Μετά το σφουγγάρισμα, το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό.

Because μετά can be used as a preposition meaning after, and when it is followed by a noun, that noun normally goes in the accusative case.

So:

• μετά = after
• το σφουγγάρισμα = the mopping

Together: μετά το σφουγγάρισμα = after the mopping

A useful comparison:

• μετά το μάθημα = after the lesson
• μετά τη δουλειά = after work

Do not confuse this with μετά από, which is also very common and can mean after as well:

• μετά από το μάθημα
• μετά το μάθημα

Both are used, though μετά + accusative by itself is very common in everyday Greek.

Σφουγγάρισμα means mopping or the act of mopping. It is a neuter noun.

It comes from the verb:

• σφουγγαρίζω = to mop

Greek often forms nouns for actions like this. So:

• σφουγγάρισμα = mopping
• διάβασμα = reading / studying
• πλύσιμο = washing
• γράψιμο = writing

In this sentence, το σφουγγάρισμα refers to the action/event of mopping.

Greek uses the article much more often than English does. So even where English may say:

• after mopping

Greek very naturally says:

• μετά το σφουγγάρισμα

Literally, that is closer to after the mopping, but it is just normal Greek usage.

This is very common with abstract nouns, activities, and general references. So the article does not always need to be translated into English.

Again, Greek often uses the definite article where English may or may not use it.

• το πάτωμα = the floor

In this sentence, we are talking about a specific floor, so το πάτωμα is the natural choice.

Greek articles are very common with nouns functioning as the subject of a sentence:

• Το νερό είναι κρύο. = The water is cold.
• Το φαγητό είναι έτοιμο. = The food is ready.
• Το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό. = The floor is clean.

Leaving out the article here would usually sound unnatural.

Because it agrees with το πάτωμα, which is a neuter singular noun.

Greek adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in:

• gender
• number
• case

Here:

• το πάτωμα = neuter singular
• so the adjective must also be neuter singular: καθαρό

Compare:

• ο τοίχος είναι καθαρός = the wall is clean
• η κουζίνα είναι καθαρή = the kitchen is clean
• το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό = the floor is clean

Same adjective, different endings.

Είναι means is and is the 3rd person singular of the verb είμαι = to be.

So:

• το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό = the floor is clean

This is a standard Greek pattern:

• subject + είναι + adjective

Examples:

• Το δωμάτιο είναι μεγάλο. = The room is big.
• Η πόρτα είναι ανοιχτή. = The door is open.
• Το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό. = The floor is clean.

Yes, sometimes you may see it without a comma:

• Μετά το σφουγγάρισμα το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό.

The comma after Μετά το σφουγγάρισμα marks the introductory time phrase and makes the sentence easier to read. It is very natural in writing.

So:

• Μετά το σφουγγάρισμα, το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό. = very normal
• Μετά το σφουγγάρισμα το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό. = also understandable

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English word order, though not completely free.

The given sentence is very natural:

• Μετά το σφουγγάρισμα, το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό.

But you could also say:

• Το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό μετά το σφουγγάρισμα.

This places the focus a little differently, but the meaning stays basically the same: The floor is clean after the mopping.

Greek often moves time phrases around depending on emphasis and style.

In this sentence, it describes a resulting state: after mopping, the floor is clean.

Greek does not need a special form here. It simply uses:

• είναι καθαρό = is clean

The context tells you this is the result of the mopping, not necessarily a permanent property of the floor.

So the sentence implies:

• first the mopping happens
• then the floor is in a clean state

A rough pronunciation guide is:

• sfoung-GA-ri-sma

A few details:

• σφ sounds like sf
• ου sounds like oo in food
• γγ here is pronounced like ng as in finger
• the stress is on γά: σφουγ-ΓΑ-ρισμα

So approximately:

• sfoong-GA-reez-ma

Pronunciation can vary slightly by accent, but that is a good learner approximation.

Το πάτωμα usually means the floor you walk on inside a room or building.

Examples:

• Το πάτωμα είναι βρόμικο. = The floor is dirty.
• Έπεσε στο πάτωμα. = He/She fell on the floor.

It can also mean the floor surface more generally, but in everyday use it very often means an indoor floor.

Do not confuse it with:

• όροφος = floor/storey of a building, as in first floor, second floor

So here:

• το πάτωμα = the floor surface not
• a level of the building

Yes, depending on context, but σφουγγάρισμα is a very normal and precise choice for mopping.

For example:

• καθάρισμα = cleaning (more general)
• σφουγγάρισμα = mopping (specific)

So:

• Μετά το καθάρισμα... = After the cleaning...
• Μετά το σφουγγάρισμα... = After the mopping...

If the speaker specifically means the floor was cleaned with a mop, σφουγγάρισμα is the best word.

Yes, that is also correct.

You can say:

• Μετά το σφουγγάρισμα, το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό.
• Μετά από το σφουγγάρισμα, το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό.

Both mean the same thing: After mopping, the floor is clean.

In everyday Greek, μετά without από is very common in this kind of sentence, especially before a noun phrase. Learners should recognize both forms.

The main change would be in the article and the adjective ending.

With a masculine noun:

• Ο τοίχος είναι καθαρός. = The wall is clean.

With a feminine noun:

• Η κουζίνα είναι καθαρή. = The kitchen is clean.

With the neuter noun from your sentence:

• Το πάτωμα είναι καθαρό. = The floor is clean.

So the adjective clean changes like this:

• καθαρός = masculine
• καθαρή = feminine
• καθαρό = neuter

This is one of the most important patterns in Greek grammar.