Μετά το φαγητό, σκουπίζω τα ψίχουλα με το φαράσι και βάζω το πανί πάνω στον πάγκο.

Because μετά in Modern Greek normally takes the accusative when it means after.

• μετά = after
• το φαγητό = the meal / the food

So μετά το φαγητό means after the meal or after eating.

A useful thing to notice: φαγητό is a neuter noun, and in the singular its nominative and accusative look the same, so you still see το φαγητό.

It can mean food in general, but very often it also means a meal, depending on context.

In μετά το φαγητό, the most natural interpretation is after the meal or after eating.

So this is one of those Greek words where context tells you whether it is:

• food
• a dish
• a meal

They are both in the present tense, first person singular:

• σκουπίζω = I sweep / I wipe / I am sweeping / I am wiping
• βάζω = I put / I place / I am putting

Greek present tense can cover both:

• a habitual meaning: I sweep up the crumbs
• an ongoing meaning: I’m sweeping up the crumbs

The context decides which one is meant.

Because Greek verbs do not always match English verbs one-for-one.

σκουπίζω is used for removing dirt, dust, crumbs, moisture, and so on, so depending on the object and context it may be translated as:

• sweep
• wipe
• clean up

With τα ψίχουλα it naturally suggests sweeping up or wiping away crumbs.

Because ψίχουλα is neuter plural.

• singular: το ψίχουλο = the crumb
• plural: τα ψίχουλα = the crumbs

So:

• τα = the, for neuter plural
• ψίχουλα = crumbs

Greek often uses the plural here just like English does: the crumbs.

Here με means with, showing the tool or instrument used to do something.

So:

• με το φαράσι = with the dustpan

This is a very common use of με in Greek:

• γράφω με μολύβι = I write with a pencil
• κόβω με το μαχαίρι = I cut with the knife

Το φαράσι means dustpan.

It is a neuter noun, which is why it appears with το:

• το φαράσι

In this sentence, it is the tool used to collect the crumbs.

Το πανί literally means cloth, but in everyday use it can also mean:

• rag
• dishcloth
• cleaning cloth

The exact English word depends on the situation. In a kitchen-cleaning context, cloth or rag is often the best translation.

It is also neuter, so you get:

• το πανί

This means on the counter or more literally on top of the counter.

Break it down like this:

• πάνω = on top / above / up
• στον πάγκο = on the counter

Very often Greek uses πάνω together with σε plus a noun:

• πάνω στο τραπέζι = on the table
• πάνω στον πάγκο = on the counter

So the whole phrase means on the counter.

Because στον is the normal contracted form of σε τον.

This happens very often in Greek:

• σε + το = στο
• σε + τη(ν) = στη(ν)
• σε + τον = στον
• σε + τους = στους

So:

• πάνω σε τον πάγκο is not how people normally say it
• πάνω στον πάγκο is the natural form

Because after σε / στον, the noun is in the accusative.

The noun is:

• nominative: ο πάγκος = the counter
• accusative: τον πάγκο = the counter

Since στον already contains σε + τον, the noun that follows is accusative:

• στον πάγκο

This is a very common pattern with masculine nouns.

Greek uses definite articles very regularly, often more than English does.

In this sentence, the speaker is talking about specific things in a known situation:

• το φαγητό = the meal
• τα ψίχουλα = the crumbs
• το φαράσι = the dustpan
• το πανί = the cloth
• τον πάγκο = the counter

So even if English might sometimes sound more natural without the, Greek often keeps the article.

Yes. Greek word order is fairly flexible.

The sentence as written is very natural:

• Μετά το φαγητό, σκουπίζω τα ψίχουλα με το φαράσι και βάζω το πανί πάνω στον πάγκο.

But Greek can move parts around for emphasis, for example:

• Μετά το φαγητό, βάζω το πανί πάνω στον πάγκο και σκουπίζω τα ψίχουλα με το φαράσι.

That changes the focus or sequence a little, but it is still grammatical.

Greek relies a lot on verb forms, articles, and case endings, so it is less dependent on fixed word order than English.

Because Μετά το φαγητό is an introductory time phrase.

The comma helps separate that opening time expression from the main action:

• After the meal, I sweep up the crumbs...

In Greek, just as in English, this comma is very common and natural with introductory phrases.