Με λίγο πείσμα μπορώ να τελειώσω αυτή την άσκηση.

Literally, με λίγο πείσμα means with a little stubbornness / with a little determination.

The preposition με usually means with, so here it introduces the means or attitude by which something can be done:

• με δύναμη = with strength
• με υπομονή = with patience
• με λίγο πείσμα = with a little persistence / determination

In natural English, πείσμα can sound stronger than just determination. It often suggests a kind of stubborn persistence: I’ll do it because I refuse to give up.

Because λίγο here is the neuter singular form, used with the noun πείσμα, which is also neuter.

• λίγος = masculine
• λίγη = feminine
• λίγο = neuter

Since πείσμα is neuter, the adjective must match it:

• λίγο πείσμα

This is basic adjective agreement in Greek: adjectives match the noun in gender, number, and case.

Πείσμα means stubbornness, persistence, or sheer determination, depending on context.

It can be:

• negative: someone is being stubborn in an unreasonable way
• positive: someone refuses to quit and pushes through difficulty

In this sentence, it sounds mostly positive: the speaker is saying that with some determination, they can finish the exercise.

So although πείσμα literally leans toward stubbornness, in many contexts it works like grit or determination.

After μπορώ (I can / I am able), Greek normally uses να plus a verb form.

So:

• μπορώ = I can
• να τελειώσω = to finish / that I finish

Together:

• μπορώ να τελειώσω = I can finish

The word να is very common in Greek and introduces what is traditionally called the subjunctive form. In everyday learning terms, it is often easiest to think of it as the particle used before many dependent verb forms, especially after verbs like:

• μπορώ να... = I can...
• θέλω να... = I want to...
• πρέπει να... = I must...

This is about aspect, which is very important in Greek.

• τελειώσω = perfective aspect
• τελειώνω = imperfective aspect

In this sentence, τελειώσω is used because the speaker means finish the exercise as a complete whole. The focus is on the result: getting it done.

So:

• μπορώ να τελειώσω αυτή την άσκηση = I can finish this exercise

If you used τελειώνω, it would sound more like focusing on the process or repeated/habitual action, which is not the main idea here.

A simple learner-friendly way to think about it:

• τελειώσω = finish it
• τελειώνω = be finishing / finish in general / keep finishing

In Greek, demonstratives like αυτός, αυτή, αυτό usually appear together with the definite article when they modify a noun.

So Greek commonly says:

• αυτή η άσκηση = this exercise
• αυτή την άσκηση = this exercise (accusative)

That is why you see both:

• αυτή = this
• την = the
• άσκηση = exercise

This is normal Greek structure. English says this exercise, but Greek usually says something more like this the exercise.

It is in the accusative case, because it is the direct object of τελειώσω.

The speaker is finishing what?

• αυτή την άσκηση

So the noun phrase has to be in the accusative:

• nominative: αυτή η άσκηση = this exercise
• accusative: αυτή την άσκηση = this exercise

The changes are:

• η → την
• άσκηση stays άσκηση in spelling here, though its role in the sentence is accusative
• αυτή remains αυτή in this feminine singular form

Both τη and την can be used as the feminine accusative singular article in Modern Greek, but την is especially common before a vowel sound, and άσκηση begins with a vowel.

So:

• την άσκηση sounds natural and standard

You may also hear reduced forms in speech, but την άσκηση is the expected full form here.

The same applies in other phrases:

• την εικόνα
• την ώρα
• την ιδέα

Άσκηση often means exercise, but the exact sense depends on context.

Common meanings include:

• a school exercise / task
• a grammar exercise
• a practice activity
• physical exercise
• a military exercise or drill

In this sentence, it clearly means an exercise / task, probably something like homework, a workbook exercise, or a practice question.

Greek word order is more flexible than English word order, because case endings and articles help show what each word is doing.

The given sentence is perfectly natural:

• Με λίγο πείσμα μπορώ να τελειώσω αυτή την άσκηση.

But other orders are possible, with slightly different emphasis:

• Μπορώ να τελειώσω αυτή την άσκηση με λίγο πείσμα.
• Αυτή την άσκηση μπορώ να την τελειώσω με λίγο πείσμα.

The original order puts με λίγο πείσμα first, which gives it emphasis, almost like:

• With a little determination, I can finish this exercise.

So the order is not random; it helps shape emphasis.

Yes. Greek often drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the person.

• μπορώ already means I can

So there is no need to say εγώ unless you want extra emphasis or contrast.

Compare:

• Μπορώ να τελειώσω αυτή την άσκηση. = I can finish this exercise.
• Εγώ μπορώ να τελειώσω αυτή την άσκηση. = I can finish this exercise. / I, at least, can finish it.

Greek does this all the time, so omitted subject pronouns are completely normal.

Here it means can / am able to.

• μπορώ να τελειώσω = I can finish / I am able to finish

In some contexts, μπορώ can also relate to possibility or permission, but in this sentence it clearly expresses ability.

So the sense is not May I finish...? but rather I’m capable of finishing it.

Yes, ολοκληρώσω could work, but it sounds a bit different.

• τελειώσω = finish
• ολοκληρώσω = complete

Τελειώσω is very natural and everyday for an exercise, especially in speech. Ολοκληρώσω sounds a little more formal or more focused on full completion.

So:

• Μπορώ να τελειώσω αυτή την άσκηση. = very natural
• Μπορώ να ολοκληρώσω αυτή την άσκηση. = also correct, slightly more formal or polished

Yes, it sounds natural. Greek often uses με plus a noun to describe the attitude or quality needed to do something.

Examples:

• με υπομονή = with patience
• με επιμονή = with persistence
• με προσπάθεια = with effort
• με λίγο πείσμα = with a little determination / stubborn persistence

If you want a softer or more neutral word than πείσμα, you could also say:

• με λίγη επιμονή = with a little persistence

That might sound slightly less stubborn and more straightforwardly persistent.