Η μεζούρα είναι στην τσάντα.

to be

Breakdown of Η μεζούρα είναι στην τσάντα.

• σε: in
• η τσάντα: the bag
• η μεζούρα: tape measure

Questions & Answers about Η μεζούρα είναι στην τσάντα.

Why does the sentence start with Η?

Η is the feminine singular definite article, so here it means the.

• η μεζούρα = the measuring tape / the measuring cup (depending on context)
• It is capitalized here only because it is the first word of the sentence.
• In the middle of a sentence, it would normally be written η.

Why is μεζούρα used with η and not ο or το?

Because μεζούρα is a feminine noun in Greek.

Greek nouns have grammatical gender, and the article has to match the noun:

• ο = masculine the
• η = feminine the
• το = neuter the

So:

• η μεζούρα = correct
• ο μεζούρα or το μεζούρα = incorrect

A lot of feminine nouns end in -α, as μεζούρα does, though endings are only a clue, not a perfect rule.

What does είναι mean here, and why doesn’t it change for it is?