Breakdown of Στην αρχή δεν καταλαβαίνω καλά, αλλά μετά η δασκάλα εξηγεί και το μάθημα είναι πιο απλό.
Questions & Answers about Στην αρχή δεν καταλαβαίνω καλά, αλλά μετά η δασκάλα εξηγεί και το μάθημα είναι πιο απλό.
In Greek, the preposition σε (in, at, to) usually contracts with the definite article that follows it.
- σε + την = στην
- σε + τον = στον
- σε + το = στο
So σε την αρχή is grammatically correct but not used in normal speech or writing; it’s always contracted to στην αρχή.
Also, αρχή (beginning) is a feminine noun in the nominative singular, so its accusative with a definite article is:
- nominative: η αρχή
- accusative: την αρχή → with σε: στην αρχή = at the beginning / at first.
It can mean both, depending on context:
Literal time/location: in the beginning (of something)
- Στην αρχή του βιβλίου = At the beginning of the book.
Phase of a process / first stage: at first
In your sentence, Στην αρχή δεν καταλαβαίνω καλά is best translated as At first I don’t understand well.
It talks about the first phase of the lesson, not some abstract “Beginning” in general.
In Greek, the standard position of the basic negative particle δεν is directly before the verb it negates:
- δεν καταλαβαίνω = I do not understand
- δεν θέλω = I do not want
- δεν μπορώ = I cannot
If there are unstressed object pronouns, δεν goes before them too:
- δεν το καταλαβαίνω = I don’t understand it.
So δεν καταλαβαίνω follows the normal pattern: δεν + verb.
Here we need an adverb, not an adjective:
- καλός, καλή, καλό are adjectives = good (describing a noun).
- καλά is (among other things) the adverb = well (describing how something is done).
Since the verb is καταλαβαίνω (I understand), we are describing how I understand:
- δεν καταλαβαίνω καλά = I don’t understand well.
An adjective like καλό would describe a noun (good lesson, good book, etc.), not the manner of understanding.
Greek often uses the present tense to describe:
Habitual situations / routines
Στην αρχή δεν καταλαβαίνω καλά, αλλά μετά η δασκάλα εξηγεί…
= At first I don’t understand well, but then the teacher explains…This can describe what usually happens in lessons, not one single event.
Narrative present
Sometimes Greek uses the present to tell a story for immediacy, similar to English:
So I go in, I sit down, and then the teacher explains everything.
So the present here likely means “This is what happens every time” rather than “This happened once.”
Greek often omits object pronouns when they are obvious from context.
English tends to say:
- I don’t understand *it well.*
Greek is fine with just:
- Δεν καταλαβαίνω καλά. = I don’t understand (it) well.
If you really want to include it, you would say:
- Δεν το καταλαβαίνω καλά.
- το = it (neuter, singular, direct object pronoun)
But it’s not necessary if “it” (the lesson / what is being explained) is clear from context.
Both forms exist, but they’re used slightly differently:
μετά by itself = afterwards / then / later (an adverb of time)
- …αλλά μετά η δασκάλα εξηγεί…
= …but then the teacher explains…
- …αλλά μετά η δασκάλα εξηγεί…
μετά από
- noun = after (something)
- μετά από το μάθημα = after the lesson
- μετά από λίγο = after a short while
In your sentence, we’re not specifying “after something” explicitly; we’re just saying then / afterwards, so simple μετά is correct and natural.
Greek uses the definite article more often than English, especially:
- with specific people: η Μαρία, ο Γιάννης, η δασκάλα
- with professions / roles in context: ο γιατρός, ο δάσκαλος, η δασκάλα
Here, η δασκάλα usually means the (particular) teacher, the one both speaker and listener know (for example, my teacher in this class).
Saying είμαι δασκάλα (I am a teacher) is fine without the article, but when you refer to the teacher as a specific person, especially as subject, you normally use the article:
- Η δασκάλα εξηγεί. = The teacher explains.
εξηγεί is:
- 3rd person singular
- present tense
- active voice
of the verb εξηγώ = I explain.
So:
- εξηγώ = I explain
- εξηγείς = you explain (singular)
- εξηγεί = he/she/it explains
- εξηγούμε / εξηγούμε = we explain
- εξηγείτε = you explain (plural / formal)
- εξηγούν(ε) = they explain
In your sentence:
- η δασκάλα εξηγεί = the teacher explains.
The και here mainly functions as “and”, connecting two clauses:
- η δασκάλα εξηγεί = the teacher explains
- το μάθημα είναι πιο απλό = the lesson is simpler
So …εξηγεί και το μάθημα είναι πιο απλό =
…she explains, and the lesson is simpler.
However, Greek και can also mean also / even depending on position and emphasis. For example:
- Και το μάθημα είναι πιο απλό. (with stress on Και)
can be heard as: And the lesson is also simpler.
In your sentence, it’s mostly the normal coordinating and.
Μάθημα (lesson, class) is a neuter noun:
- nominative: το μάθημα
- genitive: του μαθήματος
- accusative: το μάθημα
So the correct definite article is το, not η.
That’s why we say:
- το μάθημα = the lesson
- ένα μάθημα = a lesson
The fact that a word refers to something “neutral” in meaning doesn’t determine its grammatical gender. You just have to learn μάθημα as a neuter noun.
Πιο means more (for comparatives), and it goes with an adjective that agrees with the noun it describes.
- The adjective απλός (simple) has three main genders in the singular:
- masculine: απλός
- feminine: απλή
- neuter: απλό
Since μάθημα is neuter, the adjective must also be neuter:
- το μάθημα είναι απλό = the lesson is simple
- το μάθημα είναι πιο απλό = the lesson is simpler / more simple
Using πιο απλός would be masculine, which would not agree with το μάθημα (neuter), so πιο απλό is the correct form here.