Πρώτα βάζω την κορδέλα στο δώρο και μετά γράφω την κάρτα.

In Greek, the verb ending usually shows the subject, so a separate pronoun is often unnecessary.

• βάζω = I put
• γράφω = I write

The ending -ω tells you it is first person singular.
You could add εγώ for emphasis, but normally Greek leaves it out:

• Εγώ βάζω... = I put... (emphatic)
• Βάζω... = I put... (neutral, normal)

They are time-ordering words.

• πρώτα = first
• μετά = then / afterwards

In this sentence they show sequence:

• Πρώτα βάζω... = First I put...
• και μετά γράφω... = and then I write...

They are very common in everyday Greek when describing steps or actions in order.

και means and. In this sentence, και μετά is a very natural way to say and then.

So:

• μετά = then / afterwards
• και μετά = and then

Both are possible depending on style, but και μετά sounds very natural when linking two actions in sequence.

την is the definite article here, meaning the. It is used with feminine singular nouns in the accusative case.

So:

• η κορδέλα = the ribbon (subject form / nominative)
• την κορδέλα = the ribbon (object form / accusative)

and

• η κάρτα = the card
• την κάρτα = the card (as a direct object)

Because βάζω and γράφω take direct objects, Greek uses the accusative:

• βάζω την κορδέλα = I put the ribbon
• γράφω την κάρτα = I write the card

Because στο is the contracted form of σε + το.

• σε = in / on / at / to
• το = the

Together:

• σε το → στο

So:

• στο δώρο = on the gift / onto the gift

This contraction is standard in modern Greek:

• σε + την → στη(ν)
• σε + το → στο
• σε + τον → στον

It is in the accusative case.

The preposition σε normally takes the accusative in modern Greek. Since στο = σε + το, the noun after it is accusative:

• το δώρο = the gift
• στο δώρο = on/to the gift

For neuter nouns like δώρο, the nominative and accusative forms are often the same, so you do not see a visible change in the noun itself.

βάζω is a broad verb meaning put, place, set, and sometimes even wear depending on context.

Here, βάζω την κορδέλα στο δώρο means something like:

• put the ribbon on the gift
• place the ribbon on the gift

The exact English translation depends on context, but the Greek verb itself is the normal everyday verb for placing something somewhere.

Because την κάρτα is the direct object: the card is the thing being written.

• γράφω την κάρτα = I write the card / I write the message card

If you say γράφω στην κάρτα, that means I write on the card, focusing more on the surface/location.

So the difference is:

• γράφω την κάρτα = I write the card
• γράφω στην κάρτα = I write on the card

Greek often uses γράφω την κάρτα in the sense of writing or filling out the card.

In Greek, the present tense can be used very naturally for:

• habits
• routines
• instructions
• describing actions in order

So Πρώτα βάζω... και μετά γράφω... can mean:

• First I put..., then I write...
• What I do is: first I put..., then I write...

This is very normal and does not necessarily mean the actions are happening right this second. It can describe a usual process.

Yes, Greek word order is more flexible than English, although some orders sound more natural than others.

The given sentence is very natural:

• Πρώτα βάζω την κορδέλα στο δώρο και μετά γράφω την κάρτα.

But Greek could move things around for emphasis, for example:

• Την κορδέλα την βάζω πρώτα στο δώρο...
• Μετά γράφω την κάρτα.

The basic meaning stays the same, but the emphasis can shift. For learners, the original order is a very good neutral pattern to follow.

In this sentence, the articles sound natural and expected because we are talking about specific, identifiable things:

• την κορδέλα = the ribbon
• την κάρτα = the card
• στο δώρο = on the gift

If you remove the articles, the sentence becomes less specific and may sound incomplete or unnatural in this context.

Greek uses definite articles more often than English does, so learners should get used to seeing them frequently.

These nouns have grammatical gender:

• η κορδέλα = feminine
• η κάρτα = feminine
• το δώρο = neuter

This matters because articles and some other words must match the noun’s gender, number, and case.

That is why you get:

• την κορδέλα — feminine singular accusative
• την κάρτα — feminine singular accusative
• στο δώρο — σε + το, with το matching the neuter noun δώρο

A simple pronunciation guide is:

PRO-ta VA-zo tin kor-DE-la sto THO-ro ke me-TA GRA-fo tin KAR-ta

A few helpful points:

• πρώτα is stressed on the first syllable: ΠΡΩ-τα
• βάζω is stressed on βά
• κορδέλα is stressed on δέ
• δώρο is stressed on δώ
• μετά is stressed on the second syllable
• γράφω is stressed on γρά
• κάρτα is stressed on κάρ

Also:

• θ in δώρο sounds like th in think
• γρ in γράφω is pronounced together at the beginning, like gr in green