Λαδώνω την αλυσίδα.

Λαδώνω is the 1st person singular present tense form of the verb λαδώνω.

So it means:

• I oil
• I am oiling

Greek present tense often covers both the simple present and the continuous present in English.

Because Greek usually does not need the subject pronoun.

The ending -ω in λαδώνω already tells you the subject is I.
So:

• Λαδώνω την αλυσίδα. = I oil / I’m oiling the chain.
• Εγώ λαδώνω την αλυσίδα. would add emphasis, like I’m the one oiling the chain.

Την is the feminine singular accusative definite article, meaning the.

It is used because αλυσίδα is:

• feminine
• singular
• the direct object of the verb

So:

• η αλυσίδα = the chain as a subject
• την αλυσίδα = the chain as an object

Because it is the direct object of the sentence: it is the thing being oiled.

In this noun, the form αλυσίδα happens to look the same in both nominative and accusative singular. What changes clearly is the article:

• η αλυσίδα = nominative
• την αλυσίδα = accusative

So the object marking is shown mainly by την here.

A rough pronunciation is:

la-THO-no tin a-li-SEE-tha

More accurately:

• Λαδώνω = la-THO-no, with δ sounding like th in this
• την = tin
• αλυσίδα = a-li-SEE-tha, again with δ like th in this

The stressed syllables are:

• λαδώνω
• αλυσίδα

The accent marks show which syllable is stressed.

So:

• Λαδώνω → stress on δώ
• αλυσίδα → stress on σί

Stress is important in Greek pronunciation and sometimes helps distinguish words or forms.

Yes. Λαδώνω comes from λάδι, which means oil.

So the verb literally means something like to oil or to put oil on.

This is a very common pattern in Greek: a noun can be related to a verb built from it.

Because the full form την is normally kept before a vowel, and αλυσίδα begins with α.

So:

• την αλυσίδα is correct

In modern Greek, the final -ν in words like την is often kept before vowels and certain consonants.

Yes. Greek word order is more flexible than English.

The neutral order here is:

• Λαδώνω την αλυσίδα.

But other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

• Την αλυσίδα λαδώνω.

That sounds more marked, as if you are emphasizing the chain.

So the given sentence is the most straightforward, neutral version.

It can mean either one, depending on context.

Greek present tense often works for both:

• I oil the chain
• I’m oiling the chain

If you need to know which one is meant, you usually look at the situation or surrounding sentences.

Yes. It is a complete and natural sentence.

It has:

• a verb: λαδώνω
• a direct object: την αλυσίδα

Greek often leaves out the subject pronoun, so this is perfectly normal everyday Greek.