Τα ελληνικά είναι δύσκολη γλώσσα.

to be

Breakdown of Τα ελληνικά είναι δύσκολη γλώσσα.

• δύσκολος: difficult
• η γλώσσα: the language
• τα ελληνικά: the Greek

Questions & Answers about Τα ελληνικά είναι δύσκολη γλώσσα.

Why is «Τα ελληνικά» plural when in English we just say “Greek” (singular)?

In Greek, names of languages are usually expressed as neuter plural adjectives with the article:

• τα ελληνικά = Greek (language)
• τα αγγλικά = English
• τα γαλλικά = French

Historically it means something like “the Greek things / Greek words”, but in modern Greek it simply means “(the) Greek (language)”.

So even though the meaning is singular (“Greek” as one language), the grammar is neuter plural. That’s why you see τα (plural “the”) and ελληνικά in plural form.

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What are the gender, number, and case of each word in Τα ελληνικά είναι δύσκολη γλώσσα?

• Τα – definite article, neuter plural nominative
• ελληνικά – adjective used as a noun, neuter plural nominative (from ελληνικός, -ή, -ό = Greek)
• είναι – 3rd person singular/plural, present tense of είμαι (to be)
• δύσκολη – adjective, feminine singular nominative (from δύσκολος, -η, -ο = difficult)
• γλώσσα – noun, feminine singular nominative (“language, tongue”)

Subject: Τα ελληνικά
Verb: είναι
Predicate (complement): δύσκολη γλώσσα

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Why is it «δύσκολη γλώσσα» and not «δύσκολο» or «δύσκολα»?