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Despite what you have heard, Romanian grammar is actually quite easy to learn! This Grammar Section is designed to make learning the rules as quick as possible so you can start building your own sentences. Unlike other courses we want you to familiarise with the most important rules to speak Romanian immediately from today.

We use the Zagreb Method for teaching grammar. Instead of presenting grammar as abstract rules, we integrates it directly into real-life communication and scenarios. Our students are introduced to grammar through dialogues and situational context that reflect everyday interactions. The method also incorporates repetition and variation, gradually increasing the complexity of sentences to help learners internalize grammatical patterns naturally.

The sections below cover everything you need to know from basic sentence construction and verb conjugations to more complex topics like noun cases, gender agreements, together with practical examples to help you understand and memorise the Romanian grammar rules. Be sure to learn the core 2000 Romanian vocabulary first so you can follow the examples more easily.

Click on the titles below to reach the section you are interested in or simply start learning from the beginning.

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Romanian Alphabet

The Romanian language uses the Latin alphabet, consisting of 31 letters. It includes the standard 26 letters of the English alphabet, along with five additional letters that have diacritical marks: ă, â, î, ș, and ț. These special characters are essential for proper pronunciation and meaning in Romanian, as they often distinguish words that would otherwise look similar.

Vowels

Romanian has seven main vowels: a, e, i, o, u, ă, î/â. Each vowel has a distinct sound:

A: Pronounced like the "a" in "father."
Ă: Similar to the "a" in "sofa," but shorter.
Â/Î: These two letters sound the same and represent a unique Romanian sound, somewhat like the "i" in "sir," but more nasalized.
E: Like the "e" in "bet."
I: Similar to the "ee" in "see."
O: Like the "o" in "port."
U: Similar to the "oo" in "food."

Consonants with Special Pronunciations

Most Romanian consonants are pronounced similarly to their English counterparts. However, a few require special attention:

C: Before "e" or "i," it sounds like the "ch" in "church" (e.g., cer – sky). In other cases, it sounds like the "k" in "cat" (e.g., carte – book).
G: Before "e" or "i," it is pronounced like the "g" in "gem" (e.g., ger – frost). Otherwise, it sounds like the "g" in "go" (e.g., galben – yellow).
Ș: Pronounced like the "sh" in "shoe" (e.g., școală – school).
Ț: Similar to the "ts" in "cats" (e.g., țară – country).
H: Always pronounced as a soft "h," like in "hat" (e.g., hartă – map).

Stress and Intonation

In Romanian, word stress can significantly impact pronunciation and meaning. The stress typically falls on the penultimate (second-to-last) syllable, but there are many exceptions.

Nouns in Romanian

In Romanian, nouns are highly inflected, meaning they change form based on gender, number, and case. Understanding how nouns function in Romanian is essential for mastering the language, as they play a key role in sentence structure and meaning.

Gender of Nouns

Romanian nouns have three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Unlike English, where nouns do not have gender, Romanian nouns are classified by gender, which affects the articles, adjectives, and pronouns used with them.

Masculine nouns: These usually refer to male beings or objects considered grammatically masculine.
Example: băiat boy, copac tree
Feminine nouns: These refer to female beings or objects considered grammatically feminine.
Example: fată girl, floare flower
Neuter nouns: These behave like masculine nouns in the singular and feminine nouns in the plural.
Example: telefon phone, scaun chair

Knowing the gender of a noun is crucial because it determines the form of the articles and adjectives that accompany the noun.

Number of Nouns

Romanian nouns have two numbers: singular and plural. The plural form of nouns is formed by adding specific endings, depending on the noun's gender.

Masculine plurals often end in -i or -uri.
Example: băiat becomes băieți boys, copac becomes copaci trees
Feminine plurals usually end in -e, -i, or -uri.
Example: fată becomes fete girls, floare becomes flori flowers
Neuter plurals can end in -e, -i, or -uri, depending on the word.
Example: telefon becomes telefoane phones, scaun becomes scaune chairs

Irregular plurals exist in Romanian, so some nouns do not follow standard rules. These must be memorized as you encounter them.

Definiteness and Articles

Romanian has both definite and indefinite articles. Unlike in English, where the definite article (the) is placed before the noun, Romanian uses enclitic articles, meaning the definite article is attached to the end of the noun.

Indefinite article (a/an):
Masculine: un băiat a boy
Feminine: o fată a girl
Neuter: un telefon a phone
Definite article (the):
Masculine singular: băiatul the boy
Feminine singular: fata the girl
Neuter singular: telefonul the phone

In the plural, the definite articles are different:
Masculine plural: băieții the boys
Feminine plural: fetele the girls
Neuter plural: telefoanele the phones

Cases of Nouns

Romanian nouns have five cases: nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, and vocative. These cases indicate the noun’s role in the sentence, whether it is the subject, the object, or used to express possession, etc.

Nominative: Used for the subject of the sentence.
Example: Băiatul citește The boy is reading
Accusative: Used for the direct object of the sentence.
Example: Văd băiatul I see the boy
Genitive: Used to show possession.
Example: Cartea băiatului The boy’s book
Dative: Used to indicate the indirect object.
Example: Îi dau băiatului o carte I give the boy a book
Vocative: Used for direct address.
Example: Băiete, vino aici! Boy, come here!

Noun-Adjective Agreement

In Romanian, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case. This means that the form of the adjective changes depending on the noun.

Masculine singular: băiat frumos beautiful boy
Feminine singular: fată frumoasă beautiful girl
Neuter singular: telefon frumos beautiful phone
Masculine plural: băieți frumoși beautiful boys
Feminine plural: fete frumoase beautiful girls
Neuter plural: telefoane frumoase beautiful phones

Possession

Possession in Romanian is expressed using the genitive case, often with possessive adjectives or pronouns. The noun being possessed takes the genitive form, and the possessor follows in the genitive case.

Example:
Cartea profesorului The teacher’s book
Casa prietenului The friend’s house

Nouns Derived from Verbs

Many Romanian nouns are derived from verbs by adding specific suffixes. These nouns often describe actions or results of actions.

Example:
Verb: a scrie to write
Noun: scriere writing

Verb: a vorbi to speak
Noun: vorbire speech

Romanian, like other Romance languages, has a rich grammatical structure. One of its distinguishing features is the use of grammatical cases. Cases in Romanian indicate the role of a noun or pronoun within a sentence—whether it functions as a subject, direct object, indirect object, or possessive noun. Romanian has five cases: nominative, accusative, dative, genitive, and vocative.

1. Nominative Case – The Subject of the Sentence

The nominative case is used for the subject of a sentence or for predicates. It answers the questions "Who?" (cine?) or "What?" (ce?).
Examples:

Fata citește o carte – The girl is reading a book.
Copacul este înalt – The tree is tall.

In these examples, fata (the girl) and copacul (the tree) are in the nominative case because they are the subjects of their respective sentences.

2. Accusative Case – The Direct Object

The accusative case is used for the direct object of a sentence, answering the questions "Whom?" (pe cine?) or "What?" (ce?). It is often marked by the preposition pe when referring to specific or definite animate nouns.
Examples:

Văd pe băiat – I see the boy.
Cumpăr o floare – I am buying a flower.

In the first sentence, pe băiat (the boy) is in the accusative case because it is the direct object. The preposition pe is required because the object is a definite person. In the second example, o floare (a flower) is the direct object, but since it is indefinite and inanimate, no preposition is needed.

3. Dative Case – The Indirect Object

The dative case indicates the indirect object, answering the questions "To whom?" (cui?) or "For whom?" (pentru cine?).
Examples:

Îi dau o carte lui Andrei – I am giving a book to Andrei.
Am scris prietenului meu – I wrote to my friend.

