Breakdown of Το βιβλίο είναι λεπτό, αλλά είναι πολύ ενδιαφέρον.
είμαι
to be
πολύ
very
αλλά
but
το βιβλίο
the book
Questions & Answers about Το βιβλίο είναι λεπτό, αλλά είναι πολύ ενδιαφέρον.
What does each Greek word correspond to in English in this sentence?
The sentence Το βιβλίο είναι λεπτό, αλλά είναι πολύ ενδιαφέρον. can be mapped as:
- Το = the (definite article, neuter singular)
- βιβλίο = book
- είναι = is (3rd person singular of the verb είμαι = to be)
- λεπτό = thin (or slim)
- αλλά = but
- είναι = is (repeated for the second clause)
- πολύ = very (here it works as an adverb)
- ενδιαφέρον = interesting
Natural translation: The book is thin, but it is very interesting.
Why is the article Το used, and why is it το and not ο or η?
Greek articles agree in gender, number, and case with the noun:
- Το is the neuter, singular, nominative definite article.
- βιβλίο (book) is a neuter noun in the nominative singular form.
So you must use το βιβλίο (the book).
Other forms:
- ο = masculine, singular, nominative (e.g. ο άντρας = the man)
- η = feminine, singular, nominative (e.g. η γυναίκα = the woman)
Since βιβλίο is neuter, it takes το.
Why is the adjective λεπτό in that form? What is it agreeing with?