Learn Hardcore Greek: Το καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα είναι απλό.

πρόγραμμα (program, schedule) is a neuter noun in the singular nominative case.
The definite article for neuter singular nominative is το.
That’s why the sentence starts with Το καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα: το matches πρόγραμμα in gender (neuter), number (singular), and case (nominative, because it’s the subject).

So Το is there because Greek uses definite articles much more than English, and it’s neuter because πρόγραμμα is neuter.

Why is μου (my) placed after πρόγραμμα instead of before it like in English?

In Greek, the weak possessive pronouns (my, your, his, etc.) normally come after the noun they modify:

το βιβλίο μου = my book
η μητέρα σου = your mother
το καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα = my daily schedule

So the normal pattern is:

[article] + [adjective] + [noun] + [possessive pronoun]

Here: Το (article) + καθημερινό (adjective) + πρόγραμμα (noun) + μου (my).

If you want to emphasize possession (as in my own, mine), you would add δικό:

το δικό μου πρόγραμμα = my own schedule (with emphasis on my).

Can the adjective καθημερινό go after πρόγραμμα, like in English word order?

Yes, but the meaning or emphasis changes slightly.

Normal, neutral description (as in the original sentence):

Το καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα = my daily schedule (neutral, standard way)

Alternative with the adjective after the noun:

Το πρόγραμμα μου το καθημερινό

This second form is more marked and can sound a bit more stylistic or emphatic, as if you are contrasting this schedule with some other kind of schedule (e.g., weekend schedule vs. daily schedule).

In everyday speech, the adjective-before-noun order (as in the original sentence) is by far the most common and natural.

Why is καθημερινό in the neuter form?

Adjectives in Greek must agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

Noun: πρόγραμμα – neuter, singular, nominative.
Adjective: καθημερινός, -ή, -ό (daily).

To match πρόγραμμα, we need the neuter, singular, nominative form of the adjective:

masculine: καθημερινός
feminine: καθημερινή
neuter: καθημερινό

So we say καθημερινό πρόγραμμα, not καθημερινός πρόγραμμα or καθημερινή πρόγραμμα.

Why is the verb είναι used, and is the subject pronoun omitted?

είναι is the 3rd person singular form of the verb είμαι (to be):

είμαι = I am
είσαι = you are
είναι = he/she/it is

In this sentence, the subject is Το καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα (my daily schedule). So the verb must be 3rd person singular: είναι (it is).

Greek usually omits personal subject pronouns (I, you, he, etc.) because the verb ending already shows the person. But here the subject isn’t a pronoun; it’s a full noun phrase, so it is explicitly present:

Subject: Το καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα
Verb: είναι
Predicate adjective: απλό

Why is απλό also in the neuter form?

απλός, -ή, -ό is the adjective simple.

Here, απλό is a predicate adjective (it comes after the verb to be and describes the subject). In Greek, predicate adjectives must also agree with the subject in gender, number, and case.

Subject: Το καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα (neuter singular).
Therefore, the adjective must also be neuter singular nominative:

masculine: απλός
feminine: απλή
neuter: απλό

So we say Το καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα είναι απλό.

Can I drop the article and just say Καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα είναι απλό?

No, that sounds incorrect or at least very unnatural in standard Greek.

Greek uses the definite article much more frequently than English, especially with:

general statements
abstract or generic nouns
things that are clearly defined from context

Your daily schedule is a specific thing, so it naturally takes the definite article:

Το καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα είναι απλό.

Leaving out Το makes the phrase feel incomplete or ungrammatical in this context.

What is the difference between καθημερινό πρόγραμμα, ημερήσιο πρόγραμμα, and πρόγραμμα κάθε μέρα?

All relate to something happening every day, but they’re used slightly differently:

καθημερινό πρόγραμμα
Very common; means daily / everyday schedule in the general sense of your routine.
ημερήσιο πρόγραμμα
Literally daily program, often used in more formal or specific contexts, e.g.:
- ημερήσιο πρόγραμμα μαθημάτων = daily lesson schedule (school timetable) It can sound a bit more technical or institutional.
πρόγραμμα κάθε μέρα
Literally program every day. Grammatically okay, but less natural as a fixed phrase. It sounds more like “a program that runs every day” rather than “my daily routine.”

For your own routine, καθημερινό πρόγραμμα is the most natural choice.

How do you pronounce Το καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα είναι απλό and where is the stress?

Stress marks in Greek show you exactly where the main stress falls:

Το – to (unstressed, one syllable)
καθημερινό – ka-thi-me-ri-NO (stress on the last syllable -νό)
μου – mu (unstressed)
πρόγραμμα – PRO-gra-ma (stress on πρό)
είναι – EE-ne (stress on εί)
απλό – a-PLO (stress on πλό)

Rough phonetic approximation (not strict IPA):

/to kaθimeriˈno mu ˈproɣrama ˈine aˈplo/

The important points for a learner:

Soft θ in καθημερινό (like th in think).
Soft γρ in πρόγραμμα; γ before ρ is like a voiced “gh” sound.
Stressed syllables: -νό, ΠΡΟ, ΕΙ, ΠΛΟ.

Is the sentence formal or informal, and in what contexts could I use it?

The sentence is neutral in register; it’s neither especially formal nor informal. You can use it in:

casual conversation:
Το καθημερινό μου πρόγραμμα είναι απλό. Δεν κάνω πολλά πράγματα.
(My daily schedule is simple. I don’t do many things.)
more formal situations, like describing your routine in an essay, a presentation, or in a language exam.

It’s a very flexible, standard way to talk about your daily routine.