Breakdown of Η ζωή στην πόλη είναι σκληρή μερικές φορές.
είμαι
to be
σε
in
η πόλη
the city
μερικές φορές
sometimes
Questions & Answers about Η ζωή στην πόλη είναι σκληρή μερικές φορές.
Why is there an article in Η ζωή? English would often just say life.
Greek uses the definite article more often than English, including with general ideas and abstract nouns. So η ζωή is a very natural way to say life here.
Grammatically:
- η = the for a feminine singular noun in the nominative
- ζωή = life
So Η ζωή στην πόλη is literally the life in the city, but the natural English meaning is life in the city or city life.
What does στην mean, and why is it one word?
στην is a contraction of:
- σε = in / at / to
- την = the (feminine singular accusative)
So:
- σε την πόλη -> στην πόλη
This contraction is standard in Modern Greek. In this sentence, στην πόλη means in the city.
Why is it στην πόλη and not some different form of πόλη?
The preposition σε normally takes the accusative case in Modern Greek.
The noun πόλη is feminine, and in the singular its nominative and accusative forms happen to look the same:
- nominative: η πόλη
- accusative: την πόλη
So the case does change, but the noun itself does not visibly change here. The article shows the case clearly.