In the first sentence, lui Andrei (to Andrei) is in the dative case, as it is the recipient of the action. In the second example, prietenului meu (to my friend) is also in the dative case, showing to whom the action of writing was directed. The dative is typically marked by the suffix -ului for masculine and neuter nouns and -ei for feminine nouns.

4. Genitive Case – Possession and Relationships

The genitive case expresses possession and relationships between nouns. It answers the questions "Whose?" (al cui?) or "Of what?" (a ce?).
Examples:

Cartea fetei este nouă – The girl’s book is new.
Culoarea florii este roșie – The color of the flower is red.

In the first sentence, fetei (of the girl) is in the genitive case, indicating possession of the book. In the second example, florii (of the flower) is in the genitive case, showing that the color belongs to the flower. Like the dative case, the genitive is also marked by specific endings: -ului for masculine and neuter nouns and -ei for feminine nouns.

Possessive adjectives in Romanian, such as meu (my), tău (your), său (his/her/its), nostru (our), and vostru (your), agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify.

5. Vocative Case – Direct Address

The vocative case is used when directly addressing someone or something. It often appears in spoken language and informal contexts. Vocative forms are sometimes accompanied by interjections such as o (oh) or hei (hey).
Examples:

Maria, vino aici! – Maria, come here!
Hei, prietene, ce faci? – Hey, friend, what are you doing?

Vocative forms can differ slightly from the nominative, especially for feminine nouns. For example, fată (girl) in the nominative becomes fato in the vocative when addressing someone directly.

Additional Notes on Case Usage

Prepositions and Cases: Many Romanian prepositions require specific cases. For example, cu (with) and fără (without) are followed by the accusative, while datorită (thanks to) and conform (according to) require the dative.
Definite and Indefinite Articles: In Romanian, the definite article is attached to the end of the noun (e.g., băiatul – the boy, floarea – the flower). The form of the article changes according to the case, gender, and number of the noun.
Pronouns and Cases: Personal pronouns in Romanian change form depending on the case. For example, the first-person singular pronoun eu (I) becomes mă (me) in the accusative and îmi (to me) in the dative.

Cases in Romanian

Articles in Romanian

In Romanian, articles are crucial for indicating the definiteness or indefiniteness of nouns. Unlike in English, Romanian articles are often attached to the end of the noun as enclitics (definite articles) or placed before the noun as separate words (indefinite articles). Let’s explore how these articles function.

Definite Articles (Articolele hotărâte)

In Romanian, definite articles are added to the end of the noun, unlike English, where they appear as a separate word ("the"). The form of the article depends on the noun’s gender, number, and case.

Examples:

băiatul (the boy) – masculine, singular
fata (the girl) – feminine, singular
cartea (the book) – feminine, singular
copiii (the children) – masculine, plural
casele (the houses) – feminine, plural

a. Masculine Singular:

un băiat (a boy) → băiatul (the boy)
un câine (a dog) → câinele (the dog)

b. Feminine Singular:

o fată (a girl) → fata (the girl)
o carte (a book) → cartea (the book)

c. Plural (Masculine and Feminine):

niște băieți (some boys) → băieții (the boys)
niște fete (some girls) → fetele (the girls)

Indefinite Articles (Articolele nehotărâte)

Indefinite articles in Romanian function similarly to those in English, indicating that the noun is unspecific. These articles are placed before the noun.

Examples:

un băiat (a boy) – masculine, singular
o fată (a girl) – feminine, singular
niște băieți (some boys) – masculine, plural
niște fete (some girls) – feminine, plural

a. Masculine Singular:

un băiat (a boy)
un profesor (a teacher)

b. Feminine Singular:

o fată (a girl)
o profesoară (a teacher - feminine)

c. Plural (for both genders):

niște copii (some children)
niște cărți (some books)

Gender-Specific Usage of Articles

Romanian nouns are categorized as masculine, feminine, or neuter, and this affects how articles are used:

Masculine nouns: Use un for indefinite singular and -ul for definite singular.
- Example: un cal (a horse) → calul (the horse)
Feminine nouns: Use o for indefinite singular and -a for definite singular.
- Example: o floare (a flower) → floarea (the flower)
Neuter nouns (which behave as masculine in singular and feminine in plural):
- Example: un scaun (a chair) → scaunul (the chair)
- Plural: niște scaune (some chairs) → scaunele (the chairs)

Articulated Nouns in Context

When nouns are modified by adjectives or are part of a prepositional phrase, the definite article remains attached to the noun, but other elements may appear in between.

Examples:

băiatul mare (the big boy)
cartea interesantă (the interesting book)
copiii din parc (the children in the park)

Demonstratives and Definite Articles

In Romanian, demonstrative pronouns (e.g., this, that, these, those) can appear with definite nouns to emphasize specificity.

Examples:

băiatul acesta (this boy)
fata aceea (that girl)
casele acestea (these houses)
copiii aceia (those children)

Adjectives in Romanian play a crucial role in describing nouns, expressing qualities, and providing details about objects, people, and concepts. Unlike English, where adjectives are invariable, Romanian adjectives must agree in gender, number, and sometimes case with the noun they modify. Below is an in-depth exploration of Romanian adjectives, their forms, and usage.

Gender and Number Agreement

Romanian adjectives agree in gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and number (singular, plural) with the noun they describe.

Masculine, Feminine, and Neuter Forms

Masculine adjectives typically end in a consonant or in -u in their base form.
Feminine adjectives generally end in -ă.
Neuter adjectives share the same form as masculine in the singular but take the feminine plural form.

Examples:

un băiat înalt (a tall boy)
o fată înaltă (a tall girl)
un copac înalt (a tall tree)
doi băieți înalți (two tall boys)
două fete înalte (two tall girls)
două copaci înalți (two tall trees)

Some adjectives remain invariable, meaning they do not change regardless of gender or number.

Examples:

un băiat trist, o fată tristă, doi băieți triști, două fete triste (a sad boy, a sad girl, two sad boys, two sad girls)
un copil inteligent, o fată inteligentă, doi copii inteligenți, două fete inteligente (a smart child, a smart girl, two smart children, two smart girls)

Adjective Placement

In Romanian, adjectives generally follow the noun, unlike in English, where they precede it. However, some adjectives may appear before the noun for emphasis or stylistic reasons.

Examples:

un oraș frumos (a beautiful city)
o carte interesantă (an interesting book)
un profesor bun (a good teacher)

When placed before the noun, adjectives can add emphasis or a poetic nuance.

Examples:

frumoasa fată (the beautiful girl)
dragul meu prieten (my dear friend)

However, only certain adjectives, particularly those indicating subjectivity or emotion, naturally precede the noun.

Comparative and Superlative Forms

Romanian adjectives have three degrees of comparison: positive, comparative, and superlative.

Comparative Degree

The comparative form is constructed using the following structures:

Comparative of superiority: mai + adjective + decât
- El este mai inteligent decât mine. (He is more intelligent than me.)
Comparative of equality: la fel de + adjective + ca
- Această casă este la fel de mare ca cealaltă. (This house is as big as the other one.)
Comparative of inferiority: mai puțin + adjective + decât
- Ea este mai puțin înaltă decât sora ei. (She is less tall than her sister.)

Superlative Degree

The superlative form has two types:

Relative Superlative (expressing highest or lowest degree within a group):
- Cel mai frumos băiat din clasă (The most handsome boy in the class)
- Cea mai inteligentă elevă (The smartest student (female))
- Cel mai puțin important subiect (The least important subject)
Absolute Superlative (expressing the highest degree possible without comparison):
- Este extrem de talentat. (He is extremely talented.)
- Este foarte frumoasă. (She is very beautiful.)
- Mâncarea este incredibil de gustoasă. (The food is incredibly tasty.)

Adjective Agreement with Definite and Indefinite Articles

In Romanian, adjectives take different forms when used with definite versus indefinite nouns.

