Βάζω νερό στην κούπα μου και όχι στο ποτήρι.

the water

Breakdown of Βάζω νερό στην κούπα μου και όχι στο ποτήρι.

• και: and
• μου: my
• όχι: not

Questions & Answers about Βάζω νερό στην κούπα μου και όχι στο ποτήρι.

Why is it στην κούπα but στο ποτήρι?

Because these are contractions of σε + the definite article:

• στην = σε + την
• στο = σε + το

The article changes because the nouns have different genders:

• η κούπα = feminine
• το ποτήρι = neuter

So:

• στην κούπα = into/in the cup
• στο ποτήρι = into/in the glass

Greek uses these contracted forms constantly in everyday speech and writing.

Why is there no article before νερό?

Because νερό here is being used as an uncountable substance, like water in English.

In English, we usually say:

• I put water in my cup not
• I put the water in my cup unless we mean some specific water

Greek works similarly here. Βάζω νερό means I put water / I pour water in a general, indefinite sense.

If you said το νερό, that would usually mean the water, referring to specific water already known from context.

Why is it κούπα μου and not μου κούπα?