"The child has a life"

Translation: Το παιδί έχει ζωή

[evalon0711]

Weher is the 'a' ?

[jaye16]

In Greek the "a/an/one" is only added for emphasis but most sentences do not use it. It's just standard difference of language use. Thanks for the question and the chance to explain it.

[darkomega950]

I know this is old, but to elaborate the indefinite article is only added when where can be posses than one of whatever is being stated (When talking about possession). So, one can't have more than one ζωή, so the indefinite article is dropped.

[jaye16]

The expression is "have a life" and does not refer to the fact that one is living (not dead) but that the person has interests and activities. Here are some links with other examples where we use the indefinite article with "life".

.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/have-a-life
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=having%20a%20life

Also, very common is " get a life"
Get a Life | WordReference Forums

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/get-a-life

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_a_life_(idiom)

[DuoSmeagol]

How would you translate the idiom "cats have nine lives"?

[troll1995]

We say Οι γάτες είναι εφτάψυχες = cats have seven souls.

[Blunder9]

I understand your answer, but this specific sentence to translate seems to intentially emphasises the "a" life, as opposed to other times saying only "he has life." Therefore I think it's inapropriate to mark it wrong for adding "ένα".

[jaye16]

It seems you didn't understand my comment. In English the fixed expression is "a life" in Greek we don't use the "a" /"ένα".

[LizzieDoesGreek]

Oh thats really helpful! Thanks!

[Commander_Wulf]

Good for him :)

[Brandon44482]

Wholesome comment among the madness (=

[Lioara7]

Why Το παιδί έχει μια ζωή is not accepted as a correct solution? Isn't it one?

[jaye16]

It's accepted now but is not standard Greek. This is a case where the article is not needed and sounds more natural.

[Lioara7]

Thanks for your response. So, in standard Greek one would say "Αυτός είναι γιατρός" to say someone is a doctor, but not "Αυτός είναι ένας γιατρός"? And what about "He is a good doctor"? It's "Αυτός είναι καλός γιατρός", without the article?

[jaye16]

Yes, just as you say. And even with "good" etc. :-))

[JoChrysant1]

Ιm happy they have :)

[PorkezPork]

Whats the difference between ζωή and ζωής?

[troll1995]

Ζωής is genitive, it means "life's" or "of the life".