Προτιμώ να κάθομαι στην ξαπλώστρα παρά να περπατάω στην άμμο το μεσημέρι.

Because Modern Greek normally does not use an infinitive the way English does with to sit or to walk. Instead, it uses να + a finite verb.

So Greek says:

Προτιμώ να κάθομαι ... παρά να περπατάω ...

Literally, this is closer to:

I prefer to be sitting ... rather than to be walking ...

Since there are two separate actions being compared, each one gets its own να clause.

After να, Greek is often showing aspect more than English-style tense.

Here, να κάθομαι and να περπατάω are imperfective forms. They suggest an action as ongoing, repeated, or habitual. That fits a general preference very well:

• να κάθομαι = to be sitting / to sit habitually
• να περπατάω = to be walking / to walk habitually

So the sentence is not about one single moment only. It expresses a general preference.

Yes, but the meaning would shift.

• να κάθομαι / να περπατάω = ongoing or repeated activity
• να καθίσω / να περπατήσω = one complete action, more like a single occasion

So:

• Προτιμώ να κάθομαι... = I prefer sitting / being seated
• Προτιμώ να καθίσω... = I’d prefer to sit down / to sit once

In this beach-style sentence, να κάθομαι sounds more natural if the speaker means a general preference.

Here παρά means rather than.

The pattern is:

προτιμώ να X παρά να Y
= I prefer to X rather than Y

So παρά is the word that introduces the second option, the one being rejected or considered less preferable.

Normally, yes, when you are comparing two full verb phrases.

So this is the natural structure:

Προτιμώ να κάθομαι ... παρά να περπατάω ...

Repeating να makes the sentence clear and balanced. It is the standard way to connect the two actions.

στην is a contraction of:

σε + την = στην

• σε is a very common preposition that can mean in, on, at, or to, depending on context.
• την is the feminine singular accusative form of the definite article.

So:

• στην ξαπλώστρα = on the sunbed / on the lounge chair
• στην άμμο = on the sand / in the sand

Because Greek σε is broader than English prepositions. It can cover meanings that English splits into in, on, at, and sometimes to.

So Greek does not need a separate preposition here:

• στην ξαπλώστρα = literally with σε, but naturally translated as on the sunbed
• στην άμμο = also with σε, naturally on the sand

English chooses the exact preposition more narrowly; Greek often lets the noun and context do that work.

Greek uses the definite article much more often than English does.

So where English might say:

• on sand
• at noon

Greek very often prefers:

• στην άμμο
• το μεσημέρι

This is normal Greek usage, not something extra emphatic. In many everyday expressions, the article simply belongs there.

Because Greek often uses the accusative as an adverbial time expression.

So:

• το πρωί = in the morning
• το βράδυ = in the evening
• το μεσημέρι = at noon / in the midday
• την Κυριακή = on Sunday

This is a very common pattern. English often needs a preposition, but Greek often does not.

That is because Greek has many verbs that use middle/passive-looking forms but have an active meaning.

κάθομαι means I sit / I am sitting, not I am being sat.

This is just how the verb works. English speakers often notice this because it looks passive at first, but in Greek it is completely normal.

A few other common verbs behave similarly, such as έρχομαι = I come.

Yes. Both mean I walk / I am walking.

Many Greek verbs have two present-tense patterns like this:

• περπατάω
• περπατώ

Both are correct. περπατάω often sounds a bit more conversational and everyday, while περπατώ can sound slightly shorter or a bit more formal, depending on context and speaker. In this sentence, περπατάω is perfectly natural.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English word order.

The given sentence is natural:

Προτιμώ να κάθομαι στην ξαπλώστρα παρά να περπατάω στην άμμο το μεσημέρι.

But you could also move το μεσημέρι if you wanted to emphasize the time more:

• Το μεσημέρι προτιμώ να κάθομαι...
• Προτιμώ το μεσημέρι να κάθομαι...

The basic meaning stays the same, but the emphasis shifts a little. The original version sounds smooth and natural.