a combination of a preposition and a definite article:

σε (preposition) = in / at / on / to
την (article, feminine accusative singular) = the

They combine: σε + την → στην.

So:

στην ουρά = σε την ουρά = in the line / at the line / in line

Ουρά is a feminine noun:

η ουρά (nominative singular) = (a) line, queue; tail
την ουρά (accusative singular) = (the) line

After σε, Greek usually uses the accusative case, so (στην) ουρά is accusative.

Why do you say στην ουρά for in line? Could you say σε ουρά or use another expression?

Στην ουρά is the most natural expression for in line / in a queue, meaning in the (queue) (usually understood as the queue that’s there).

You could technically say σε μια ουρά = in a (certain) line, but:

Περιμένω στην ουρά. → I’m waiting in line. (what people normally say)
Περιμένω σε μια ουρά. → I’m waiting in a line. (grammatical but less typical unless you’re emphasizing “a” particular line among others)

There is also στη σειρά:

Περιμένω στη σειρά μου. = I wait for my turn / I wait in line (literally in my order/turn).

But for the physical queue, στην ουρά is very standard.

Could this sentence be put into the past tense? How would that change the verbs, and what’s the difference in meaning?

Yes. Two common past options:

Imperfect (past continuous / repeated):
Emphasizes an ongoing action in the past.
- Ακολουθούσα τις οδηγίες της ήρεμα καθώς περίμενα στην ουρά.
  → I was following her instructions calmly as I was waiting in line.
Here, both actions are continuous and simultaneous in the past.
Aorist (simple past, completed action):
Focuses on the action as a whole, not its duration.
This particular sentence describes ongoing, overlapping actions, so the imperfect sounds more natural.
But if you changed the structure, you might use aorist for a completed event, e.g.:
- Ακολούθησα τις οδηγίες της και μετά περίμενα στην ουρά.
  → I followed her instructions and then waited in line.

So:

Ακολουθώ / περιμένω → present, ongoing now
Ακολουθούσα / περίμενα → past, ongoing then
Ακολούθησα / περίμενα → past, completed following, then waiting

Is there any difference between τις οδηγίες της and something like οι οδηγίες της?

Yes, they serve different grammatical roles:

Οι οδηγίες της
- Οι = nominative plural article
- Used when “her instructions” are the subject:
  - Οι οδηγίες της είναι σαφείς.
    → Her instructions are clear.
Τις οδηγίες της
- Τις = accusative plural article
- Used when “her instructions” are the direct object:
  - Ακολουθώ τις οδηγίες της.
    → I follow her instructions.

So the difference is not in meaning (“her instructions” in both cases) but in grammatical function (subject vs object), which changes the case and the form of the article.