Η δασκάλα ξεκαθαρίζει ότι η καθημερινή επανάληψη είναι σημαντική.

The teacher makes it clear that daily revision is important.

Breakdown of Η δασκάλα ξεκαθαρίζει ότι η καθημερινή επανάληψη είναι σημαντική.

• είμαι: to be
• ότι: that
• σημαντικός: important
• η δασκάλα: the female teacher
• καθημερινός: daily
• η επανάληψη: the revision
• ξεκαθαρίζω: to make clear

Questions & Answers about Η δασκάλα ξεκαθαρίζει ότι η καθημερινή επανάληψη είναι σημαντική.

What is the role of Η in Η δασκάλα? Why is it spelled η and not something else?

Η is the definite article in the feminine nominative singular form, meaning “the.”

Greek articles change according to gender, number, and case. For “the teacher”:

• ο δάσκαλος = the teacher (male) – masculine, nominative singular
• η δασκάλα = the teacher (female) – feminine, nominative singular

So η is used because δασκάλα is:

• feminine
• singular
• the subject of the sentence (nominative case)

What does δασκάλα mean exactly, and is there a masculine form?

Δασκάλα means female teacher, typically at primary school, but it can sometimes be used more generally.

The corresponding masculine form is:

• ο δάσκαλος = male teacher

So:

• η δασκάλα = the (female) teacher
• ο δάσκαλος = the (male) teacher

What tense and form is ξεκαθαρίζει, and what does it literally mean?

Ξεκαθαρίζει is:

• present tense
• 3rd person singular
• of the verb ξεκαθαρίζω.

It means “clarifies,” “makes clear,” “makes it clear.”

Literal structure:

• καθαρίζω = to clean
• ξε- as a prefix can intensify or give a sense of “completely” / “thoroughly”
• ξεκαθαρίζω → to clear up, to clarify (ideas, meaning, a situation)

In this sentence:

• Η δασκάλα ξεκαθαρίζει… = The teacher clarifies / makes it clear that…

What is the function of ότι here? Is it like English “that”? How is it different from τι?

Here ότι is a conjunction meaning “that” introducing a content clause:

• Η δασκάλα ξεκαθαρίζει ότι…
  = The teacher clarifies that…

The whole clause ότι η καθημερινή επανάληψη είναι σημαντική is the object of the verb ξεκαθαρίζει.

Difference from τι:

• ότι (with accent on the first syllable) = that (conjunction introducing a statement)
• τι = what (interrogative pronoun)

Example:

• Ξέρω ότι έχεις δίκιο. = I know that you are right.
• Τι λες; = What are you saying?

What does καθημερινή mean, and how does it relate to επανάληψη grammatically?

Καθημερινή means “daily”.

Grammatically, καθημερινή is an adjective modifying the noun επανάληψη (repetition/review). It agrees with it in:

• gender: both are feminine
• number: both are singular
• case: both are nominative (because this phrase is the subject of είναι)

So:

• η καθημερινή επανάληψη = the daily repetition/review
  
  • η – feminine article
  • καθημερινή – feminine adjective
  • επανάληψη – feminine noun

Why is there only one article η in η καθημερινή επανάληψη? Could you say η καθημερινή η επανάληψη?

You cannot say η καθημερινή η επανάληψη here.

In Greek, when an adjective directly modifies a noun in this simple structure, you normally use one article before the adjective:

• η καθημερινή επανάληψη = the daily repetition
• ο καλός δάσκαλος = the good teacher (male)
• το μικρό παιδί = the small child

The article η goes in front of the whole noun phrase, not repeated before the noun.

What does επανάληψη mean, and what gender is it?

Επανάληψη means “repetition”, often also used in the sense of “review” (as in reviewing material).

It is a feminine noun.

Basic forms:

• Nominative singular: η επανάληψη (the repetition)
• Genitive singular: της επανάληψης (of the repetition)

Why is it είναι σημαντική and not something like είναι σημαντικό?

Σημαντική is an adjective meaning “important” in its feminine singular nominative form. It must agree with the subject:

• Subject: η καθημερινή επανάληψη (feminine singular)
• Verb: είναι (is)
• Complement: σημαντική (feminine singular to match the subject)

If the subject were neuter, you’d use:

• Το μάθημα είναι σημαντικό. = The lesson is important.

Masculine example:

• Ο δάσκαλος είναι σημαντικός. = The teacher is important.

What is the basic meaning of είναι?

Είναι is the 3rd person singular (and plural) present form of the verb είμαι = “to be.”

Here, it’s 3rd person singular:

• (Η καθημερινή επανάληψη) είναι σημαντική.
  = (Daily repetition) is important.

What is the overall structure of the sentence? Which parts are the subject, verb, and object?

Sentence: Η δασκάλα ξεκαθαρίζει ότι η καθημερινή επανάληψη είναι σημαντική.

• Η δασκάλα = subject of the main verb (the teacher)
• ξεκαθαρίζει = main verb (clarifies / makes clear)
• ότι η καθημερινή επανάληψη είναι σημαντική = object clause (what she clarifies)

Inside the ότι-clause:

• η καθημερινή επανάληψη = subject
• είναι = verb (is)
• σημαντική = subject complement / predicate adjective (important)

Is ξεκαθαρίζει the only possible verb here? How is it different from εξηγεί?

You could also say:

• Η δασκάλα εξηγεί ότι η καθημερινή επανάληψη είναι σημαντική.
  = The teacher explains that daily repetition is important.

Difference in nuance:

• εξηγεί (from εξηγώ) = explains – gives an explanation, describes how/why.
• ξεκαθαρίζει (from ξεκαθαρίζω) = clarifies / makes clear – removes confusion, makes something explicit or very clear.

Both are natural, but ξεκαθαρίζει slightly emphasizes removing ambiguity or stating something very clearly.