Indefinite Form (Un, O)

When the noun is indefinite (not specifying a particular item), the adjective follows the standard form.

Examples:

un câine mare (a big dog)
o floare roșie (a red flower)

Definite Form (Cel, Cea, Cei, Cele)

When the noun is definite, adjectives take a different form using cel, cea, cei, cele before the adjective.

Examples:

câinele cel mare (the big dog)
floarea cea roșie (the red flower)
copiii cei cuminți (the well-behaved children)

This form is more formal or poetic and often appears in literature.

Irregular Adjectives

Some adjectives have irregular comparative and superlative forms.

Examples:

bun (good) → mai bun (better) → cel mai bun (the best)
rău (bad) → mai rău (worse) → cel mai rău (the worst)
mare (big) → mai mare (bigger) → cel mai mare (the biggest)
mic (small) → mai mic (smaller) → cel mai mic (the smallest)

Possessive Adjectives vs. Descriptive Adjectives

Possessive adjectives (my, your, his, etc.) follow the noun, while descriptive adjectives describe qualities.

Examples:

cartea mea frumoasă (my beautiful book)
mașina lui nouă (his new car)
prietena ta inteligentă (your intelligent friend)

Adjectives in Romanian

Pronouns are an essential part of Romanian grammar, as they help replace nouns and make sentences more fluid. Like other Romance languages, Romanian pronouns have different forms based on person, gender, number, and case.

Personal Pronouns

Personal pronouns indicate specific people or things. They change form depending on whether they are the subject, object, or possessive pronouns.

Subject Pronouns

These pronouns are used as the subject of a sentence. Romanian subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb conjugation already indicates the subject.

Eu – I
Tu – You (informal)
El – He
Ea – She
Noi – We
Voi – You (plural/informal)
Ei – They (masculine or mixed group)
Ele – They (feminine group)

Example sentences:

Eu vorbesc română. – I speak Romanian.
Ea citește o carte. – She is reading a book.
Noi mergem la piață. – We are going to the market.

Object Pronouns

Object pronouns are used when the pronoun receives the action of the verb. In Romanian, they can be either direct or indirect object pronouns.

Mă – Me
Te – You (informal)
Îl – Him/It (masculine direct object)
O – Her/It (feminine direct object)
Ne – Us
Vă – You (plural or formal)
Îi – Them (masculine direct object)
Le – Them (feminine direct object)

Example sentences:

Mă vezi? – Do you see me?
Îl ajutăm pe el. – We help him.
O iubesc. – I love her.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns indicate ownership and must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to.

Al meu / A mea / Ai mei / Ale mele – Mine
Al tău / A ta / Ai tăi / Ale tale – Yours (informal)
Al lui / A ei – His / Hers
Al nostru / A noastră / Ai noștri / Ale noastre – Ours
Al vostru / A voastră / Ai voștri / Ale voastre – Yours (plural or formal)
Al lor / A lor – Theirs

Example sentences:

Cartea aceasta este a mea. – This book is mine.
Casa este a lor. – The house is theirs.
Pixul este al lui. – The pen is his.

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive pronouns are used when the subject and object of the sentence are the same person. In Romanian, reflexive pronouns are often used with reflexive verbs.

Mă – Myself
Te – Yourself (informal)
Se – Himself / Herself / Itself / Themselves
Ne – Ourselves
Vă – Yourselves (plural or formal)

Example sentences:

Mă spăl pe mâini. – I wash my hands.
Te trezești devreme. – You wake up early.
Ei se pregătesc pentru examen. – They are getting ready for the exam.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns indicate specific objects or people, distinguishing them by distance or position relative to the speaker.

Acesta / Aceasta – This one (masculine / feminine)
Aceștia / Acestea – These ones (masculine / feminine)
Acela / Aceea – That one (masculine / feminine)
Aceia / Acelea – Those ones (masculine / feminine)

Example sentences:

Acesta este fratele meu. – This is my brother.
Aceea este profesoara mea. – That is my teacher.
Acestea sunt cărțile mele. – These are my books.

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns are used to ask questions about people or things.

Cine – Who
Ce – What
Care – Which
Cui – Whose

Example sentences:

Cine este acolo? – Who is there?
Ce faci? – What are you doing?
Care este al tău? – Which one is yours?
A cui este această carte? – Whose book is this?

Relative Pronouns

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses, providing additional information about a noun.

Care – Who / Which / That
Cine – Who (used without a specific antecedent)
Ce – What (used without a specific antecedent)
Cui – Whose

Example sentences:

Omul care vorbește este profesor. – The man who is speaking is a teacher.
Fata căreia i-am dat cadoul este verișoara mea. – The girl to whom I gave the gift is my cousin.
Ce spui este adevărat. – What you say is true.

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific people or things.

Cineva – Someone
Ceva – Something
Oricine – Anyone
Orice – Anything
Nimeni – No one
Nimic – Nothing

Example sentences:

Cineva a sunat la ușă. – Someone rang the doorbell.
Nu am văzut nimic. – I didn’t see anything.
Poți să iei orice vrei. – You can take anything you want.

Pronouns in Romanian

Prepositions in Romanian

Prepositions in Romanian, like in most languages, are words that link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence, typically indicating relationships of place, time, manner, cause, or possession. Prepositions are an essential part of Romanian grammar, and understanding how they work will help learners form more accurate and natural sentences.

Types of Prepositions in Romanian

1. Prepositions of Place

These prepositions indicate the position or location of a person or object in relation to something else. Common prepositions of place in Romanian include în, pe, lângă, sub, deasupra, and între.

în – in, inside
Example: El este în cameră. – He is in the room.
pe – on, over
Example: Cartea este pe masă. – The book is on the table.
lângă – near, next to
Example: Locuiesc lângă parc. – I live near the park.
sub – under, beneath
Example: Pisica este sub pat. – The cat is under the bed.
deasupra – above, over
Example: Lampa este deasupra mesei. – The lamp is above the table.
între – between
Example: Stă între prietenii lui. – He is sitting between his friends.

2. Prepositions of Time

These prepositions help indicate when an action occurs. Some of the most common Romanian prepositions of time include în, la, până la, and după.

în – in, during
Example: Ne vedem în ianuarie. – We will see each other in January.
la – at
Example: Ajungem la ora 10. – We will arrive at 10 o’clock.
până la – until
Example: Stăm până la miezul nopții. – We will stay until midnight.
după – after
Example: După cină mergem la plimbare. – After dinner, we will go for a walk.

3. Prepositions of Manner

Prepositions of manner describe how something is done. Common prepositions in this category include cu, fără, and prin.

cu – with
Example: Scriu cu stiloul. – I am writing with the pen.
fără – without
Example: Pleacă fără bagaj. – He is leaving without luggage.
prin – through, by
Example: Am mers prin pădure. – We went through the forest.

4. Prepositions of Cause and Purpose

These prepositions explain why something happens or for what purpose. Examples include din cauza, pentru, and ca să.

din cauza – because of
Example: Am întârziat din cauza traficului. – I was late because of traffic.
pentru – for
Example: Acesta este pentru tine. – This is for you.
ca să – in order to
Example: Am venit ca să învăț. – I came in order to learn.

Compound Prepositions

Romanian also uses compound prepositions, which are combinations of two or more words functioning as a single preposition. Some common examples are în fața, în spatele, în jurul, and în locul.

în fața – in front of
Example: Stăm în fața teatrului. – We are standing in front of the theater.
în spatele – behind
Example: Mașina este în spatele casei. – The car is behind the house.
în jurul – around
Example: Mergem în jurul orașului. – We are going around the city.
în locul – instead of
Example: Vorbește în locul meu. – He is speaking instead of me.

