Can You Speak

Romanian?
(I can!)

Această carte include You Can Speak Romanian! (More Good) de către Elder Shaughnessy şi “The
Danny Dorr Book” de către Danny Dorr cu corectări şi adaugări de către Elder Berlin în timp ce el se
plictisea lui la birou.
…Odihnească-se în pace…, fraţilor!

Cartea imbunătătită, organizată, corectată, şi numită încă o dată de către Elder Barclay
spre a fi o unealtă cât mai productiva în mâinile acelor misionari care o folosesc
(Pictura adaugată de către Elder Bailey care slujea impreaună cu dânsul)

1
 Table of Contents
Using YCSR(MG)

Abbreviations......................................................................................................................... 4

Tenses

Present Tense......................................................................................................................... 5
Future Tense.......................................................................................................................... 7
Future Perfect Tense.............................................................................................................. 9
Future In the Past Tense........................................................................................................ 10
Perfect (Compound) Past Tense............................................................................................ 11
Imperfect Past Tense.............................................................................................................. 12
Pluperfect Tense.................................................................................................................... 14
Simple (Historic) Past Tense................................................................................................. 16

The Basics
Nouns, Definization, Articles and Pluralization................................................................... 19
Possession............................................................................................................................. 21
Dative Possession................................................................................................................. 23
Prepositions........................................................................................................................... 24
Conjunctions......................................................................................................................... 26
Adjectives.............................................................................................................................. 28
Adverbs and Adverbial Structures........................................................................................ 29
Comparative and Superlative................................................................................................ 31
Pronouns................................................................................................................................ 32
Reflexive Pronouns (Însuşi & Sine)...................................................................................... 34
Demonstrative Pronouns........................................................................................................ 35
All Other Pronouns................................................................................................................ 36

Moods and Cases

Subjunctive Mood.................................................................................................................. 39
Optative-Conditional Mood................................................................................................... 41
Presumptive Mood................................................................................................................. 44
Imperative Mood................................................................................................................... 46
Infinitive Mood...................................................................................................................... 48
Gerund Mood......................................................................................................................... 50
Supine Mood.......................................................................................................................... 52
Passive Voice......................................................................................................................... 53
Nominative Case.................................................................................................................... 18
Vocative Case........................................................................................................................ 54

Numbers

Cardinal Numerals................................................................................................................. 55
Ordinal Numerals.................................................................................................................. 57
Collective Numerals.............................................................................................................. 59
Distributive & Adverbial Numeral........................................................................................ 60
Multiplicative & Functional Numeral................................................................................... 61
Numeral Application............................................................................................................. 62
Expressing Time.................................................................................................................... 63
Expressing Dates................................................................................................................... 64

2
The Trickier Things

Usage of „Pe”........................................................................................................................ 65
Double Expression................................................................................................................ 67
Phonetic Mutations................................................................................................................ 69
Correct Pronunciation & Accentuation................................................................................. 71
Accusative VS. Dative........................................................................................................... 73
Correct Verb Usage............................................................................................................... 74
Common Noun Mismatches.................................................................................................. 77
General Tips and Mistakes.................................................................................................... 79

Verbs

Key to Verb List Symbols...................................................................................................... 83

Drop A Verb List................................................................................................................... 84
EZ Verb List.......................................................................................................................... 87
Drop I Verb List.................................................................................................................... 90
ESC Verb List....................................................................................................................... 91
E Verb List............................................................................................................................ 94
EA Verb List......................................................................................................................... 97
I Verb List (Drop I add Ă).................................................................................................... 98
A Verb (U-I-A Conjugations)............................................................................................... 99
ĂSC Verb List...................................................................................................................... 100
Drop Î Verb List.................................................................................................................... 101
IA Verb List.......................................................................................................................... 102
UI Verb List........................................................................................................................... 103
ĂI Verb List........................................................................................................................... 104
Âi Verb List........................................................................................................................... 105
Irregular Verb List................................................................................................................. 106

Idioms and Expressions

Proverbs and Idioms............................................................................................................... 108

Expressions............................................................................................................................. 109
Informal verb usages.............................................................................................................. 110

3
 Abbreviations
Here are some important abbreviations that will be used throughout the course of this book.

(-a) = Drop „A” Verb

(ez) = „EZ” Verb
(-i) = Drop „I” Verb
(esc) = „ESC” Verb
(-î) = Drop „Δ Verb
(ăsc) = „ĂSC” Verb
(Irr.) = Irregular Verb
p.p. = Past participle
inf. = infinitive
nom. = nominative
d.o. = direct object
i.o. = indirect object
emp. = emphasis
per. = person
acc. = accusative
dat. = dative
ref. = reflexive
adj. = adjective
adv. = adverb
s. = subject

_____|_____ = This is the „6-pack” that you have all come to know and love from
_____|_____ the MTC. If you don’t know how this thing works… sigh, I guess I
| can put that in as well.

