Breakdown of Η δασκάλα μας εκφράζει μεγάλο πάθος όταν μιλάει για τη γλώσσα.
Questions & Answers about Η δασκάλα μας εκφράζει μεγάλο πάθος όταν μιλάει για τη γλώσσα.
In Greek, possessive pronouns like μας (our) normally come after the noun, not before it as in English.
- Η = the (feminine, singular, nominative)
- δασκάλα = teacher (female)
- μας = our (weak/unstressed possessive pronoun)
So η δασκάλα μας = the teacher our in word order, but it is understood as our teacher.
Some variations:
- η δασκάλα μας – neutral, common way to say “our teacher”
- η δική μας δασκάλα – our own teacher (more emphatic, “our teacher as opposed to someone else’s”)
Greek keeps the article η before the noun even with a possessive pronoun, unlike English which usually drops “the” (our teacher, not the our teacher).
Greek is a pro‑drop language: subject pronouns (εγώ, εσύ, αυτός, αυτή, ...) are often left out because the verb ending already shows the subject.
- εκφράζει is 3rd person singular – it can only mean he/she/it expresses.
- The noun η δασκάλα μας right before it tells you the subject is “our (female) teacher”, so adding αυτή (she) is optional and often unnecessary.
You could say:
- Αυτή η δασκάλα μας εκφράζει μεγάλο πάθος... – “This teacher of ours expresses great passion...”
But in normal Greek, just Η δασκάλα μας εκφράζει… is more natural.
All three verbs exist, but they have different nuances:
εκφράζει = expresses
- Focus on showing something outwardly (through words, tone, gestures).
- εκφράζει μεγάλο πάθος = she expresses great passion; other people can perceive it.
δείχνει = shows
- More general; can be physical, emotional, etc.
- δείχνει μεγάλο πάθος is also possible and close in meaning, a bit more neutral.
νιώθει = feels
- Internal emotion, not necessarily visible.
- νιώθει μεγάλο πάθος = she feels great passion (inside), maybe not always expressed.
The sentence deliberately uses εκφράζει to stress that her passion is clearly visible when she speaks about the language.
Because πάθος (passion) is a neuter noun in Greek:
- το πάθος – neuter, singular, nominative/accusative
- Adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun.
So:
- Neuter: μεγάλο πάθος (correct)
- Feminine: μεγάλη (would match a feminine noun, not πάθος)
- Masculine: μεγάλος (would match a masculine noun)
Pattern:
- το πάθος – μεγάλο πάθος
- η αγάπη (fem., “love”) – μεγάλη αγάπη
- ο ενθουσιασμός (masc., “enthusiasm”) – μεγάλος ενθουσιασμός
Greek often leaves out the article when the meaning is indefinite or “a lot of” with abstract or uncountable nouns.
- εκφράζει μεγάλο πάθος
- Literally: “she expresses great passion.”
- Meaning: she expresses a lot of passion / great passion in general.
Other options:
εκφράζει ένα μεγάλο πάθος
- Sounds like “she expresses one particular great passion” (more concrete, less usual here).
εκφράζει το μεγάλο πάθος
- the specific great passion (already known from context).
In this sentence, we’re talking about how she is in general when talking about the language, so the bare μεγάλο πάθος (no article) is the most natural.
Greek uses cases to show the role of a word in the sentence.
Η δασκάλα μας – nominative
- Subject of the verb εκφράζει.
- Nominative is used for the subject: η δασκάλα.
μεγάλο πάθος – accusative
- Direct object of εκφράζει (what does she express? passion).
- Neuter singular nominative and accusative have the same form: το πάθος / το πάθος.
τη γλώσσα – accusative
- Object of the preposition για (for/about what? the language).
- Feminine accusative: τη γλώσσα.
Summary of functions in the sentence:
- Subject (nominative): Η δασκάλα μας
- Direct object (accusative): μεγάλο πάθος
- Object of preposition (accusative): τη γλώσσα
όταν is a time conjunction meaning when/whenever.
- όταν μιλάει για τη γλώσσα = when(ever) she talks about the language.
Here, the verb μιλάει is in the present, and the meaning is habitual:
- Every time she talks about the language, she expresses great passion.
Compare:
- Όταν μιλάει, την ακούω. – When(ever) she talks, I listen to her.
- Αν μιλήσει, θα την ακούσω. – If she speaks (even once), I’ll listen to her.
So:
- όταν = “when/whenever” (time)
- αν = “if” (condition)
Yes, both μιλάει and μιλά are correct forms of the 3rd person singular present of μιλάω / μιλώ (to speak, to talk).
- μιλάει – a bit more colloquial, common in everyday speech.
- μιλά – more common in writing and in slightly more formal style.
You can say:
- Όταν μιλάει για τη γλώσσα...
- Όταν μιλά για τη γλώσσα...
Both sound natural; the difference is mostly stylistic, not in meaning.
The verb μιλάω can work in different ways, and the preposition για is important:
μιλάω για κάτι = talk about something
- μιλάει για τη γλώσσα = “she talks about the language.”
- This is about the topic of her speech.
μιλάω μια γλώσσα = speak a language (ability)
- μιλάει τη γλώσσα πολύ καλά = “she speaks the language very well.”
- Here, the language is the object (no για).
In your sentence, we mean that she shows passion when she talks about the subject of language, so we correctly use μιλάει για τη γλώσσα.
The feminine article/pronoun την often drops the final -ν in writing before certain consonants. According to a common modern rule, we keep the ν only before:
- vowels (α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω)
- and consonants: κ, π, τ, ξ, ψ, μπ, ντ, γκ, τσ, τζ
Since γλώσσα starts with γλ (and γ alone is not on that list), we usually write:
- τη γλώσσα
Many people also write την γλώσσα (especially in more formal styles), and you will see both in real life. Pronunciation is the same either way; this is mainly an orthographic convention.
The article in Greek often corresponds to “the”, but it’s used more widely than in English.
μιλάει για τη γλώσσα
- “she talks about the language”
- Implies a specific language – in context, likely the Greek language or the language they’re studying.
μιλάει για γλώσσα (without article)
- Grammatically possible, but sounds more abstract or vague: “she talks about language (as a general concept).”
- This is less natural in everyday speech unless you really mean language in theory/philosophically.
In a typical classroom context, για τη γλώσσα (with the article) is what you want.
Yes. Greek word order is quite flexible; the relationships are shown by endings, not by strict order. All of these are grammatical:
Η δασκάλα μας εκφράζει μεγάλο πάθος όταν μιλάει για τη γλώσσα.
– Neutral, subject–verb–object, then time clause.Όταν μιλάει για τη γλώσσα, η δασκάλα μας εκφράζει μεγάλο πάθος.
– Emphasis on the condition/time (“Whenever she talks about the language, then…”).Η δασκάλα μας, όταν μιλάει για τη γλώσσα, εκφράζει μεγάλο πάθος.
– Extra emphasis on what she’s like in that situation.
The basic meaning stays the same; word order mainly affects emphasis and rhythm.
Yes, several options with slightly different shades of meaning:
- δείχνει μεγάλο πάθος – shows great passion (more general/neutral).
- μιλάει με μεγάλο πάθος – she speaks with great passion (focus on her way of speaking).
- είναι πολύ παθιασμένη όταν μιλάει για τη γλώσσα – she is very passionate when she talks about the language (adjective παθιασμένη, “passionate”).
- ενθουσιάζεται πολύ όταν μιλάει για τη γλώσσα – she gets very enthusiastic when she talks about the language (slightly softer than “passion”).
The original εκφράζει μεγάλο πάθος highlights that the passion is actively expressed and visible to others.