Prepositions Followed by Cases

In Romanian, many prepositions require specific cases (accusative, genitive, or dative) for the nouns or pronouns that follow them. This is an important feature of Romanian grammar and should be carefully observed by learners.

Accusative Prepositions

Many of the most common prepositions are followed by the accusative case, including pe, cu, fără, prin, and până la.

Example: El este pe scaun. – He is on the chair.

Genitive and Dative Prepositions

Certain prepositions, especially compound ones, require the genitive or dative case. These include în fața, în spatele, and în locul.

Example: Locuiește în spatele școlii. – He lives behind the school.

Adverbs are an essential part of Romanian grammar, as they modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, adding detail and nuance to sentences. Understanding their use will significantly improve your fluency in the Romanian language. Let’s explore the types, formation, and usage of adverbs in Romanian, along with examples.

Types of Adverbs in Romanian

Adverbs in Romanian can be categorized based on their function in the sentence. Here are the main types:

Adverbs of Manner
These describe how an action is performed.
Example:
- Ea cântă frumos. (She sings beautifully.)
- El lucrează atent. (He works carefully.)
Adverbs of Time
These indicate when an action takes place.
Example:
- Am plecat ieri. (I left yesterday.)
- Vom veni mâine. (We will come tomorrow.)
Adverbs of Place
These specify the location of an action.
Example:
- El este aici. (He is here.)
- Mergem acolo. (We are going there.)
Adverbs of Degree or Intensity
These modify the intensity of an adjective, another adverb, or a verb.
Example:
- Este foarte cald. (It is very hot.)
- Lucrează extrem de bine. (He works extremely well.)
Adverbs of Affirmation, Negation, or Doubt
These express certainty, denial, or uncertainty.
Example:
- Desigur, vin. (Of course, I’m coming.)
- Nu știu. (I don’t know.)
- Poate vor ajunge la timp. (Maybe they will arrive on time.)

Formation of Adverbs

In Romanian, adverbs can be simple (having a single form) or derived (formed from other parts of speech, such as adjectives).

a. Simple Adverbs
These adverbs have their own form and cannot be derived from other words.
Examples:

bine (well)
acum (now)
aproape (almost)

b. Adverbs Derived from Adjectives
To form an adverb from an adjective, you typically use the neuter singular form of the adjective.
Examples:

frumos (beautifully) – derived from frumos (beautiful)
rapid (quickly) – derived from rapid (quick)
clar (clearly) – derived from clar (clear)

Some adverbs are formed by adding suffixes like -ește or -ște to certain roots:

românește (in Romanian) – derived from român (Romanian)
franțuzește (in French) – derived from francez (French)

Position of Adverbs in a Sentence

The placement of adverbs in Romanian can vary depending on the type of adverb and the emphasis you want to create. Here are some general rules:

Adverbs of Manner usually follow the verb they modify.
Example:
- El vorbește clar. (He speaks clearly.)
Adverbs of Time can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence, depending on the emphasis.
Examples:
- Mâine vom pleca. (Tomorrow we will leave.)
- Vom pleca mâine. (We will leave tomorrow.)
Adverbs of Place generally follow the verb.
Example:
- Ei locuiesc aproape. (They live nearby.)

Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adverbs

Adverbs, like adjectives, can have comparative and superlative forms to show different degrees of intensity.

a. Comparative of Superiority
This is formed by adding mai before the adverb.
Example:

El aleargă mai repede. (He runs faster.)

b. Comparative of Equality
This is formed by using la fel de before the adverb.
Example:

El cântă la fel de frumos. (He sings as beautifully as…)

c. Comparative of Inferiority
This is formed by using mai puțin before the adverb.
Example:

El lucrează mai puțin eficient. (He works less efficiently.)

d. Superlative
This is formed by using cel mai before the adverb for superiority or cel mai puțin for inferiority.
Examples:

El aleargă cel mai repede. (He runs the fastest.)
El lucrează cel mai puțin eficient. (He works the least efficiently.)

Adverbial Phrases

Adverbial phrases consist of multiple words that function as an adverb. They often provide additional detail or emphasis.
Examples:

din când în când (from time to time)
cu siguranță (with certainty)
în mod clar (clearly)

Common Mistakes with Adverbs

Here are a few pitfalls to avoid when using adverbs in Romanian:

Using the wrong form of an adverb derived from an adjective.
Example of error:
- El cântă frumoasă. (Incorrect)
  Correct form:
- El cântă frumos. (He sings beautifully.)
Misplacing the adverb in a sentence.
Adverbs in Romanian are flexible, but their placement can change the emphasis. Pay attention to the intended meaning.
Confusing adverbs with adjectives.
Remember that adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun, while adverbs remain invariable.
Example:
- El este frumos. (He is handsome.) – adjective
- El cântă frumos. (He sings beautifully.) – adverb

Adverbs in Romanian

Present Tense in Romanian

The present tense, or timpul prezent, is one of the most fundamental verb tenses in Romanian. It is used to describe actions that are happening now, general truths, habitual actions, and sometimes future actions. This guide will cover its uses, conjugations, and provide examples for all personal pronouns.

Uses of the Present Tense

Current actions: To describe what is happening at the moment of speaking.
- Eu scriu o scrisoare I am writing a letter.
General truths or facts: To state universal or habitual truths.
- Soarele răsare la est The sun rises in the east.
Habitual actions: To describe actions done regularly.
- El merge la sală în fiecare zi He goes to the gym every day.
Future actions: Sometimes used to talk about events that will happen soon.
- Mâine plec la București Tomorrow I leave for Bucharest.

Conjugations of the Present Tense

Romanian verbs are grouped into three conjugations, based on the ending of the infinitive: -a, -e, and -i or -î. Below, we will illustrate the conjugation of verbs in the present tense for all personal pronouns.

First Conjugation: Verbs ending in -a

Let’s take the verb a cânta (to sing) as an example:

Eu cânt I sing.
Tu cânți You sing.
El/Ea cântă He/She sings.
Noi cântăm We sing.
Voi cântați You (plural) sing.
Ei/Ele cântă They sing.

Second Conjugation: Verbs ending in -e

Let’s take the verb a vedea (to see) as an example:

Eu văd I see.
Tu vezi You see.
El/Ea vede He/She sees.
Noi vedem We see.
Voi vedeți You (plural) see.
Ei/Ele văd They see.

Third Conjugation: Verbs ending in -i or -î

Let’s take the verb a vorbi (to speak) as an example:

Eu vorbesc I speak.
Tu vorbești You speak.
El/Ea vorbește He/She speaks.
Noi vorbim We speak.
Voi vorbiți You (plural) speak.
Ei/Ele vorbesc They speak.

For verbs ending in -î, like a urî (to hate), the conjugation is similar:

Eu urăsc I hate.
Tu urăști You hate.
El/Ea urăște He/She hates.
Noi urâm We hate.
Voi urâți You (plural) hate.
Ei/Ele urăsc They hate.

Special Notes

Stem changes: Some verbs have irregular stems in the present tense, such as a fi (to be):
- Eu sunt I am.
- Tu ești You are.
- El/Ea este He/She is.
- Noi suntem We are.
- Voi sunteți You (plural) are.
- Ei/Ele sunt They are.
Reflexive verbs: Reflexive verbs, like a se spăla (to wash oneself), follow similar conjugation patterns but require reflexive pronouns:
- Eu mă spăl I wash myself.
- Tu te speli You wash yourself.
- El/Ea se spală He/She washes himself/herself.
- Noi ne spălăm We wash ourselves.
- Voi vă spălați You (plural) wash yourselves.
- Ei/Ele se spală They wash themselves.

Examples in Context

Eu citesc o carte interesantă I am reading an interesting book.
Tu înveți limba română You are learning Romanian.
El lucrează la un proiect important He is working on an important project.
Noi ascultăm muzică clasică We are listening to classical music.
Voi studiați pentru examen You (plural) are studying for the exam.
Ei joacă fotbal în parc They are playing football in the park.