Eu | Noi I | We
Tu | Voi/Dvs. You | You
El/Ea | Ei/Ele He/She/It | They

m = masculine
f = feminine
n = neuter
s. = singular
pl. = plural

Declension
(1) = adjectives that only have 1 form
(2a) = adjectives having 2 forms: 1 s., 1 pl.
(2b) = adjectives having 2 forms: 1 m s. and m and f pl., 1 f s.
(2c) = adjectives having 2 forms: 1 m s. and pl., 1 f s. and pl.
(2d) = adjectives having 2 forms: 1 m s. and f s. and pl., 1 m pl.
(3a) = adjectives having 3 forms: 1 m s., 1 f s. , 1 m pl. and f pl.
(3b) = adjectives having 3 forms: 1 m s., 1 m pl., 1 f s. and pl.
(4) = adjectives having 4 forms

dvs. = dumneavoastră

4
 Present Tense
There is only one present tense in Romanian, which takes the place of both the simple present and the
continuous present in English.

The general rules are:

A (-)
Take the infinitive (spre exemplu: „a ajuta”) drop the last „a" and add the corresponding ending to the
matching subject.

- | ăm
i | aţi
ă | ă
A (ez)
Same rules as (-a) but with different endings.

ez | ăm
ezi | aţi
ează | ează

Note* If verb ends in „ia,” than the pl. 1st person has a slightly different ending, instead of „ăm” the ending
is „em,” for example: „a studia” becomes „Noi studiem.”

I (-)
Take the infinitive (spre exemplu: „a fugi”) drop the last „i” and add the corresponding ending to the
matching subject.

- | im
i | iţi
e | -
I (esc)
Same rules as (-i) but with different endings.
esc | im
eşti | iţi
eşte | esc

E
Take the infinitive (spre exemplu: „a merge”) drop the last „e” and add the corresponding ending to the
matching subject. Many morphological changes. Beware.
- | em
i | eţi
e | -
EA
Take the infinitive (spre exemplu: „a vedea”) drop the last „ea” and add the corresponding ending to the
matching subject. NOTE! There are many morphological changes with these kinds of verbs.
- | em
i | eţi
e | -
Î (-)
Take the infinitive (spre exemplu: „a coborî”) drop the last „î” and add the corresponding ending to the
matching subject.
- | âm
i | âţi
ă | ă
Î(ăsc)
Same rules as (-î) but with different endings. (spre exemplu: „a urâ”)
ăsc | âm
ăşti | âţi
ăşte | ăsc

5
Irregular
Well, you’re just going to have to memorize these. No rules that can really apply to all of them, so practice
makes perfect. The fun part is, is that almost all of these verbs are the most important verbs to know.

a fi – to be a vrea – to want a avea – to have a da – to give

sunt | suntem vreau | vrem am | avem dau | dăm
eşti | sunteţi vrei | vreţi ai | aveţi dai | daţi
este | sunt vrea | vor are | au dă | dau

a mânca – to eat a lua – to take a sta – to stay a bea – to drink

mănânc | mâncăm iau | luăm stau | stăm beau | bem
mănânci | mâncaţi iei | luaţi stai | staţi bei | beţi
mănâncă| mănâncă ia | iau stă | stau bea | beau

a vinde – to sell a se naşte – to be born a şti – to know

vând | vindem mă nasc | ne naştem ştiu | ştim
vinzi | vindeţi te naşti | vă naşteţi ştii | ştiţi
vinde | vând se naşte | se nasc ştie | ştiu

a cunoaşte – to know (someone)

cunosc | cunoaştem
cunoşti | cunoaşteţi
cunoaşte | cunosc

Uses of the Present

1. Established truth or typical action

(Păsările zboară – Birds fly) (Blondele nu sunt prea deştepte – Blondes are not too smart)
(Luna este satelitul pământului – The moon is the satellite of the earth)
2. Long term or customary state.
(El stă acasă – He stays home)
3. Actions begun in the past which continue into the present.
(Sunt aici de doi ani – I’ve been here for 2 years)
(Vin la biserica de zece ani – I’ve been coming to church for ten years)
(Fumează din anul 1960 – He has been smoking since 1960)
4. Repeated-Repetitive actions.
(Autobuzele circulă zilnic – The buses run daily)
5. Actions in progress at the moment of speaking.
(Ce faci? Citesc – What are you doing? I’m reading)
6. Actions in the past rendered more vividly by the present.
(La 4 iulie 1776 America îşi declară independenţa – On July 4th, 1776 America declares its’ independence)
7. Soft imperative commands.
(Acum mănânci grişul şi după aceea te duci şi te culci – Now, you eat your oatmeal then you get right up to bed.)
8. Future action that is absolutely certain.
(Mâine mergem la cinema – Tomorrow, we are going to the movie theater)
9. A question about a future action.
(Unde mergem mâine? – Where are we going tomorrow?)

