Σηκώνομαι από την καρέκλα όταν μπαίνει η δασκάλα.

In Greek, many verbs use middle/passive endings even when the meaning is not actually passive in English.

So σηκώνομαι means I get up / I stand up, not I am raised in this sentence.

A useful contrast is:

• σηκώνω = I raise / I lift something
• σηκώνομαι = I get up / I stand up

So the -μαι ending does not automatically mean a true passive translation. Very often, it gives a verb an intransitive or self-directed meaning.

Here, σηκώνομαι most naturally means I get up or I stand up.

All of these can be close in meaning:

• I get up from the chair
• I stand up from the chair
• I rise from the chair

In everyday English, get up or stand up is the most natural match.

από means from.

So:

• από = from
• την καρέκλα = the chair

Together, από την καρέκλα means from the chair.

Greek uses από very commonly for movement away from a place or object.

Because Greek usually uses the definite article where English often does too, and sometimes even where English might omit it.

Here:

• η καρέκλα = the chair
• την καρέκλα = the chair (accusative case)

After από, the noun normally goes in the accusative in Modern Greek. That is why you get:

• η καρέκλα → nominative
• την καρέκλα → accusative

So από την καρέκλα is the normal way to say from the chair.

Yes, όταν commonly means when and introduces a time clause.

In this sentence:

• όταν μπαίνει η δασκάλα = when the teacher comes in / enters

It often works much like English when, especially in sentences about repeated or general actions.

Examples:

• Όταν βρέχει, μένω σπίτι. = When it rains, I stay home.
• Όταν έρχεται, χαίρομαι. = When he/she comes, I’m happy.

Because the subject is η δασκάλα = the teacher, which is he/she/it form, not I form.

The verb μπαίνω means I enter / I go in in its dictionary form, but its forms change by person:

• μπαίνω = I enter
• μπαίνεις = you enter
• μπαίνει = he/she/it enters

Since η δασκάλα is the one entering, Greek uses μπαίνει.

Greek word order is more flexible than English word order.

So both of these are possible:

• η δασκάλα μπαίνει
• μπαίνει η δασκάλα

Both mean the teacher comes in / enters.

Putting the verb first is very normal in Greek, especially in narration or when introducing an event. It can sound quite natural and sometimes gives slightly more focus to the action.

Greek usually uses the article more often than English.

Here:

• η δασκάλα = the teacher

If you say just δασκάλα, it usually does not sound right in this sentence unless there is some special context.

So μπαίνει η δασκάλα is the normal way to say the teacher comes in.

It can often be understood as a habitual / repeated action:

• I get up from the chair when the teacher comes in.

The present tense in Greek, as in English, can describe:

• a general habit
• something that regularly happens
• sometimes a vivid present in narration

Without more context, the most natural reading is a repeated action or general behavior.

Because Greek commonly uses the present tense for general truths, habits, and repeated actions.

So:

• Σηκώνομαι = I get up
• όταν μπαίνει η δασκάλα = when the teacher comes in

This is parallel to English:

• I get up when the teacher comes in.

Greek does not need a special future or other tense here unless the meaning changes.

Yes, absolutely.

That would mean the same thing:

• Όταν μπαίνει η δασκάλα, σηκώνομαι από την καρέκλα.

Greek allows this kind of reordering very naturally. Putting the when-clause first may slightly emphasize the timing, but the meaning stays the same.

Because Greek verbs already show the person clearly.

• σηκώνομαι already means I get up

So εγώ is not necessary.

You could say:

• Εγώ σηκώνομαι από την καρέκλα όταν μπαίνει η δασκάλα.

But that adds emphasis, like:

• I get up when the teacher comes in.

In neutral sentences, Greek often leaves the subject pronoun out.

This is an important difference:

• σηκώνω = I lift / I raise something
• σηκώνομαι = I get up / I stand up

Examples:

• Σηκώνω την τσάντα. = I lift the bag.
• Σηκώνομαι από την καρέκλα. = I get up from the chair.

So in your sentence, the speaker is not lifting something; the speaker is standing up.

Yes. In everyday speech, από is often shortened before the article:

• απ’ την καρέκλα

So you may hear:

• Σηκώνομαι απ’ την καρέκλα όταν μπαίνει η δασκάλα.

This is very common and natural in spoken Greek.

All three can be possible depending on context, but comes in is often the most natural English translation here.

• μπαίνει literally relates to entering or going in
• in a classroom situation, the teacher comes in sounds the most natural in English

So:

• όταν μπαίνει η δασκάλα = when the teacher comes in

Yes, Greek stress matters, and each of these words has a fixed written accent:

• Σηκώνομαι
• από
• καρέκλα
• όταν
• μπαίνει
• δασκάλα

A learner should especially notice that the accent is part of the spelling, not just a pronunciation guide. Changing or omitting it can be incorrect in writing.

Also, η and την are unstressed function words, while the main stress falls on the content words like καρέκλα, μπαίνει, and δασκάλα.

Yes, very easily.

Even though the meaning is already clear grammatically, the sentence naturally suggests a cultural or social action: the speaker stands up when the teacher enters.

So beyond the literal grammar, it can imply:

• respect
• classroom discipline
• a customary action

That meaning comes from the situation, not from any special grammatical form.