Η δασκάλα δίνει ένα παράδειγμα σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου.

The teacher (female) gives an example in every unit of the book.

Breakdown of Η δασκάλα δίνει ένα παράδειγμα σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου.

• δίνω: to give
• ένα: one
• σε: in
• το βιβλίο: the book
• η δασκάλα: the female teacher
• κάθε: every
• το παράδειγμα: the example
• η ενότητα: the unit

Questions & Answers about Η δασκάλα δίνει ένα παράδειγμα σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου.

Why is it Η δασκάλα and not something else?

Η is the feminine singular definite article in the nominative case, and δασκάλα is a feminine noun meaning (female) teacher.

Greek definite articles agree with the noun in:

• gender (masculine / feminine / neuter)
• number (singular / plural)
• case (nominative / genitive / accusative / vocative)

So:

• Η δασκάλα = the (female) teacher
• Ο δάσκαλος = the (male) teacher
• Το βιβλίο = the book (neuter)

Because we are explicitly talking about a female teacher, we use the feminine article Η and the feminine noun form δασκάλα.

How do I know δίνει means she gives and not he gives?

The form δίνει is just 3rd person singular of the verb δίνω (to give) in the present tense. By itself, δίνει only means he/she/it gives.

Greek verbs in the 3rd person singular do not mark gender. You find out whether it is he, she, or it from the subject:

• Η δασκάλα δίνει... → the subject is feminine singular, so we interpret it as she gives.
• Ο δάσκαλος δίνει... → masculine singular subject, so he gives.
• Το πρόγραμμα δίνει... → neuter subject, often translated as it gives.

So gender comes from the noun, not from the verb ending.

What exactly is the tense and aspect of δίνει?

δίνει is:

• present tense
• imperfective aspect
• 3rd person singular of δίνω (to give)

In practice, this covers both:

• is giving (right now, ongoing)
• gives (habitual or general action)

In this sentence, Η δασκάλα δίνει ένα παράδειγμα σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου, the meaning is habitual / regular:
The teacher gives an example in each section of the book (this is how the book is structured, not a one-time event).

Why is it ένα παράδειγμα and not just παράδειγμα?

ένα is the indefinite article (a / an). It shows that παράδειγμα is one example, not a specific known example.

• ένα παράδειγμα = an example, one example
• το παράδειγμα = the example (a specific one already known)

In Greek, the indefinite article is often optional, but here ένα παράδειγμα sounds very natural and emphasizes one example per section.

You could also say:

• Η δασκάλα δίνει παράδειγμα σε κάθε ενότητα...
  This is possible and still understood as gives an example, but ένα παράδειγμα is clearer and more explicit.

Why is the indefinite article ένα here and not έναν?

The noun παράδειγμα is neuter.

The indefinite article in the accusative singular is:

• έναν for masculine nouns (e.g. βλέπω έναν δάσκαλο – I see a teacher)
• μία (or μια) for feminine nouns (e.g. βλέπω μια δασκάλα – I see a (female) teacher)
• ένα for neuter nouns (e.g. βλέπω ένα παράδειγμα – I see an example)

So we use ένα because παράδειγμα is neuter.

What case is παράδειγμα in, and why?

παράδειγμα is in the accusative case because it is the direct object of the verb δίνει.

Pattern:

• Subject (nominative): Η δασκάλα
• Verb: δίνει
• Direct object (accusative): ένα παράδειγμα

For neuter nouns like παράδειγμα, the nominative and accusative singular look the same:

• nominative: το παράδειγμα
• accusative: το παράδειγμα

So we know it is accusative from the role it plays in the sentence (direct object), not from a form change.

What does σε do here, and how should I think of it in English?

σε is a very common preposition. Its main meanings include:

• to
• in
• at
• on

In σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου, it is best understood as in:

• σε κάθε ενότητα → in each section / in every unit

So the phrase can be seen as:

• ένα παράδειγμα (an example)
• σε κάθε ενότητα (in each section)
• του βιβλίου (of the book)

Together: an example in each section of the book.

You should also know that σε often merges with the definite article:

• σε + το → στο
• σε + την → στη(ν)
• σε + τους → στους, etc.

But because we have κάθε instead of a definite article here, there is no contraction:

• σε κάθε ενότητα (not στην κάθε ενότητα in this neutral, general sense).

Why is it σε κάθε ενότητα (singular) and not something like σε κάθε ενότητες (plural)?

κάθε (each / every) in Greek is always followed by a singular noun:

• κάθε ενότητα = each section / every section
• κάθε μέρα = every day
• κάθε άνθρωπος = every person

So:

• σε κάθε ενότητα = in each section
• σε όλες τις ενότητες = in all the sections (here you have a plural)

Using a plural after κάθε is ungrammatical.

What case is ενότητα in, and why is there no article before it?

1. Case
   ενότητα is in the accusative singular, because it is the object of the preposition σε.

Basic pattern:

• σε
  • accusative → place / direction

So:

• σε ενότητα (in a section / to a section)
• σε κάθε ενότητα (in each section)

2. Why no article?
   We have κάθε, which already has a kind of determiner meaning (each / every).
   In Greek you normally do not use a definite article in front of κάθε in neutral statements:

• κάθε ενότητα (each section)
• σε κάθε ενότητα (in each section)

You would only hear something like στην κάθε ενότητα in special, emphatic contexts (often with a slightly different nuance: in every single section).

What is του βιβλίου doing here, grammatically?

του βιβλίου is in the genitive singular and expresses possession or belonging: of the book.

Breakdown:

• το βιβλίο = the book (nominative / accusative)
• του βιβλίου = of the book (genitive)

So σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου is:

• σε κάθε ενότητα = in each section
• του βιβλίου = of the book

Together: in each section of the book.

The article του is used for:

• masculine genitive singular (e.g. του δάσκαλου – of the teacher)
• neuter genitive singular (e.g. του βιβλίου – of the book)

Here, βιβλίο is neuter, so του βιβλίου is neuter genitive.

Can I change the word order, for example put σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου earlier in the sentence?

Yes, Greek word order is relatively flexible. You can move phrases for emphasis or style without changing the basic meaning.

Possible variants:

• Η δασκάλα δίνει ένα παράδειγμα σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου.
  (neutral order, focus on gives an example.)
• Η δασκάλα σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου δίνει ένα παράδειγμα.
  (slight emphasis that this happens in each section.)
• Σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου η δασκάλα δίνει ένα παράδειγμα.
  (focus at the beginning on in each section of the book.)

All are grammatical; the differences are mostly about emphasis and style, not about core grammar.

Could I drop Η δασκάλα and just say Δίνει ένα παράδειγμα σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου?

Yes, you can omit the subject pronoun or even the noun subject if it is clear from context. Greek is a pro-drop language.

So:

• Δίνει ένα παράδειγμα σε κάθε ενότητα του βιβλίου.
  → She gives an example in each section of the book. (if we already know we are talking about the teacher)

However, in an isolated sentence or when you first introduce the information, you normally keep the subject:

• Η δασκάλα δίνει ένα παράδειγμα...

Omitting Η δασκάλα is only natural if it is already obvious who is doing the action.