6
 Future Tense
There are three ways to form the future in Romanian. The first is the most common and correct, while the latter
two are more colloquial.

1. Indicators – Theses are the equivalent of „will” in English.

voi | vom
vei | veţi
va | vor
The general pattern is:
Subject + pronouns + indicator + verb inf.

Examples:
Eu îţi voi spune mâine – I will tell you tomorrow
Noi vom merge la circ – We’ll go to the circus
Pe acestea mi-le vei da? – Will you give these to me?

Only the following adverbs may come between the indicator and the verb:
„mai, şi, cam, tot, prea”

Examples:
Vom mai vorbi – We will talk some more
Dacă veţi face curăţenie, veţi şi spăla rufele? – If you’ll clean, will you do the laundry, too?
Cu toate că tu esti mai mare decât mine, însa te tot pot bate! – Although you are bigger than me, I can
still beat you up.

2. „O să” – The equivalent of „to be going to” in English.

The general pattern is:

Subject + „o să” + pronouns + verb subjunctive

Examples:
O să merg la circ mâine – I’m going to go to the circus tomorrow
N-o să ne mai vedem niciodată – We aren’t going to see each other again!
N-o să ne mai auzim niciodată –We aren’t going to hear each other again!
Ele o să vadă tot oraşul – They are going to see the whole city
Ea o să meargă cu mine la circ – She is going with me to the circus

Note* Avoid using the „o să” in public speeches or when speaking in formal settings. It used much more
colloquially. Use „a avea să” instead.

3. „A avea să” This is a less certain form of „to be going to” in English.

The general pattern is:

Subject + „a avea să” (conjugated to match subject) + pronouns + verb subjunctive

Examples:
Am să merg la circ mâine – I’m going to the circus tomorrow
Ai să vii cu mine? – Are you going to come with me?
Ea nu are să vină – She isn’t going to come
Ele au să se mai întâlnească – They are going to meet again

The order of the indicator and p.p. may be altered for poetic effect.

Example:
Pământul, gradina edenului fi-va – The earth, the Garden of Eden will be

Forms of the 1st & 2nd person plural are seldom used. The others are used but less frequent than „o să.” It implies
an intention of doing something.

7
Uses of the Future

1. An action that will take place after the moment of speaking

(Mă voi duce acasă peste 9 transferuri – I will go home after 9 transfers)
2. The continuous future
(Până ce vii, te voi aştepta – I’ll be waiting for you until you come)
3. Sequence of future events
(După ce vei afla adevărul, te vei linişti – Once you know the truth, you’ll calm down)
*Notice how future is used both times in Romanian whereas present is used one of the two in English*
4. An action subsequent to a past action
(Am ştiut că vei şti răspunsul – I knew you would know the answer)
(El a spus că va veni la biserică – He said he would come to church)
5. Softened requests
(Vă vom ruga să nu fumaţi – We will ask you to not smoke)
6. Imperative, depending on the situation
(Te vei duce acasă şi vei spăla vesele! – You will go home and you’ll wash the dishes!)

8
 Future Perfect Tense
The Future Perfect Tense is not heard much in spoken Romanian, but can be used in certain contexts. It’s purpose is
to Indicate a future action that will be completed before another future action. (Approximately „will have” in
English.)

The general pattern is:

Subject + Pronouns + Future Tense Indicator + „fi” + Past Participle

Examples:
Când vor ajunge la gară, eu le voi fi cumpărat biletele – When they arrive at the station, I will have bought their
tickets
Atunci toate necazurile lor nu vor mai fi fost decât o amintire în trecut – Then all their troubles will have been
nothing more than a memory
Colegul ne va fi anunţat rezultatul când va telefona Andrei – Our colleagues will have announced the result
to us when Andrei calls

The future perfect may also take on a model value to indicate a probable, possible, or presumed state or action
in a remote past.

Examples:
Cândva pe aici vor fi alergat cai sălbatici, acum se înalţă zgârie-nori – Once wild horses may have run here
where now are sky scrapers
Odinioară acolo se vor fi înălţat munţi, acum sunt oceane adânci, albastre – Long ago high mountains might
have been there, now there are deep blue oceans

The future perfect isn’t used very often in standard speech, because it only is used in very specific circumstances.
For general use, the simple future tense is used.

