Η αστραπή ήταν τόσο δυνατή που πετάχτηκα από το κρεβάτι.

The flash of lightning was so strong that I jumped out of bed.

Breakdown of Η αστραπή ήταν τόσο δυνατή που πετάχτηκα από το κρεβάτι.

• είμαι: to be
• το κρεβάτι: the bed
• δυνατός: strong
• τόσο ... που: so ... that

Questions & Answers about Η αστραπή ήταν τόσο δυνατή που πετάχτηκα από το κρεβάτι.

What does Η αστραπή mean exactly, and why is there an article?

Η αστραπή means the lightning or, in natural English depending on context, just lightning.

• η = the for a feminine singular noun
• αστραπή = lightning / lightning flash

Greek uses the definite article much more often than English, so where English might simply say lightning, Greek often says the lightning.

Also, αστραπή is feminine, which is why the article is η.

Why is it δυνατή and not δυνατός?

Because δυνατή has to agree with αστραπή, which is feminine singular.

The adjective δυνατός / δυνατή / δυνατό means strong / powerful / loud depending on context.

Here the forms are:

• δυνατός = masculine
• δυνατή = feminine
• δυνατό = neuter

Since αστραπή is feminine, Greek says η αστραπή ήταν τόσο δυνατή.

What does τόσο ... που mean?