Breakdown of Το φερμουάρ της τσάντας μου χάλασε και έβαλα τα κέρματα στην τσέπη του παλτού μου.
και
and
μου
my
σε
in
βάζω
to put
Questions & Answers about Το φερμουάρ της τσάντας μου χάλασε και έβαλα τα κέρματα στην τσέπη του παλτού μου.
Why is possession expressed with της τσάντας μου and του παλτού μου instead of a separate word like of?
Greek usually shows of-relationships with the genitive case, not with a separate preposition.
So:
- το φερμουάρ της τσάντας μου = the zipper of my bag
- η τσέπη του παλτού μου = the pocket of my coat
The words της τσάντας and του παλτού are in the genitive, and that is what gives the meaning of the bag and of the coat.
Why is μου placed after the noun, as in τσάντας μου and παλτού μου?
In Greek, the weak possessive forms such as μου, σου, του, της usually come after the noun.
So Greek says:
- η τσάντα μου = my bag
- το παλτό μου = my coat
This is normal Greek word order. English puts my before the noun, but Greek often uses this short genitive pronoun after it.
Why is there an article in phrases like της τσάντας μου and του παλτού μου? English often drops the in phrases like my bag.