Examples:
Voi cumpăra biletele – I will buy the tickets
Voi fi cumpărat biletele – I will have bought the tickets
Când termină el această ultimă felie de pizza, el va fi mâncat o pizza întreagă astăzi. – When he finishes this
last piece of pizza, he will have eaten a whole pizza today.
Dupa ce alerg la acest concurs, voi fi alergat la trei concursuri anul acesta. – After running in this race, I will
have ran in three races this year.

A more colloquial way of using this tense with these examples would be:
Dupa ce alerg şi la acest concurs, (o să) pot să spun că am alergat la trei concursuri anul acesta – After running
in this race, I will be able to say that I have run in 3 races this year.

9
 Future In The Past Tense
Although the relationship between a past action and another action in the more distant past is usually rendered by
the simple future, there does exist a tense to show this in a more literary style. This refers to actions in the „future”
from a past point of view.

The general pattern is:

Subject + aveam | aveam + „să” + pronouns + verb subjunctive

aveai | aveaţi
avea | aveau

Examples:
Joseph Smith a aflat că el avea să devină un profet
Joseph Smith found out that he was going to become a prophet
Joseph Smith a aflat că el va deveni un profet

N-am ştiut că prietenii mei aveau să vină

I didn’t know that my friends would come
N-am ştiut că prietenii mei vor veni

Mai târziu aveam să aflu că ea m-a minţit

Later I would find out that she lied to me
Mai târziu am aflat că ea mă minţise

In place of „a avea,” „a urma” may be used with similar effect.

Examples:
Moroni a îngropat plăcile într-un deal unde Joseph Smith urma să le găsească dupa o mie de ani
Moroni hid the plates in a hill where Joseph Smith would find them over a thousand years later

El mi-a spus că avea să vină, însa nu l-am văzut de atunci

He told me that he was going to come, but I haven’t seen him since then.

Noi aveam (de gând) să mergem la gară dupa prânz, dar ceva a intervenit
We were going to go to the train station after lunch, but something came up.

10
 Perfect (Compound) Past Tense
The perfect past is used for actions completed in the past. It is made up of two parts: the past tense indicator and
the past participle of the verb. They generally are not separated, although there are a few exceptions.

Past Tense Indicators am | am

ai | aţi
a | au
Past participles:
„A” verbs – add „t” to the infinitive (a ruga - rugat)
„I” verbs – add „t” to the infinitive (a citi - citit)
„EA” verbs – drop „ea” and add „ut” (a tăcea - tăcut)
„Δ verbs – drop „î” and add „ât” (a târî - târât)
„E” verbs: drop „e” and…
1. then if the letter before the last 2nd to last letter in the infinitive is a vowel, add
„ut”
(a trece - trecut)
2. drop the final consonant, and add „s” (a merge - mers)
3. drop the final consonant, and add „t” (a fierbe - fiert)

Many verbs (especially „EA” verbs) will undergo phonetic changes in the p.p. (a vedea – văzut, a cădea – a căzut,
a bate - bătut).

When pronouncing, emphasis is always on the final vowel.

The general pattern is:

Subject + Pronouns + Indicators + p.p.

Examples:
N-am spus nimic – I didn’t say anything
Au mâncat întregul tort! – They ate the entire cake!

Most pronouns come before the indicator and take on a shortened form (except for s. acc. f pronoun „o,”
which comes after the p.p.)

Examples:
Tu l-ai văzut – You saw him
Mi-am amintit de ceva – I remembered something
Tu ai văzut-o (pe ea) – You saw her

Certain adverbs may also come between the indicator and p.p.
These are: mai, şi, cam, tot, prea

Example:
De atunci nu ne-am mai vorbit – We haven’t spoken since then

Unlike in English, the original tense of an utterance or statement is retained in reported speech in Romanian.

Examples:
Am citit că el a murit – I read that he had died (Before you read it)
Ei au spus că vor merge – They said that they would go (Sometime after he said it)
Ea a răspuns că este bine – She said that she is ok (When she said it)

Uses of the Perfect Past

1. Completed actions in the past
(Am mers la cumpărături ieri – I went shopping yesterday)
2. Present perfect in English, right up to the moment of speaking.
(N-am văzut-o de doi ani – I haven’t seen her in two years)
(N-am auzit nimic de la ei din 1970 – I haven’t heard anything from them since 1970)

11
(Am lucrat mult săptămâna aceasta – I’ve been working a lot this week)

12
 Imperfect Past Tense
The imperfect past is a story telling tense. It generally indicates a state of being or an event over a period of time in
the past.

