Η δασκάλα λέει να γράφουμε καθαρά στο τετράδιό μας.

It is a very common Modern Greek pattern:

• λέει = says / is saying
• να γράφουμε = to write / that we should write

So λέει να γράφουμε means something like:

• she says to write
• she says that we should write
• she tells us to write

English often uses an infinitive (to write), but Greek usually uses να + finite verb instead.

In Modern Greek, να introduces a dependent verb phrase very often translated with English to ... or that ... should ....

So instead of an infinitive, Greek usually says:

• θέλω να γράψω = I want to write
• πρέπει να φύγουμε = we must leave
• λέει να γράφουμε = she says to write / she says we should write

A native English speaker often looks for an infinitive, but Modern Greek mostly does not use one in everyday language.

This is about aspect, which is very important in Greek.

• να γράφουμε = imperfective aspect
  → ongoing, repeated, habitual action
• να γράψουμε = perfective aspect
  → one complete action

Here, the teacher is giving a general instruction about how we write, so γράφουμε fits well:

• να γράφουμε καθαρά = to write neatly, as a habit or regular rule

If you said να γράψουμε, it would sound more like one specific completed writing task.

Formally, γράφουμε looks like the present tense form we write. But after να, it functions as part of a subjunctive-type construction.

So in this sentence, it is not simply an independent statement we write. It is dependent on να:

• γράφουμε alone = we write / we are writing
• να γράφουμε = to write / that we should be writing / that we should write regularly

This is why learners often hear that Greek uses να + verb where English uses an infinitive or a subjunctive-like meaning.

Greek often leaves subject pronouns out because the verb ending already shows the person and number.

Here:

• γράφουμε = we write

So we is already built into the ending -ουμε.

Also, Greek does not need a separate word for us in this sentence, because the idea is understood from the clause. If you wanted to make us explicit, you could say:

• Η δασκάλα μας λέει να γράφουμε...
  = The teacher tells us to write...

Without μας, the sentence is still perfectly natural and means that this is what the teacher says.

καθαρά is an adverb here. It describes how we write.

• γράφουμε καθαρά = we write neatly / clearly

It comes from καθαρός / καθαρή / καθαρό = clean, clear.

A learner might confuse it with an adjective, but in this sentence it is modifying the verb γράφουμε, not the noun τετράδιο.

στο is a contraction of:

• σε + το = στο

Here:

• σε = in / on / at / to
• το = the (neuter singular)

So:

• στο τετράδιο = in the notebook

Greek σε covers several meanings that English splits into different prepositions, so the best English choice depends on context.

This is a standard spelling rule in Greek.

μας is an enclitic word, meaning it leans onto the previous word. When a word like τετράδιο is followed by an enclitic possessive, Greek often adds an extra written accent:

• το τετράδιο
• το τετράδιό μας

This helps preserve the correct stress pattern.

So the accent in τετράδιό is not random—it is the standard written form before μου, σου, του, της, μας, σας, τους in cases like this.

Greek usually expresses possession with a weak pronoun placed after the noun:

• το βιβλίο μου = my book
• το βιβλίο σου = your book
• το βιβλίό μας = our book

So:

• τετράδιό μας = our notebook

This is one of the biggest differences from English, where possessives normally come before the noun.

Greek also usually keeps the article:

• το τετράδιό μας
  literally something like the notebook our

That is just normal Greek structure.

It is in the accusative singular, because it follows σε.

However, with many neuter nouns, the nominative and accusative look the same, so you do not see a visible change:

• το τετράδιο = nominative
• το τετράδιο = accusative

In this sentence, the form stays the same, but grammatically it is accusative after σε / στο.

Depending on context, it can be translated in different ways.

Greek present tense often covers both:

• says
• is saying

And in a sentence like this, natural English may also use:

• tells us to write neatly in our notebook

So λέει is literally says, but the most natural English translation may be tells because it is a teacher giving an instruction.

Not completely. Greek word order is more flexible than English.

The sentence as written is neutral and natural:

• Η δασκάλα λέει να γράφουμε καθαρά στο τετράδιό μας.

But other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

• Η δασκάλα λέει να γράφουμε στο τετράδιό μας καθαρά.

That said, the original order is the most straightforward. A learner should treat it as the default pattern.

Because δασκάλα is a feminine noun meaning female teacher, and η is the feminine singular definite article.

So:

• η δασκάλα = the teacher (female)

Greek normally uses the definite article with a specific person, so this is exactly what you would expect at the start of the sentence. The masculine equivalent would be:

• ο δάσκαλος = the teacher (male)