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Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη.

Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη.
The class is very quiet today.

Breakdown of Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη.

είμαι
to be
πολύ
very
σήμερα
today
ήσυχος
quiet
η τάξη
the classroom
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Questions & Answers about Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη.

What does Η τάξη mean exactly, and why do we need the article Η?

Τάξη on its own means class (as in school class, group of students).

In Greek, nouns usually appear with a definite article (roughly like the) much more often than in English.

  • Η is the feminine singular nominative definite article = the.
  • Η τάξη = the class (as a subject of the sentence).

So Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη literally starts with The class today is very quiet.
Omitting the article (Τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη) is not natural here in Greek.

Why is τάξη feminine, and how do I know its gender?

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

Τάξη is feminine. You can tell mainly by:

  1. Its ending:

    • Many feminine nouns end in -η, -α, or -ξη.
    • τάξη ends in -ξη, and words in -ξη (like λέξη = word, τάξη = class) are usually feminine.

  2. The article used:

    • Η τάξη uses Η, the feminine nominative singular article.

Gender is mostly something you memorize with each noun, but endings and articles help you guess and remember.

What is the role of σήμερα in the sentence, and where can it go?

Σήμερα means today and acts as an adverb of time.

In Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη, it tells us when the class is quiet: today.

Word order in Greek is flexible, so you can also see:

  • Η τάξη είναι σήμερα πολύ ήσυχη.
  • Σήμερα η τάξη είναι πολύ ήσυχη.

All of these are grammatical. The usual, neutral-sounding choices are:

  • Σήμερα η τάξη είναι πολύ ήσυχη.
  • Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη.

Putting σήμερα first can add a little emphasis to today.

Why do we use είναι and not another form of the verb είμαι?

Είμαι is the verb to be. It changes form depending on the subject:

  • είμαι = I am
  • είσαι = you are (singular)
  • είναι = he/she/it is OR they are
  • είμαστε = we are
  • είστε = you are (plural / formal)
  • είναι = they are

The subject here is Η τάξη (the class), which is third person singular (it).
So we use είναι = is:

  • Η τάξη … είναι … = The class … is …
What does πολύ mean here, and where does it go in the sentence?

Πολύ means very (or a lot / much, depending on context).

Here it modifies the adjective ήσυχη (quiet), so πολύ ήσυχη = very quiet.

Position: in Greek, πολύ generally comes before the adjective or adverb it modifies:

  • πολύ ήσυχη = very quiet
  • πολύ ωραίος = very nice
  • πολύ γρήγορα = very quickly

So Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη is the natural order.
Η τάξη σήμερα είναι ήσυχη πολύ is possible but sounds more marked or poetic.

Why is ήσυχη feminine and not ήσυχος or ήσυχο?

Adjectives in Greek agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

  • The noun: η τάξη
    • gender: feminine
    • number: singular
    • case: nominative (subject of the verb)

The adjective ήσυχος (quiet) has three main forms in the singular nominative:

  • masculine: ήσυχος
  • feminine: ήσυχη
  • neuter: ήσυχο

Since τάξη is feminine singular nominative, the adjective must match:

  • η τάξη είναι ήσυχη (feminine)

Using ήσυχος or ήσυχο here would be incorrect.

Can I change the word order? For example, can I say Η τάξη είναι πολύ ήσυχη σήμερα?

Yes. Greek word order is quite flexible, especially with adverbs like σήμερα.

These are all correct and natural:

  • Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη.
  • Η τάξη είναι πολύ ήσυχη σήμερα.
  • Σήμερα η τάξη είναι πολύ ήσυχη.

The meaning is the same: The class is very quiet today.
Different positions of σήμερα can slightly change the rhythm or emphasis, but not the basic meaning.

How would this sentence change if I said The classes today are very quiet (plural)?

You would make both the noun and the adjective plural feminine, and keep the verb in the same form (because είναι is both is and are):

  • Singular: Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη.

    • the class … is very quiet

  • Plural: Οι τάξεις σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχες.

    • Οι = the (feminine plural nominative)
    • τάξεις = classes
    • είναι = are
    • πολύ ήσυχες = very quiet (feminine plural nominative)

So: Οι τάξεις σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχες.

Is τάξη only “class” as in school, or does it have other meanings?

Τάξη primarily means:

  1. Class (group of students, school class)

    • Η τάξη έχει είκοσι μαθητές. = The class has twenty students.

  2. Order / tidiness

    • Το δωμάτιο είναι σε τάξη. = The room is in order / tidy.

  3. Social class / category (more formal or abstract)

    • η εργατική τάξη = the working class

In your sentence, the most natural meaning is class (of students).

Could I say Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πάρα πολύ ήσυχη? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can.

  • πολύ ήσυχη = very quiet
  • πάρα πολύ ήσυχη = extremely / really very quiet

Πάρα πολύ intensifies πολύ, so it sounds stronger, like really, really quiet or extremely quiet.

How would I say The class today is not very quiet using this sentence?

You just add the negative particle δεν before the verb είναι:

  • Η τάξη σήμερα δεν είναι πολύ ήσυχη.
    • The class today is not very quiet.

Word-by-word:

  • Η τάξη = the class
  • σήμερα = today
  • δεν = not
  • είναι = is
  • πολύ ήσυχη = very quiet
How do I pronounce the whole sentence?

Approximate pronunciation (using English-like sounds):

  • Η τάξη σήμερα είναι πολύ ήσυχη.
    • Ee TÁK-see SÍ-mera ÉE-neh po-LEE Í-see-hee

Stress falls on the syllables with accents: ΤΆ-ξη, ΣΊ-με-ρα, ΕΊ-ναι, πο-ΛΎ, Ή-συ-χη.

The η is pronounced like ee in see, and ξ is like ks in books.