Learn Hardcore Greek: Η ταβέρνα αυτή έχει λίγα τραπέζια έξω και είναι πολύ ήσυχη. - This taverna has a few tables outside and is very quiet.

Αυτή η ταβέρνα is the more neutral, everyday way to say this taverna.
Η ταβέρνα αυτή feels a bit more pointed, like this taverna (as opposed to another one), or a bit more formal/literary in some contexts.

Grammatically:

Αυτή η ταβέρνα = demonstrative adjective (αυτή) + article + noun
Η ταβέρνα αυτή = article + noun + demonstrative pronoun (αυτή)

But in practice, for everyday speech, you can use either; learners are usually taught Αυτή η ταβέρνα first.

Why is the article Η and not Ο or Το? How do I know ταβέρνα is feminine?

Greek nouns have grammatical gender: masculine, feminine, or neuter. The definite articles in the nominative singular are:

Ο (masc)
Η (fem)
Το (neut)

The word ταβέρνα happens to be feminine, so it takes Η:

η ταβέρνα (the taverna)
της ταβέρνας (of the taverna)
την ταβέρνα (the taverna as a direct object)

Unfortunately, gender is mostly something you have to memorize with each noun. A useful pattern: many nouns ending in -α or -η are feminine (like η πόρτα, η μέρα, η θάλασσα), but there are exceptions.

Why is it αυτή and not αυτό or αυτός?

The form of αυτός / αυτή / αυτό has to agree with the gender, number, and case of the noun it refers to.

ταβέρνα is feminine singular, nominative case.
So the matching form is αυτή (feminine nominative singular).

Compare:

αυτός ο άντρας – this man (masc)
αυτή η ταβέρνα – this taverna (fem)
αυτό το σπίτι – this house (neut)

In the sentence Η ταβέρνα αυτή, the word αυτή is feminine because ταβέρνα is feminine.

The verb έχει usually means has. Why is it used like there are in Greek?

In this sentence, έχει does literally mean has:

Η ταβέρνα αυτή έχει λίγα τραπέζια έξω
= This taverna has a few tables outside.

So the subject is η ταβέρνα αυτή, and έχει is 3rd person singular of έχω (to have).

However, Greek also sometimes uses έχει impersonally, like there is / there are, especially in expressions like:

Έχει ψωμί; – Is there any bread?
Εδώ κοντά έχει μια τράπεζα. – There is a bank near here.

In your specific sentence, though, it’s the normal have meaning.

Why is it λίγα τραπέζια and not λίγες τραπέζιες or something with a feminine ending?

The form of λίγος / λίγη / λίγο depends on the noun that follows.

τραπέζι (table) is a neuter noun.
Its plural is τραπέζια (neuter plural).

So the adjective λίγος (few) must also be neuter plural:

λίγα τραπέζια – a few tables

If the word were feminine, you’d use feminine forms, e.g.:

λίγες καρέκλες – a few chairs (καρέκλα, fem)
λίγα τραπέζια – a few tables (τραπέζι, neut.)

So the form λίγα is correct because it agrees with τραπέζια, not with ταβέρνα.

What is the difference between λίγα τραπέζια and μερικά τραπέζια?

Both can often be translated as a few tables or some tables, but the nuance is different:

λίγα τραπέζια = few tables, often with a sense of not many (possibly fewer than you might expect). It can carry a slightly limited / small quantity feeling.
μερικά τραπέζια = some tables, more neutral; it just indicates an unspecified number, without clearly suggesting that it’s a small or disappointing amount.

In your sentence, λίγα τραπέζια έξω subtly suggests there aren’t many tables outside – it’s a small, maybe cozy setup.

Why is the plural of τραπέζι written τραπέζια and not something like τραπέζιας?

Τραπέζι is a regular neuter noun ending in -ι. The common neuter plural ending in the nominative/accusative is -α.

So:

Singular: το τραπέζι
Plural: τα τραπέζια

Other examples:

το παιδί → τα παιδιά (child → children)
το βιβλίο → τα βιβλία (book → books)
το σπίτι → τα σπίτια (house → houses)

The -ια ending is just -ι (from the stem) + -α (the plural ending); in spelling it becomes -ια.

What does έξω do in this sentence, and can it go somewhere else?

Έξω is an adverb meaning outside.

In έχει λίγα τραπέζια έξω, it tells you where the tables are: a few tables outside.

Greek word order is fairly flexible, so you could also hear:

Έξω έχει λίγα τραπέζια.
Έχει έξω λίγα τραπέζια.

The meaning stays the same: the tavern has a few tables outside. The normal, neutral order in your sentence (λίγα τραπέζια έξω) is very natural and common.

In και είναι πολύ ήσυχη, what is the subject of είναι? Why is ήσυχη feminine?

The subject is still η ταβέρνα from the first part of the sentence. Greek doesn’t repeat the noun; it’s understood:

Η ταβέρνα αυτή έχει λίγα τραπέζια έξω και (η ταβέρνα) είναι πολύ ήσυχη.

Ήσυχη is the feminine singular form of the adjective ήσυχος (quiet), agreeing with η ταβέρνα:

ήσυχος (masc)
ήσυχη (fem)
ήσυχο (neut)

So you get:

ο δρόμος είναι ήσυχος – the street is quiet (masc)
η ταβέρνα είναι ήσυχη – the taverna is quiet (fem)
το μέρος είναι ήσυχο – the place is quiet (neut)

Why is it πολύ ήσυχη and not πολλή ήσυχη? What’s the difference between πολύ and πολλή?

Greek has πολύ (invariable adverb) and πολλός / πολλή / πολύ (adjective many / a lot of).

As an adverb (very, much, a lot):
- The form is πολύ, and it does not change.
- It modifies adjectives or verbs:
  - πολύ ήσυχη – very quiet
  - δουλεύω πολύ – I work a lot
As an adjective (many, a lot of):
- It changes to agree with the noun:
  - πολλοί άνθρωποι – many people (masc pl.)
  - πολλές καρέκλες – many chairs (fem pl.)
  - πολλά τραπέζια – many tables (neut pl.)
  - πολλή δουλειά – a lot of work (fem sing.)

In your sentence, πολύ modifies the adjective ήσυχη (how quiet? very quiet), so it must be the invariable adverb πολύ, not πολλή.

What is the nuance of ταβέρνα compared with εστιατόριο?

Both can be translated as restaurant, but they have different connotations:

η ταβέρνα:
- More traditional, often Greek-style place.
- Usually more casual, with simple, home-style food, often wine, maybe music.
- Often associated with a relaxed, local atmosphere.
το εστιατόριο:
- More neutral, general word for restaurant, any cuisine or style.
- Can be casual or quite formal.

In your sentence, ταβέρνα suggests a small, possibly family-run, traditional place that happens to have a few tables outside and is very quiet.

How do you pronounce ταβέρνα and ήσυχη?

Approximate pronunciation (using English-like spelling):

ταβέρνα → ta-VER-na
- Stress on the VER syllable.
- [taˈverna]
ήσυχη → EE-si-chi
- The ή is like ee (as in see) and it’s stressed: EE-si-chi.
- The χ is a rough sound, like the ch in German Bach or Scottish loch.
- [ˈisixi]

So the whole sentence:

Η ταβέρνα αυτή έχει λίγα τραπέζια έξω και είναι πολύ ήσυχη.
≈ ee ta-VER-na af-TEE E-chi LEE-ga tra-PE-zia EK-so ke EE-ne po-LEE EE-si-chi.