Learn Hardcore Greek: Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου η δασκάλα σταματάει και μας εξηγεί τον νέο κανόνα. - At this point in the book the teacher female stops and explains the new rule to us.

In Greek, σε is a very flexible preposition that can correspond to English in, at, on, to, depending on context. With abstract places like σημείο (“point” in a text, in time, in an argument), English normally uses at, but Greek just keeps using σε.

So:

Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου ≈ “At this point in the book”
Σε αυτό το σημείο της ταινίας ≈ “At this point in the film”

Why do we need both αυτό and το in σε αυτό το σημείο? Would σε αυτό σημείο be correct?

You need both:

αυτό = demonstrative this
το = definite article the

Greek grammar normally requires the article even when using a demonstrative. The typical pattern is:

αυτό + το + noun = this (particular) noun
εκείνο + το + noun = that (particular) noun

So:

σε αυτό το σημείο = at this point
σε αυτό σημείο ❌ (ungrammatical in standard Greek)

The article το also makes it clear that σημείο is neuter singular and definite. Demonstratives in Greek don’t replace the article; they work together with it.

Can we say στο σημείο αυτό του βιβλίου instead of Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου? Is there any difference?

Yes, Στο σημείο αυτό του βιβλίου is also correct and natural.

Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου
Στο σημείο αυτό του βιβλίου

Both mean: “At this point in the book.”

Differences:

Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου sounds a bit more neutral and is probably more common in everyday speech.
Στο σημείο αυτό του βιβλίου can sound slightly more formal or literary, because putting the demonstrative αυτό after the noun (σημείο αυτό) is a stylistic option often used in written or more careful language.

But in terms of meaning, there is no real difference.

Why is it του βιβλίου (“of the book”) and not something like στο βιβλίο (“in the book”) if English says “at this point in the book”?

Greek uses the genitive for possession or “belonging”, and here it’s like saying:

το σημείο του βιβλίου = “the point of the book”
→ i.e. “the point that belongs to / is part of the book”

So:

Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου = “At this point of the book”
which is naturally translated into English as:
“At this point in the book.”

If you said:

Σε αυτό το σημείο στο βιβλίο

it would sound redundant and a bit awkward (almost like “At this point at the book”). The normal, idiomatic expression is with the genitive:

το σημείο του βιβλίου, το κεφάλαιο του βιβλίου, η αρχή του βιβλίου, etc.

Why is it η δασκάλα and not something like η δάσκαλος? How does the gender of the noun work here?

Δασκάλα is the feminine form of “teacher” at primary/elementary level.

ο δάσκαλος = the (male) teacher
η δασκάλα = the (female) teacher

They share the same stem (δασκαλ‑), but the endings are:

masculine: ο δάσκαλος
feminine: η δασκάλα

Greek marks grammatical gender in several ways:

The article changes: ο (masc.), η (fem.), το (neut.).
The noun ending often changes according to gender.

So η δάσκαλος ❌ is wrong because δάσκαλος is a masculine form; it doesn’t match the feminine article η.

What is the difference between δασκάλα, δάσκαλος, and καθηγήτρια? Which one is “teacher”?

All of them are “teacher”, but they are used in different contexts and genders:

ο δάσκαλος = male teacher (normally in primary/elementary school)
η δασκάλα = female teacher (same level)
ο καθηγητής = male teacher (usually at secondary school, university, or a more specialized subject)
η καθηγήτρια = female teacher (same as above level)

In this sentence, η δασκάλα suggests a female primary-school teacher (or a teacher in a similar, less formal context, like a tutor or language class).

What is the difference between σταματάει and σταματά? Which one should I use?

Both forms are correct present tense forms of the same verb σταματάω (“to stop”):

σταματάει – more “full”, slightly more colloquial in feel
σταματά – shorter, often considered a bit more standard or formal

In everyday speech you’ll hear both:

Η δασκάλα σταματάει.
Η δασκάλα σταματά.

They mean exactly the same: “The teacher stops.”

As a learner, you can safely use either. Many people naturally say σταματάει in spoken Greek and might write σταματά in more careful writing.

Could we use the past tense σταμάτησε instead of σταματάει? What would change in meaning?

Yes:

Η δασκάλα σταμάτησε και μας εξήγησε τον νέο κανόνα.

This is past (aorist):

σταματάει = present: “she stops / is stopping”
σταμάτησε = aorist past: “she stopped”

Meaning difference:

σταματάει και μας εξηγεί
→ We are describing something as if it is happening now (narration in the present, or a habitual action: “at this point she (usually) stops and explains the rule”).
σταμάτησε και μας εξήγησε
→ Simple past narrative: “she stopped and explained the new rule (that one time).”

So changing to σταμάτησε makes the sentence clearly refer to a specific past event instead of a description of what happens at that point in the book in general.

Where does the pronoun μας go in the sentence? Can I say η δασκάλα μας εξηγεί or put μας somewhere else?

In και μας εξηγεί, μας is a weak (clitic) object pronoun = “to us”.

Standard placements are:

Η δασκάλα μας εξηγεί τον νέο κανόνα.
(Subject – clitic – verb – object)
“The teacher explains the new rule to us.”
Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου η δασκάλα σταματάει και μας εξηγεί τον νέο κανόνα.

You generally cannot put μας at the very beginning of the main clause in standard word order:

Μας η δασκάλα εξηγεί… ❌ (sounds wrong / unnaturally focused)

Clitics normally come:

before a finite verb: μας εξηγεί
or attached to the end of an infinitive/imperative/gerund: να μας εξηγήσει, εξήγησέ μας

So acceptable variations around this verb include:

Η δασκάλα μάς εξηγεί τον νέο κανόνα. (with optional stress mark to emphasize “to us”)
Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου, η δασκάλα μας εξηγεί τον νέο κανόνα.