When learning Romanian, mastering the past tense is essential for effective communication. Romanian has several past tenses, but the most commonly used is the perfect compus, which corresponds to the simple past tense in English. In this detailed guide, we will cover how to form and use the perfect compus, along with plenty of examples and conjugations for all personal pronouns.

What is the Perfect Compus?

The perfect compus is used to describe completed actions in the past. It functions similarly to the English simple past and is formed using the present tense of the auxiliary verb "a avea" (to have) followed by the past participle of the main verb.

Example:
Am mâncat – I ate
Ai învățat – You learned

How to Form the Perfect Compus

To form the perfect compus, you need two components:

The conjugated present tense of "a avea" (to have)
The past participle of the main verb

The past participle remains the same regardless of the subject, but the auxiliary verb changes according to the subject pronoun.

Conjugation of "a avea" in the Perfect Compus

Here is how the auxiliary verb "a avea" is conjugated with all personal pronouns:

Eu am – I have
Tu ai – You have
El/Ea a – He/She has
Noi am – We have
Voi ați – You (plural) have
Ei/Ele au – They have

Forming the Past Participle

To form the past participle, Romanian verbs generally follow these patterns based on their infinitive endings:

Verbs ending in -a form the participle by replacing -a with -at
Exemplu:
a mânca – to eat → mâncat – eaten
Verbs ending in -ea form the participle by replacing -ea with -ut
Exemplu:
a avea – to have → avut – had
Verbs ending in -i form the participle by replacing -i with -it
Exemplu:
a vorbi – to speak → vorbit – spoken
Verbs ending in -î form the participle by replacing -î with -ât
Exemplu:
a hotărî – to decide → hotărât – decided

Examples with All Personal Pronouns

Let's see how different verbs are conjugated in the perfect compus with all personal pronouns:

Verb: a mânca (to eat)
- Eu am mâncat – I ate
- Tu ai mâncat – You ate
- El/Ea a mâncat – He/She ate
- Noi am mâncat – We ate
- Voi ați mâncat – You (plural) ate
- Ei/Ele au mâncat – They ate
Verb: a învăța (to learn)
- Eu am învățat – I learned
- Tu ai învățat – You learned
- El/Ea a învățat – He/She learned
- Noi am învățat – We learned
- Voi ați învățat – You (plural) learned
- Ei/Ele au învățat – They learned
Verb: a vorbi (to speak)
- Eu am vorbit – I spoke
- Tu ai vorbit – You spoke
- El/Ea a vorbit – He/She spoke
- Noi am vorbit – We spoke
- Voi ați vorbit – You (plural) spoke
- Ei/Ele au vorbit – They spoke

Usage of the Perfect Compus

The perfect compus is used in various contexts to describe:

Completed actions in the past
Am citit o carte – I read a book
Ei au terminat proiectul – They finished the project
Sequential actions in the past
Am intrat, am salutat și am așteptat – I entered, greeted, and waited
Repeated actions in the past
Am vizitat-o de mai multe ori – I visited her several times

Common Irregular Past Participles

While most Romanian verbs follow the regular patterns outlined above, some verbs have irregular past participles. Here are a few common irregular verbs:

a fi (to be) → fost – been
Exemplu: Am fost acolo – I was there
a spune (to say) → spus – said
Exemplu: El a spus adevărul – He told the truth
a face (to do/make) → făcut – done/made
Exemplu: Noi am făcut tema – We did the homework
a scrie (to write) → scris – written
Exemplu: Tu ai scris o scrisoare – You wrote a letter

Past Tense in Romanian

Future Tense in Romanian

The future tense in Romanian is used to express actions that will take place in the future. Just like in English, Romanian has several ways to express future actions. In this guide, we will focus on the most common form of the future tense, which uses the auxiliary verb „a avea” (to have) combined with the main verb in its infinitive form.

Structure of the Future Tense

To form the future tense, Romanian uses the auxiliary verb „a avea” conjugated according to the subject, followed by the infinitive form of the main verb. Below are the conjugations for all personal pronouns:

Eu voi merge – I will go
Tu vei merge – You will go
El/Ea va merge – He/She will go
Noi vom merge – We will go
Voi veți merge – You (plural) will go
Ei/Ele vor merge – They will go

Detailed Conjugations for All Personal Pronouns

Eu voi cânta – I will sing
Tu vei cânta – You will sing
El va cânta – He will sing
Ea va cânta – She will sing
Noi vom cânta – We will sing
Voi veți cânta – You (plural) will sing
Ei vor cânta – They (masculine) will sing
Ele vor cânta – They (feminine) will sing

Notice that the auxiliary verb changes depending on the personal pronoun, while the main verb stays in its infinitive form („cânta” – to sing).

Using the Future Tense in Sentences

Here are a few examples of the future tense in everyday Romanian sentences:

Eu voi învăța româna – I will learn Romanian
Tu vei scrie o scrisoare – You will write a letter
Ea va citi o carte – She will read a book
Noi vom vizita muzeul – We will visit the museum
Voi veți pregăti masa – You (plural) will prepare the meal
Ei vor vedea filmul – They (masculine) will watch the movie
Ele vor pleca mâine – They (feminine) will leave tomorrow

The Short Form of the Future Tense

In colloquial speech, Romanians often use a shortened form of the future tense. This form is created by attaching the auxiliary particle „o” (derived from „a avea”) directly to the main verb. Here's how it looks for each personal pronoun:

Eu o să merg – I will go
Tu o să mergi – You will go
El o să meargă – He will go
Ea o să meargă – She will go
Noi o să mergem – We will go
Voi o să mergeți – You (plural) will go
Ei o să meargă – They (masculine) will go
Ele o să meargă – They (feminine) will go

This construction is very common in spoken Romanian and informal writing, making it essential for learners who want to communicate naturally with native speakers.

Expressing Intentions Using „a urma să”

Another way to express future actions is by using the phrase „a urma să”, which means to be about to. This form indicates an intention or something that will happen soon.

Eu urmează să plec – I am about to leave
Noi urmează să ne întâlnim – We are about to meet
El urmează să înceapă proiectul – He is about to start the project

Time Expressions Commonly Used with the Future Tense

To clarify when an action will happen, Romanians often use specific time expressions with the future tense:

Mâine – Tomorrow
Peste o săptămână – In a week
Luna viitoare – Next month
Anul viitor – Next year
Curând – Soon

Here are a few examples:

Eu voi pleca mâine – I will leave tomorrow
Tu vei termina proiectul peste o săptămână – You will finish the project in a week
El va veni curând – He will come soon

Negation in the Future Tense

To form the negative in the future tense, simply add „nu” before the auxiliary verb:

Eu nu voi merge – I will not go
Ea nu va veni – She will not come
Noi nu vom pleca – We will not leave

In the short form, the negation follows a similar rule:

Eu nu o să merg – I will not go
Ei nu o să plece – They will not leave

Questions in the Future Tense

To form questions, invert the subject and the auxiliary verb:

Vei merge la școală? – Will you go to school?
Va veni mâine? – Will he/she come tomorrow?
Vom pleca acum? – Will we leave now?

In the short form, the question structure remains the same:

O să vii cu noi? – Will you come with us?
O să plece ei curând? – Will they leave soon?

The imperative mood in Romanian is used to express commands, requests, suggestions, or instructions. It is one of the simplest moods in Romanian because it usually has fewer forms than other moods, but it is essential for everyday conversation. Whether you're giving directions, offering advice, or asking someone to do something, mastering the imperative is key to communicating effectively.

In Romanian, the imperative has two main forms:

Affirmative imperative (used to tell someone to do something)
Negative imperative (used to tell someone not to do something)

Unlike other moods, the imperative is used primarily in the second person singular (tu) and second person plural (voi) forms, as commands are generally directed at someone directly.

