The Agent Phrase (από + Accusative)

When you DO name who did it, Greek uses the AGENT phrase από + the ACCUSATIVE: «Το φαγητό ετοιμάστηκε από τη μητέρα» (the food was prepared by the mother - English “by” = Greek από). από governs the accusative just as it does in its “from” sense, so the article and noun take accusative form (από τον δάσκαλο, από τη μητέρα, από το παιδί). But Greek reaches for the passive far LESS than English: when the doer is known and ordinary, Greek prefers the plain active with a vague subject - «Ετοίμασαν το φαγητό» (they prepared the food) rather than a passive. Use the passive when the RECEIVER matters most, the doer is unknown or unimportant, or the register is formal; otherwise the active is more natural.