„EA,” „E,” „I” verbs – drop the final vowel(s) and add – eam | eam
eai | eaţi
ea | eau

„A,” „Î,” - drop the final vowel and add – am | am

ai | aţi
a | au

„I” verbs ending in a vowel and„I” – simply add „A,” „Δ verbs endings

Irregular verbs have special imperfect stems, and will take „A,” „Î,” verb endings

Examples:

a tăcea – to shut up a râde – to laugh a citi – to read

tăceam | tăceam râdeam | râdeam citeam | citeam
tăceai | tăceaţi râdeai | râdeaţi citeai | citeaţi
tăcea | tăceau râdea | râdeau citea | citeau

a visa – to dream a târâ – to drag a sui – to climb

visam | visam târam | târam suiam | suiam
visai | visaţi târai | târaţi suiai | suiaţi
visa | visau târa | târau suia | suiau

a fi – to be a da – to give a şti – to know

eram | eram dădeam | dădeam ştiam | ştiam
erai | eraţi dădeai | dădeaţi ştiai | ştiaţi
era | erau dădea | dădeau ştia | ştiau

a scrie – to write a sta – to stay a vrea – to want

scriam | scriam stăteam | stăteam vroiam | vroiam
scriai | scriaţi stăteai | stăteaţi vroiai | vroiaţi
scria | scriau stătea | stăteau vroia | vroiau

a face – to do/make
făceam | făceam
făceai | făceaţi
făcea | făceau

Uses of the Imperfect Past Tense

1. Continuing or progressive actions in the past

(Eram fericit pe vrevea când stăteam acolo – I was happy while I stayed there)
(George locuia de mult în Londra – George was living in London for a long time)
(Ei învăţau de puţin timp limba franceză – They were learning French for a short time)
2. Background action interrupted by another, usually in the perfect past
(Studiam atunci când m-ai sunat – I was studying when you called me)
3. Repeated or habitual actions
(Vara mergea în vizită la bunici – Summers, he visited his grandparents)
(El fuma zilnic înainte să fi fost botezat – He smoked daily before being baptized)
(Mereu mă încânta acel moment al zilei – That time of day has always delighted me)
4. Polite or softened requests
(Vroiam să te întreb ceva – I wanted to ask you something)
(Doream să ne cerem scuze pentru întârziere – We wanted to apologize for being late)

13
5. Permanent state of awareness in past and present, with verbs like: a şti, a crede, a presupune, a considera,
a bănui
(Ştiaţi că…? – Did you know that…?)
(Consideram că nu eşti pregătit – I considered that you aren’t prepared)
(Ştiam că examenul va fi greu – I knew that the test would be difficult)

6. Roles in children’s make-believe, fictional present or future

(Eu eram cowboy şi tu erai indian – I’ll be the cowboy and you’ll be the Indian)
7. Unfulfilled wish or regret in elliptical constructions with dacă/de
(Dacă ştiam…! – Had I known…!)
(De rămâneai…! – If only you’d stayed…!)
8. Conditional
(Ajungeam la timp dacă luam taxi – We would’ve arrived on time if we’d taken a taxi)
(Dacă veneai mai devreme, mă găseai acasă – Had you come earlier, you would have found me home)
(Dacă tăceai, filozof rămâneai – If you would have shut up, you would have remained like a philosopher)

Notes
* In Romanian the imperfect tense is used where the conditional is used as the past tense would be in English.
* Also when telling about things in the past that were done regularly the imperfect is always used in Romanian,
whereas it is rarely in English.

Examples:
Mă duceam la petrecere daca eram liber –
I would have gone to the party if I was free
Mergeam la piscină în fiecare săptămână atunci când eram mai tânăr –
I would go to the pool every week when I was younger

14
 Pluperfect Tense
The pluperfect indicates an action which is completed before another past action. It is equivalent to „had done” or
„had been doing”

Remove the final consonant of the p.p. of the verb:

a lucra – lucrat – lucra a merge – mers – mer

a citi – citit – citi a rupe – rupt – rup
a târî – târât – târâ a fierbe – fiert – fier
a vedea – văzut – văzu a face – făcut - făcu
a putea – putut – putu a cere – cerut – ceru

Add the pluperfect endings - sem | serăm

seşi | serăţi
se | seră

„E” verbs that don’t end in „-ut” take a slightly longer ending
sesem | seserăm
seseşi | seserăţi
sese | seseră

When pronouncing, the accent falls on the last vowel of the stem (or in the case of the special-ending „E” verbs,
on the first vowel of the special ending)