However, the imperative can also be formed for the first person plural (noi) and third person (el, ea, ei, ele) to express collective suggestions or indirect commands.

Affirmative Imperative

The affirmative imperative is formed by taking the base form of the verb and applying specific endings, depending on whether the verb belongs to the -a, -e, or -i / -î conjugation group.

Second Person Singular (Tu)

For the second person singular (tu) form, the affirmative imperative is usually identical to the third person singular form of the present indicative for most verbs.

a cânta (to sing):
Cântă! Sing!
a scrie (to write):
Scrie! Write!
a veni (to come):
Vino! Come!

Second Person Plural (Voi)

For the second person plural (voi), the imperative form is the same as the present indicative form for voi.

Cântați! Sing!
Scrieți! Write!
Veniți! Come!

Negative Imperative

The negative imperative is formed by placing „nu” before the verb. In the second person singular, the verb remains in its infinitive form. In the second person plural, the verb is conjugated in the present indicative form, just like in the affirmative imperative.

Examples:

a cânta (to sing):
Nu cânta! Don’t sing! (tu)
Nu cântați! Don’t sing! (voi)
a scrie (to write):
Nu scrie! Don’t write! (tu)
Nu scrieți! Don’t write! (voi)
a veni (to come):
Nu veni! Don’t come! (tu)
Nu veniți! Don’t come! (voi)

Imperative for Other Personal Pronouns

While commands are most often given in the tu and voi forms, the imperative can also be used for noi, el/ea, and ei/ele in certain contexts.

First Person Plural (Noi)

The noi form of the imperative is used to suggest that a group, including the speaker, should do something. It corresponds to English expressions like "Let’s...".

Să cântăm! Let’s sing!
Să scriem! Let’s write!
Să venim! Let’s come!

Third Person Singular and Plural (El, Ea, Ei, Ele)

The imperative for el, ea, ei, ele is formed by using să followed by the subjunctive form of the verb. This is often used to give indirect commands or express wishes.

Să cânte! Let him/her sing! (el/ea)
Să scrie! Let him/her write! (el/ea)
Să vină! Let him/her come! (el/ea)
Să cânte! Let them sing! (ei/ele)
Să scrie! Let them write! (ei/ele)
Să vină! Let them come! (ei/ele)

Irregular Verbs in the Imperative

While most Romanian verbs follow regular patterns in the imperative, a few common verbs have irregular forms. It’s important to learn these as they are frequently used in everyday speech.

A fi (to be)

Fii! Be! (tu)
Fiți! Be! (voi)
Nu fi! Don’t be! (tu)
Nu fiți! Don’t be! (voi)

A avea (to have)

Ai! Have! (tu)
Aveți! Have! (voi)
Nu ai! Don’t have! (tu)
Nu aveți! Don’t have! (voi)

A face (to do, to make)

Fă! Do! / Make! (tu)
Faceți! Do! / Make! (voi)
Nu fă! Don’t do! / Don’t make! (tu)
Nu faceți! Don’t do! / Don’t make! (voi)

A spune (to say)

Spune! Say! (tu)
Spuneți! Say! (voi)
Nu spune! Don’t say! (tu)
Nu spuneți! Don’t say! (voi)

Polite Commands

In Romanian, you can make a command more polite by using the verb a putea (to be able to) in the conditional mood followed by the infinitive of the main verb.

Ai putea să cânți, te rog? Could you sing, please?
Ați putea să scrieți asta, vă rog? Could you write that, please?

Common Expressions with the Imperative

Here are some common Romanian expressions using the imperative mood:

Hai! Come on!
Stai! Stay!
Ascultă! Listen!
Priveste! Look!
Mergi! Go!
Ia! Take!
Dă-mi! Give me!
Lasă-mă! Leave me!
Taci! Be quiet!

Imperative in Romanian

Passive in Romanian

The passive voice in Romanian is an essential grammatical structure used to shift the focus from the doer of the action to the action itself or the recipient of the action. This structure is widely used in both spoken and written Romanian, especially in formal contexts, academic writing, and official documents. Understanding how to form and use the passive voice will greatly improve your fluency in Romanian.

Forming the Passive Voice in Romanian

The passive voice in Romanian is formed using the verb a fi (to be) in the required tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb. The past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject of the sentence.

Active voice: Maria scrie o scrisoare – Maria scrie (Maria writes) o scrisoare (a letter).
Passive voice: O scrisoare este scrisă de Maria – O scrisoare este scrisă (A letter is written) de Maria (by Maria).

In this example, the object of the active sentence, o scrisoare, becomes the subject of the passive sentence.

Conjugation of the Passive Voice

To fully understand the passive voice, let's explore how to conjugate it with different tenses and personal pronouns.

Present Tense

The present tense passive is formed with the present tense of a fi (to be) followed by the past participle of the main verb. The past participle changes according to the gender and number of the subject.

Eu sunt ajutat / ajutată – I am helped
Tu ești ajutat / ajutată – You are helped
El este ajutat / Ea este ajutată – He/She is helped
Noi suntem ajutați / ajutate – We are helped
Voi sunteți ajutați / ajutate – You (plural) are helped
Ei sunt ajutați / Ele sunt ajutate – They are helped

The past participle ajutat (helped) agrees with the subject:

Ajutat for masculine singular subjects
Ajutată for feminine singular subjects
Ajutați for masculine plural subjects
Ajutate for feminine plural subjects

Past Tense

The past tense passive is commonly formed using the imperfect or perfect compound tense of a fi, depending on the context.

Eu am fost ajutat / ajutată – I was helped
Tu ai fost ajutat / ajutată – You were helped
El a fost ajutat / Ea a fost ajutată – He/She was helped
Noi am fost ajutați / ajutate – We were helped
Voi ați fost ajutați / ajutate – You (plural) were helped
Ei au fost ajutați / Ele au fost ajutate – They were helped

Future Tense

In the future tense, the passive is formed using the future tense of a fi followed by the past participle.

Eu voi fi ajutat / ajutată – I will be helped
Tu vei fi ajutat / ajutată – You will be helped
El va fi ajutat / Ea va fi ajutată – He/She will be helped
Noi vom fi ajutați / ajutate – We will be helped
Voi veți fi ajutați / ajutate – You (plural) will be helped
Ei vor fi ajutați / Ele vor fi ajutate – They will be helped

Using the Agent in the Passive Voice

In Romanian, when we want to specify who performs the action in the passive voice, we use the preposition de (by).

Cartea este citită de profesor – Cartea este citită (The book is read) de profesor (by the teacher).
Scrisoarea a fost trimisă de Ana – Scrisoarea a fost trimisă (The letter was sent) de Ana (by Ana).

If the agent is not important or not specified, it can be omitted, which is common in Romanian:

Scrisoarea a fost trimisă – Scrisoarea a fost trimisă (The letter was sent).

Agreement in Gender and Number

In Romanian, the past participle used in the passive voice must always agree in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. This is a key feature that differentiates Romanian from other Romance languages.

Masculine singular: ajutat
Ex.: Băiatul a fost ajutat – Băiatul a fost ajutat (The boy was helped).
Feminine singular: ajutată
Ex.: Fata a fost ajutată – Fata a fost ajutată (The girl was helped).
Masculine plural: ajutați
Ex.: Băieții au fost ajutați – Băieții au fost ajutați (The boys were helped).
Feminine plural: ajutate
Ex.: Fetele au fost ajutate – Fetele au fost ajutate (The girls were helped).

