Η δασκάλα λέει ότι ο τρόπος που μιλάμε μπορεί να είναι θετικός, ουδέτερος ή αρνητικός.

to be

Breakdown of Η δασκάλα λέει ότι ο τρόπος που μιλάμε μπορεί να είναι θετικός, ουδέτερος ή αρνητικός.

• ή: or
• μιλάω: to speak
• μπορώ: to be able

Questions & Answers about Η δασκάλα λέει ότι ο τρόπος που μιλάμε μπορεί να είναι θετικός, ουδέτερος ή αρνητικός.

Why do we say Η δασκάλα with the article Η, and not just Δασκάλα?

In Greek, you normally use the definite article much more than in English.

• Η = the (feminine, singular, nominative)
• δασκάλα = teacher (female)

So Η δασκάλα literally means the (female) teacher.

In English you can say either The teacher says… or Teacher says… (especially to children).
In Greek, the version without the article (δασκάλα λέει…) is possible but sounds either:

• like a name or title (e.g. calling someone Teacher), or
• more informal/colloquial and less standard.

For a normal, neutral sentence, Η δασκάλα λέει… is the natural form.

What is λέει exactly? What tense and person is it?

λέει is:

• verb: λέω / λέγω = to say
• tense: Present
• person/number: 3rd person singular (he/she/it)

So λέει means he says / she says / it says.
Here it matches Η δασκάλα (she), so: The teacher says…

What does ότι do here? Is it the same as English that?