Irregular Verbs:
a fi – to be a avea – to have a da – to give
fusesem | fuseserăm avusesem | avuseserăm dădusem | dăduserăm
fuseseşi | fuseserăţi avuseseşi | avuseserăţi dăduseşi | dăduserăţi
fusese | fuseseră avusese | avuseseră dăduse | dăduseră

a sta – to stay a vrea – to want a lua – to take

stătusem | stătuserăm vrusesem | vruseserăm luasem | luaseserăm
stătuseşi | stătuserăţi vruseseşi | vruseserăţi luaseşi | luaserăţi
stătuse | stătuseră vrusese | vruseseră luase | luaseră

a bea – to drink a şti – to know

băusem | băuserăm ştiusem | ştiuserăm
băuseşi | băuserăţi ştiuseşi | ştiuserăţi
băuse | băuseră ştiuse | ştiuseră

The general pattern is:

Subjects + pronouns + pluperfect

Examples:
El s-a ascuns într-o dumbravă, un loc pe care el îl alesese dinainte
He hid himself away in a grove, a place which he had chosen before hand

Ea s-a dus la consulat fără să-şi dea seama că paşaportul îi expirase de două luni
She went to the consulate without realizing that her passport had been expired for two months

Uses of the Pluperfect

1. Actions that took place before another past action.
(Deja citisem cartea pe care mi-ai cumpărat-o – I had already read the book you bought me.)
(Fusesem pilot înainte să fi absolvit universitatea de drept – I was a pilot before graduating law school)
2. Actions that were taking place before another past action known as the continuous pluperfect.
(Veniseră timp de 10 ani la biserică înainte ca bunicul să moară – They had been coming to Church before their
grandfather died)
(Mi-a fost dor de tine toată ziua deoarece te visasem toată noaptea – I missed you all day long because I had
dreamed about you all night long).

15
The pluperfect is often used with adverbs and adverbial phrases such as:
Până atunci – until then deja – already înainte de/să/ca să – before
Niciodată – never încă – yet/still

The pluperfect is not used with „după ce” – after

după ce am terminat – after we had finished

In direct speech, perfect past is generally used instead, owing to sequence of tenses:
(Radu a spus că n-o văzuse – Radu a spus că n-a văzut-o – Radu said that he hadn’t seen her)

Also with such adverbs as „de mult,” imperfect is often used where pluperfect is used in English:
(El ştia de mult timp – He had known that for a long time)

16
 Simple (Historic) Past Tense
The simple past indicates an action completed in the past. It has the same temporal value as the perfect past.
Outside of Oltenia, and Banat (Southwest Romania) it rarely appears in spoken language. However it is used
widely as the literary or narrative past.

The simple past is composed of a root and a set of endings. The root comes from the p.p.

If p.p. ends in vowel + „t” – drop „t” and add: i | răm

şi | răţi
- | ră

If p.p. ends in consonant + „t” or just „s” – drop „t” or „s” and add: sei | serăm
seşi | serăţi
se | seră

Most „a” verbs take „ă” in the el/ea form, with the exception of verbs ending in „ia” which changes to „ie”

„I” verbs take „i” in the el/ea form

„Δ verbs take „î” in the el/ea form

When pronouncing, the accent falls on the last vowel of verbs taking the shorter endings,
and on the „e” of verbs taking the long endings (lucrai, citii, văzui, mersei, fripsei)

Examples:

a lucra – to work a continua – to continue a apropia – to approach

lucrai | lucrarăm continuai | continuarăm apropiai | apropiarăm
lucraşi | lucrarăţi continuaşi| continuarăţi apropiaşi | apropiarăţi
lucră | lucrară continuă | continuară apropie | apropiară

a citi – to read a târâ – to drag a vedea – to see

citii | citirăm târâi | târârăm văzui | văzurăm
citişi | citirăţi târâşi | târârăţi văzuşi | văzurăţi
citi | citiră târâ | târâră văzu | văzură

a cere – to ask (for) a merge – to go a frige – to roast

cerui | cerurăm mersei | merserăm fripsei | fripserăm
ceruşi | cerurăţi merseşi | merserăţi fripseşi | fripserăţi
ceru | cerură merse | merseră fripse | fripseră

Irregular Verbs:
a fi – to be a avea – to have
fui/fusei | furăm/fuserăm avui/avusei | avurăm/avuserăm
fui/fuseşi | furăţi/fuserăţi avuşi/avuseşi | avurăţi/avuserăţi
fu/fuse | fură/fuseră avu/avuse | avură/avuseră

a da – to give a sta – to stay a lua – to take

dădui | dădurăm stătui | stăturăm luai | luarăm
dăduşi | dădurăţi stătuşi | stăturăţi luaşi | luarăţi
dădu | dădură stătu | stătură lua | luară

a bea – to drink a vrea – to want a şti – to know

băui | băurăm vrui | vrurăm ştiui | ştiurăm
băuşi | băurăţi vruşi | vrurăţi ştiuşi | ştiurăţi
bău | băură vru | vrură ştiu | ştiură