Common Uses of the Passive Voice

The passive voice in Romanian is commonly used in the following contexts:

When the doer is unknown or irrelevant
Ușa a fost deschisă – Ușa a fost deschisă (The door was opened).
In formal writing
Proiectul va fi finalizat în curând – Proiectul va fi finalizat (The project will be completed) în curând (soon).
In scientific or technical contexts
Experimentul a fost realizat de cercetători – Experimentul a fost realizat (The experiment was carried out) de cercetători (by researchers).

In Romanian, the imperative has two main forms:

Affirmative imperative (used to tell someone to do something)
Negative imperative (used to tell someone not to do something)

Unlike other moods, the imperative is used primarily in the second person singular (tu) and second person plural (voi) forms, as commands are generally directed at someone directly.

However, the imperative can also be formed for the first person plural (noi) and third person (el, ea, ei, ele) to express collective suggestions or indirect commands.

Affirmative Imperative

The affirmative imperative is formed by taking the base form of the verb and applying specific endings, depending on whether the verb belongs to the -a, -e, or -i / -î conjugation group.

Second Person Singular (Tu)

For the second person singular (tu) form, the affirmative imperative is usually identical to the third person singular form of the present indicative for most verbs.

a cânta (to sing):
Cântă! Sing!
a scrie (to write):
Scrie! Write!
a veni (to come):
Vino! Come!

Second Person Plural (Voi)

For the second person plural (voi), the imperative form is the same as the present indicative form for voi.

Cântați! Sing!
Scrieți! Write!
Veniți! Come!

Negative Imperative

Examples:

a cânta (to sing):
Nu cânta! Don’t sing! (tu)
Nu cântați! Don’t sing! (voi)
a scrie (to write):
Nu scrie! Don’t write! (tu)
Nu scrieți! Don’t write! (voi)
a veni (to come):
Nu veni! Don’t come! (tu)
Nu veniți! Don’t come! (voi)

Imperative for Other Personal Pronouns

While commands are most often given in the tu and voi forms, the imperative can also be used for noi, el/ea, and ei/ele in certain contexts.

First Person Plural (Noi)

The noi form of the imperative is used to suggest that a group, including the speaker, should do something. It corresponds to English expressions like "Let’s...".

Să cântăm! Let’s sing!
Să scriem! Let’s write!
Să venim! Let’s come!

Third Person Singular and Plural (El, Ea, Ei, Ele)

The imperative for el, ea, ei, ele is formed by using să followed by the subjunctive form of the verb. This is often used to give indirect commands or express wishes.

Să cânte! Let him/her sing! (el/ea)
Să scrie! Let him/her write! (el/ea)
Să vină! Let him/her come! (el/ea)
Să cânte! Let them sing! (ei/ele)
Să scrie! Let them write! (ei/ele)
Să vină! Let them come! (ei/ele)

Irregular Verbs in the Imperative

While most Romanian verbs follow regular patterns in the imperative, a few common verbs have irregular forms. It’s important to learn these as they are frequently used in everyday speech.

A fi (to be)

Fii! Be! (tu)
Fiți! Be! (voi)
Nu fi! Don’t be! (tu)
Nu fiți! Don’t be! (voi)

A avea (to have)

Ai! Have! (tu)
Aveți! Have! (voi)
Nu ai! Don’t have! (tu)
Nu aveți! Don’t have! (voi)

A face (to do, to make)

Fă! Do! / Make! (tu)
Faceți! Do! / Make! (voi)
Nu fă! Don’t do! / Don’t make! (tu)
Nu faceți! Don’t do! / Don’t make! (voi)

A spune (to say)

Spune! Say! (tu)
Spuneți! Say! (voi)
Nu spune! Don’t say! (tu)
Nu spuneți! Don’t say! (voi)

Polite Commands

In Romanian, you can make a command more polite by using the verb a putea (to be able to) in the conditional mood followed by the infinitive of the main verb.

Ai putea să cânți, te rog? Could you sing, please?
Ați putea să scrieți asta, vă rog? Could you write that, please?

Common Expressions with the Imperative

Here are some common Romanian expressions using the imperative mood:

Hai! Come on!
Stai! Stay!
Ascultă! Listen!
Priveste! Look!
Mergi! Go!
Ia! Take!
Dă-mi! Give me!
Lasă-mă! Leave me!
Taci! Be quiet!

Negation in Romanian

Word Order in Romanian

Word order in Romanian is a fascinating topic because, while Romanian typically follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure similar to English, it is also quite flexible. This flexibility allows for variations in sentence structure, often for emphasis, style, or clarity. The word order can change without altering the basic meaning of a sentence, although nuances may shift depending on the structure.

Basic Word Order: Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)

In most declarative sentences, Romanian follows the SVO pattern, where the subject precedes the verb, and the verb precedes the object. This is the most neutral way to structure a sentence.

Example:
Maria citește o carte. Maria is reading a book.
Here, Maria is the subject, citește is the verb, and o carte is the object.

Another example:
Copiii mănâncă mere. The children are eating apples.

This word order is direct and clear, making it ideal for statements of fact or straightforward communication.

Inverted Word Order for Emphasis

In Romanian, you can change the order of words to emphasize a particular element of the sentence. The emphasized word is usually placed at the beginning.

Emphasizing the Object
When you want to highlight the object of a sentence, you can place it at the beginning.
Example:
O carte citește Maria. It is a book that Maria is reading.
By placing o carte at the start, the focus shifts to the fact that Maria is reading a book, rather than something else.
Emphasizing the Verb
To emphasize the action, you can bring the verb forward, though this is less common in modern Romanian.
Example:
Citește Maria o carte. Maria is indeed reading a book.
The sentence places more focus on the act of reading.

Questions and Word Order

In Romanian, yes/no questions do not require a change in word order; intonation alone often distinguishes a statement from a question.

Example:
Maria citește o carte? Is Maria reading a book?

However, when forming wh- questions, the question word typically comes at the beginning of the sentence.

Example:
Ce citește Maria? What is Maria reading?
Here, Ce (what) introduces the question, and the rest of the sentence follows the typical SVO order.

Another example:
Unde merg copiii? Where are the children going?

Word Order with Pronouns

Romanian has a distinctive feature when it comes to object pronouns. When the object is a pronoun, it usually appears before the verb.

Example:
Maria o citește. Maria is reading it.
Here, o (it) is placed before the verb citește.

In sentences with compound verbs (a modal verb plus an infinitive), the pronoun may attach to the modal verb or the infinitive.

Example:
Maria vrea să o citească. Maria wants to read it.
In this case, o is attached to the infinitive citească.

Word Order in Negative Sentences

In negative sentences, the negation particle nu precedes the verb.

Example:
Maria nu citește o carte. Maria is not reading a book.

If there is a pronoun object, it remains before the verb, but after the negation particle.

Example:
Maria nu o citește. Maria is not reading it.

Adjective Placement

In Romanian, adjectives typically follow the noun they modify, unlike in English, where adjectives generally precede the noun.

Example:
O carte interesantă. An interesting book.
Here, interesantă (interesting) comes after carte (book).

However, there are some exceptions where adjectives may precede the noun, especially in poetic or formal language, or when the adjective is used for emphasis.

Example:
Frumoasa fată. The beautiful girl.
This structure gives a more literary or poetic tone.

Prepositional Phrases and Adverbial Placement

Adverbs and prepositional phrases in Romanian are relatively flexible in their placement, although they typically follow the verb or the object they modify.

Example:
Maria citește o carte acum. Maria is reading a book now.
Here, acum (now) comes at the end of the sentence.

For emphasis, you can also place the adverb at the beginning.
Acum Maria citește o carte. Now Maria is reading a book.
This structure emphasizes the time frame (now) rather than the action or the subject.

Clauses and Complex Sentences

In complex sentences with multiple clauses, Romanian word order remains flexible, but conjunctions like că (that), dacă (if), and pentru că (because) introduce subordinate clauses.

Example:
Maria spune că citește o carte. Maria says that she is reading a book.
Here, că introduces the subordinate clause citește o carte (she is reading a book).

