Breakdown of Το καλοκαίρι κολυμπάμε σε μια μικρή λίμνη, επειδή η θάλασσα είναι μακριά.
είμαι
to be
μικρός
small
σε
in
μακριά
far
Questions & Answers about Το καλοκαίρι κολυμπάμε σε μια μικρή λίμνη, επειδή η θάλασσα είναι μακριά.
Why is κολυμπάμε in the present tense when the sentence talks about something we do every summer? Shouldn’t it be a future tense?
In Greek, the present tense is commonly used for habits and repeated actions, just like in English:
- Το καλοκαίρι κολυμπάμε… = In (the) summer we (usually) swim…
It doesn’t mean “we are swimming right now.” It expresses a general, repeated habit.
You could say Το καλοκαίρι θα κολυμπάμε…, but that sounds more like “This coming summer we will be swimming…”, focusing on the future rather than a general habit.
Why is it το καλοκαίρι without a preposition? In English we say in the summer.
Greek often uses a definite article + time word with no preposition to mean “in/at [that time]”:
- το καλοκαίρι = in (the) summer
- τον χειμώνα = in (the) winter
- το πρωί = in the morning
You could add a preposition and say το καλοκαίρι, το καλοκαίρι του 2025, κατά το καλοκαίρι, but for the general seasonal meaning, το καλοκαίρι alone is normal and natural.
Why does καλοκαίρι have το, but in some sentences I see it without the article (just καλοκαίρι)? What’s the difference?