Other unexpected stems are – a întoarce – întor, a sparge – spăr

17
The general pattern is:
Subject + pronouns + simple perfect

Examples:
El fugi cât putu de repede – He ran away as fast as he could
Noi sparserăm sticla din care voi băurăţi – We broke the bottle that you drank from

Uses of the Simple Past

1. Recently completed actions, often indicating surprise or comic effect
(Tocmai îl văzui pe George, băiatul care vinde pâine, la televizor! – I’ve just seen George, the boy who sells bread,
on TV!)
2. The 2nd person is often used in question about finishing an action in progress which should be completed
at the moment of speaking
(Şi tu, o scriseşi? – And you, have you finished writing it?)
(Gata, citirăţi pasajele? – Alright, have you read the texts?)
3. Narrative texts, especially with speech verbs after dialogue (e.g. a zice (to say/tell), a spune (to say/tell), a
rosti (to utter/ pronounce), a întreba (to ask), a răspunde (to answer), a preciza (to specify), a exclama (to
exclaim), a ţipa (to cry/scream), a răcni (to yell/roar), a urla (to howl), a murmura (to murmur), a şopti (to
whisper))
(Aici, avem o crimă! zise poliţistul – “Here, we have a crime!” said the policeman.)
4. Author’s voice in narrative texts
(El aprinse televizorul şi se întoarseră cu toţii spre ecran – He turned on the TV and they all turned towards the
screen)

Nominative Case

18
This is the case of subjects in Romanian. The subject is what does the action, according to which the verb
conjugates.
This is the dictionary form of the word, meaning no special endings or manipulation is required.

Subject Pronouns
Eu | Noi I | We
Tu | Voi/Dvs. You | You
El/Ea | Ei/Ele He/She/It | They

Personal pronouns of Familiar politeness and Respect

Eu – None, unless you are some sort of Narcissist

Tu – dumneata (d-ta), dumneavoastră (dvs.) (genitive/dative – dumitale)
El – dânsul, dumnealui, domnia sa (genitive/dative – dumnealui)
Ea – dânsa, dumneaei, domnia sa (genitive/dative – dumneaei)
Noi – None
Voi – dumneavoastră (dvs.) (genitive/dative – dumneavoastră)
Ei – dânşii, dumnealor, domniile lor (genitive/dative – dumnealor)
Ele – dânsele, dumnealor, domniile lor (genitive/dative – dumnealor)

„Dânsul, dumnealui, domnia sa” are in ascending order of politeness.

In the 3rd person, the „dâns-“ and „dumnea-“ forms show a level of person respect. The „domn-“ are reserved
For people of very high positions.

Examples:
Tatăl e acasă? – Dumnealui e acasă?
Mama e acasă? – Dumneaei e acasă?
Preşedintele Bush va veni? – Domnia sa va veni?
Regina Elisabeth şi Preşedintele Bush vin? – Domniile lor vin?

Dumneavoastră is used for both individuals of high esteem or unfamiliar, as well as for groups containing
such people. Verbs following „dvs.” are always conjugated in the „voi” form, regardless of whether it
represents an individual or a group.

Examples
(to the branch president) Dvs. vreţi ca eu să vorbesc duminica viitoare?
(to the whole branch council) Dvs. vreţi ca eu să vorbesc duminica viitoare?
Do you want me to speak next Sunday?
Uses of the Subject Pronouns

1. Because the conjugated verb indicates the subject, the actual subject pronoun is generally omitted
(Vom veni mâine – We will come tomorrow)
2. Rules regarding the position of the subject pronoun are very loose. It follows the verb as often as it
precedes the verb
(El vine mâine – vine el mâine – vine mâine el – mâine vine el – mâine el vine – He’s coming tomorrow)
3. When asking questions, the pronoun often follows the verb…but not always
(Vrei tu să mă ajuţi? – Do you want to help me?) (Poţi să vii cu mine tu? – Can you come with me?)
(Vom veni şi noi? – Will we come too?) (Va pleca ea astăzi sau peste o săptămână? – Will he leave today or in a
week?)
(El va veni mâine? – Will he come tomorrow?) (Ai fost tu la doctor încă? – Have you been to the doctor yet?)
4. Because pronouns may be omitted, they are used to clarify who or what is doing the action, or as a
stressor
(El lucrează la bancă, iar ea lucrează la birou – He works at the bank, and she works at the office)
(Am auzit că vor să vină şi ei– I heard that they want to come too)

*NOTE* Alteţă – Highness (Is used when addressing royalty)

Alteţa voastră doreşte ca ei să fie spânzuraţi – Your highness wishes that they be hung!