Another example:
Dacă citește o carte, Maria va învăța multe. If she reads a book, Maria will learn a lot.

Learning how to ask questions is a fundamental part of mastering any language, including Romanian. Being able to ask for information, clarification, or simply to continue a conversation is crucial for effective communication. In Romanian, questions can take various forms depending on what you want to ask, and they often involve interrogative pronouns, adverbs, and certain grammatical structures.

Basic Question Structure

In Romanian, a basic question can be formed by placing the subject after the verb or by adding an interrogative word at the beginning. Here are a few simple examples:

Mergi la școală? Are you going to school?
Vine el mâine? Is he coming tomorrow?
Ai mâncat? Did you eat?

In these examples, you can see that Romanian uses a similar word order to English when forming simple yes/no questions, but the intonation rises at the end of the sentence, signaling that it’s a question.

Interrogative Words

Romanian has several key interrogative words that are used to ask questions. Below is a list of the most common ones, along with example sentences:

Ce – What
- Ce faci? What are you doing?
- Ce vrei să mănânci? What do you want to eat?
Cine – Who
- Cine este acolo? Who is there?
- Cine a sunat? Who called?
Unde – Where
- Unde mergi? Where are you going?
- Unde locuiești? Where do you live?
Când – When
- Când pleci? When are you leaving?
- Când este ziua ta de naștere? When is your birthday?
De ce – Why
- De ce plângi? Why are you crying?
- De ce ai întârziat? Why were you late?
Cum – How
- Cum te simți? How do you feel?
- Cum ai ajuns aici? How did you get here?
Cât / Câtă / Câți / Câte – How much / How many
- Cât costă? How much does it cost?
- Câți oameni sunt aici? How many people are here?
Al cui / A cui / Ai cui / Ale cui – Whose
- A cui este cartea aceasta? Whose book is this?
- Ale cui sunt aceste chei? Whose keys are these?

Yes/No Questions

Yes/no questions in Romanian are often formed by simply changing the intonation of a declarative sentence. Unlike English, Romanian does not require auxiliary verbs such as "do" or "does" to form questions.

Este frumos afară? Is it nice outside?
Ai terminat de citit? Have you finished reading?
Vor merge cu noi? Will they go with us?

In these cases, you can answer with Da (Yes) or Nu (No), followed by a repetition of the verb for clarity:

Da, am terminat. Yes, I have finished.
Nu, nu vor merge. No, they will not go.

Alternative Questions

An alternative question in Romanian is formed by offering two or more options within the question itself, typically separated by the word sau (or).

Vrei ceai sau cafea? Do you want tea or coffee?
Mergem cu mașina sau cu trenul? Are we going by car or by train?

Tag Questions

Tag questions in Romanian are used in a way similar to English tag questions like "isn't it?" or "aren't they?" The most common tag question in Romanian is nu-i așa? (isn't it?).

Este frumos afară, nu-i așa? It’s nice outside, isn’t it?
Vei veni și tu, nu-i așa? You will come too, won’t you?

Another commonly used phrase is nu-i așa că, which emphasizes the expectation of agreement:

Nu-i așa că ești obosit? You’re tired, aren’t you?

Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are introduced by phrases such as vreau să știu (I want to know), mă întreb (I wonder), or poți să-mi spui (can you tell me).

Vreau să știu unde locuiești. I want to know where you live.
Mă întreb dacă va ploua. I wonder if it will rain.
Poți să-mi spui ce oră este? Can you tell me what time it is?

Special Expresasions for Asking Questions

There are some special expressions in Romanian that are commonly used to ask questions in different contexts:

Pot să...? – Can I...?
- Pot să intru? Can I come in?
- Pot să iau asta? Can I take this?
Îmi poți spune...? – Can you tell me...?
- Îmi poți spune unde este gara? Can you tell me where the train station is?
Ce părere ai despre...? – What do you think about...?
- Ce părere ai despre film? What do you think about the movie?

Asking Questions in Romanian

Relative Clauses in Romanian

Relative clauses are an essential component of Romanian grammar, as they allow speakers to provide more information about a noun without starting a new sentence. Relative clauses act as modifiers, describing or specifying the noun they are attached to. In Romanian, they are introduced by relative pronouns such as „care”, „ce”, „cui”, and „al cărui”. Understanding how to form and use relative clauses will greatly improve your ability to form complex sentences in Romanian.

Types of Relative Pronouns

„care” – who, which, that This is the most commonly used relative pronoun in Romanian. It can refer to people, animals, or things and does not change form based on gender or number. However, it agrees with the antecedent (the noun it refers to) in case.
Example:
- Fata care citește o carte este sora mea. The girl who is reading a book is my sister.
- Cartea care este pe masă este nouă. The book that is on the table is new.
„ce” – what, that which The pronoun „ce” is used to introduce a relative clause when the antecedent is implied rather than explicitly mentioned. It translates as what or that which.
Example:
- Spune-mi ce ai văzut. Tell me what you saw.
- Nu știu ce vrei să spui. I don’t know what you mean.
„cui” – whose, to whom „Cui” is used to indicate possession or indirect objects in relative clauses. It corresponds to whose or to whom in English.
Example:
- Omul cui i-am dat cartea este profesorul meu. The man to whom I gave the book is my teacher.
- Prietena cui îi aparține această geantă nu este aici. The friend whose bag this is, is not here.
„al cărui” / „a cărei” / „ai căror” / „ale căror” – whose This form is used when indicating possession, and it must agree in gender and number with the possessed noun, not the possessor.
Example:
- Băiatul al cărui frate este student a plecat. The boy whose brother is a student has left.
- Fata a cărei carte am împrumutat-o nu este acasă. The girl whose book I borrowed is not home.

Word Order in Romanian Relative Clauses

In Romanian, the word order of a relative clause typically mirrors that of a standard sentence: subject + verb + object. The relative pronoun is placed at the beginning of the relative clause, immediately following the noun it describes.

Example:

Casa care este mare aparține familiei mele. The house that is large belongs to my family.
Profesorul care predă matematica este strict. The teacher who teaches mathematics is strict.

Omitting the Relative Pronoun

In some informal or spoken contexts, the relative pronoun may be omitted in English (e.g., The book I read was good), but in Romanian, omitting the relative pronoun is not possible. A relative pronoun must always be present in Romanian sentences.

Example:

Am văzut filmul care mi-a plăcut mult. I saw the movie (that) I liked a lot.
(Note that in Romanian, the relative pronoun „care” cannot be omitted, even though it can be in English.)

Relative Clauses with Prepositions

When the relative clause requires a preposition (e.g., about whom, with which), the preposition is placed before the relative pronoun.

Example:

Omul despre care vorbeam a sosit. The man about whom we were talking has arrived.
Cartea pe care o căutai este aici. The book you were looking for is here.

Relative Clauses with Indefinite Antecedents

Sometimes, relative clauses can refer to indefinite pronouns such as „tot” (everything), „nimic” (nothing), or „ceva” (something). In these cases, „ce” is commonly used as the relative pronoun.

Example:

Spune-mi tot ce știi. Tell me everything you know.
Nu am înțeles nimic din ce ai spus. I didn’t understand anything you said.

Common Mistakes with Relative Clauses

Incorrect agreement between the relative pronoun and the antecedent:
Remember that „care” must match the antecedent in case, not in gender or number.
Incorrect: Băiatul carei carte am citit-o este aici.
Correct: Băiatul al cărui carte am citit-o este aici. The boy whose book I read is here.
Omitting the relative pronoun:
Unlike in English, you cannot omit the relative pronoun in Romanian.
Incorrect: Am văzut filmul mi-a plăcut mult.
Correct: Am văzut filmul care mi-a plăcut mult. I saw the movie that I liked a lot.

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