Does μας here mean “us” or “our”? How can I tell the difference?

In Greek, μας can be:

Weak object pronoun = us / to us
- Η δασκάλα μας εξηγεί τον κανόνα.
  = “The teacher explains the rule to us.”
Possessive = our
- η δασκάλα μας = “our teacher”

You tell the difference from position and function:

If μας is directly before or after a verb → object pronoun (us):
- μας εξηγεί = “explains to us”
If μας is after a noun → possessive determiner (our):
- η δασκάλα μας = “our teacher”
- το βιβλίο μας = “our book”

In και μας εξηγεί τον νέο κανόνα, μας is clinging to the verb εξηγεί, so it clearly means “to us”.

Why do we say τον νέο κανόνα and not just νέο κανόνα without τον? Do we always need the article?

Greek uses the definite article much more often than English, especially with specific, known things.

Breakdown:

ο κανόνας = the rule (nominative)
τον κανόνα = the rule (accusative)
νέος κανόνας = a (or some) new rule (without article, more indefinite)
ο νέος κανόνας / τον νέο κανόνα = the new rule (specific one)

In this sentence:

τον νέο κανόνα refers to a specific new rule that the teacher is now explaining.

If you drop the article and say:

μας εξηγεί νέο κανόνα

it sounds incomplete or “bare” in standard Greek, and more like “she explains a new rule (some new rule)”, which is not the normal, natural way to say it here.

So yes, in such a context, you normally keep the article:
μας εξηγεί τον νέο κανόνα.

Why νέο and not καινούριο? Is there a difference between νέος and καινούριος?

Both can mean “new”, and both are correct here:

τον νέο κανόνα
τον καινούριο κανόνα

Subtle differences (not always strong in real use):

νέος is often a bit more formal or neutral, widely used in written style and official terms:
- νέος νόμος = new law
- νέα εποχή = new era
καινούριος is often a bit more colloquial / everyday:
- καινούριο βιβλίο = new book
- καινούριο κινητό = new phone

Here, many speakers would say either νέο or καινούριο without thinking of a difference. Using νέο might sound slightly more neutral or textbook‑like, which fits a sentence about a rule in a book.

Can we change the word order and say Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου σταματάει η δασκάλα και μας εξηγεί τον νέο κανόνα? Is that still correct?

Yes, that is still correct:

Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου σταματάει η δασκάλα και μας εξηγεί τον νέο κανόνα.

Both orders are fine:

…του βιβλίου η δασκάλα σταματάει…
…του βιβλίου σταματάει η δασκάλα…

Word order in Greek is flexible. Changing the position of η δασκάλα can change the emphasis slightly:

η δασκάλα σταματάει
→ neutral; simply states “the teacher stops”
σταματάει η δασκάλα
→ can slightly highlight η δασκάλα (e.g. as opposed to someone else)

But in this sentence both variants sound natural and would normally be understood without any special contrastive emphasis unless the context makes it clear.

Should there be a comma after Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου?

Both are possible in real texts:

Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου, η δασκάλα σταματάει…
Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου η δασκάλα σταματάει…

In Greek, a comma is often used after a fronted adverbial phrase (like “At this point in the book”), especially in more careful or formal writing, to mark a pause:

Many writers would prefer the comma: it mirrors natural speech rhythm.
Omitting the comma is also quite common and not wrong; the sentence is still clear.

So:

With comma: slightly more formal/“well‑punctuated” style.
Without comma: still acceptable, more “light” punctuation.

What are the dictionary forms and main grammar points of the content words in this sentence?

Key words with their dictionary forms and roles:

Σε
- Dictionary form: σε (preposition)
- Meaning: in / at / on / to
αυτό
- Dictionary form: αυτός, αυτή, αυτό (demonstrative pronoun/adjective)
- Here: neuter singular, agreeing with σημείο
το σημείο
- Dictionary form: το σημείο (neuter noun)
- Case: accusative (object of σε)
- Meaning: point
του βιβλίου
- Dictionary form: το βιβλίο (neuter noun)
- Case: genitive singular (“of the book”)
η δασκάλα
- Dictionary form: η δασκάλα (feminine noun)
- Case: nominative singular (subject)
σταματάει
- Dictionary form: σταματάω (verb)
- Tense: present
- Person: 3rd singular
- Meaning: stops / is stopping
μας
- Dictionary form: εγώ (I) → μας is the 1st person plural weak object pronoun
- Role: indirect object = to us
εξηγεί
- Dictionary form: εξηγώ (verb)
- Tense: present
- Person: 3rd singular
- Meaning: explains
τον νέο κανόνα
- κανόνας = masculine noun (dictionary form: ο κανόνας)
- τον κανόνα = accusative singular (direct object of εξηγεί)
- νέος = adjective (dictionary form: νέος, νέα, νέο), here νέο, neuter in form? Wait—
  In this specific phrase, it agrees with κανόνα (masc. acc. sg.), so the full form is:
  - τον νέο κανόνα = the new rule
    (masculine, accusative, singular for both νέο and κανόνα)

Putting it all together grammar‑wise:

Σε αυτό το σημείο του βιβλίου = prepositional phrase (adverbial of place/time in the text)
η δασκάλα = subject (nominative)
σταματάει = first verb (main action)
και = conjunction
μας εξηγεί = verb phrase with clitic object (“explains to us”)
τον νέο κανόνα = direct object (“the new rule”)