Σήμερα έπαιξαν με πλαστελίνη και μετά ζωγράφισαν με νερομπογιές.

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Breakdown of Σήμερα έπαιξαν με πλαστελίνη και μετά ζωγράφισαν με νερομπογιές.

• σήμερα: today
• με: with
• μετά: then

Questions & Answers about Σήμερα έπαιξαν με πλαστελίνη και μετά ζωγράφισαν με νερομπογιές.

Why are έπαιξαν and ζωγράφισαν translated as past tense?

Both verbs are in the aorist, which is a very common Greek past tense.

• έπαιξαν = they played
• ζωγράφισαν = they drew / they painted

In this sentence, the aorist presents the actions as completed events: first they played with plasticine, and then they painted with watercolors.

What person and number are έπαιξαν and ζωγράφισαν?

They are both 3rd person plural forms, so they mean they played and they painted.

That is why Greek does not need a separate word for they here. The verb ending already shows the subject.

Why is there no word for they in the sentence?

Greek often leaves out subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb ending. This is very normal.

So instead of saying:

• Αυτοί έπαιξαν... = They played...

Greek usually just says:

• Έπαιξαν... = They played...

The pronoun αυτοί would only be added for emphasis or contrast.