Nouns, Definization, Articles &

Pluralization
19
In case, you haven’t already noticed, nouns have genders. Every noun without exception has a gender and this
affects many of the things that must be done with the nouns.

There are 3 types of nouns:

m nouns – Male humans/animals/birds, nationality of male persons,

profession of male persons, trees (with exceptions), mountains (chains – only in plural), months,
letters of the alphabet, musical notes, figures (numbers)
Ends in: „or, tor, ar, er, ic, ist, an, ean, ân, ez”
f nouns – Female humans/animals/birds, nationality of female persons, profession of female persons (although
masculine noun is preferred – formal, respectful), most countries (if not ending in „ă,” then it is
neuter), seasons, days, most fruits
Ends in: vowel (most of the time), „re, iune, tate, ie, ee”
n nouns – Many (but not all) inanimate objects and parts of the human body
Ends in: „ism, ment, mânt, ut, aj”

Definization:

Definizing nouns in Romanian is completely different from what is done in English. In English, it is simple.
The article „the” is added. Romanian requires a new suffix to be added or to have the original suffixed changed.
This depends on the gender of the noun, whether or not it is plural, and the ending of the word as it is.
Note that as usual there are exceptions to these guidelines.

Here are the general rules for each type of noun:

m & n nouns ending in:
consonant + ul (pantof – pantoful)
i + ul (ochi – ochiul)
u+l (fiu – fiul)
e + le (perete – peretele)
f nouns ending in:
ăa (fată – fata)
e+a (lege – legea)
ie  ia (femeie – femeia)
o/ea/I + ua (pijama – pijamaua, cafea – cafeaua)

To definize m pl. nouns, add „i.”

To definize f pl. nouns, add „le.”

Articles:

Indefinite article is not required when: used as a profession, occupation, rank, nationality, or with „a avea”
este student – He’s a student
sunt româncă – I am a Romanian (girl)
ai întâlnire – You have a meeting
e profesoară, nu avocată – She is a professor not a lawyer
nu e fată, e băiat – It’s not a girl, it is a boy

Indefinite article is required when: noun is modified by an adj. or a complex construction

este un tată bun – He is a good father
sunt nişte studenţi cu rezultate bune – They are students with good results

Definite article is not required:

after prepositions, or unless further modified, except „cu”

Examples:
mergem la magazin – we are going to the store mă duc în parc – I am going to the park

20
Definite article is required:
-When further modified by an adj. or a complex structure (or an indefinite article can be used)
-A noun of transportation is preceded by „cu” (unless further modified)
-Nouns indicating relatives when preceded by preposition
-Nouns modified by possessive adj.

Article is unnecessary when:

noun is preceded by „ce/cât/atât/câtva/mult/destul/etc.”

ce carte frumoasă! – what a beautiful book! am câţiva colegi – I have a few colleagues
cât timp avem – how much time do we have n-am destule pixuri – I don’t have enough pens

Article is necessary when:

noun is preceded by preposition and is modified, when noun preceded by „cu” indicates an instrument or a
certain
type of association

cartea e pe masa mare/pe o masă mare/pe masa de lângă uşă – the book is on the/a large table/next to the door
este un student bun – He is a good student
este studentul din Italia – He is the student from Italy
cu furculiţa – with the fork
cu o furculiţă – with a fork
sunt cu prieten – I am with a friend
sunt cu mama – I am with mom

Pluralization:
Pluralizing in Romanian is fairly simple.
It only requires the memorization of a few basic rules and recognizing the endings and gender of words.
The only real way to know which time to use the ending is through practice.
However, you can also find dictionaries that show how every noun is pluralized.

m nouns ending in:

consonant + I (student  studenţi)
u/e/ă  i (leu  lei, iepure  iepuri, tată  taţi)
ii (unchi  unchi)
f nouns ending:
ă  e/i/uri (studentă  studente, uşă  uşi, marfă  mărfuri)
toare  tori(non-persons)/toare (people) (ascuţitoare  ascuţitori, dansatoare  dansatoare)
ie  i/ii (cheie  chei, bucătărie  bucătării)
e/i  i (lume  lumi, marţi  marţi)
a + le (sofa  sofale)
ea  ele (stea  stele)
n nouns ending:
consonant/i + e/uri (tren – trenuri, tramvai – tramvaie, taxi – taxiuri)
u  uri/e (lucru – lucruri, muzeu – muzee)
iu  ii (fotoliu – fotolii)

21
 Possession
Possession, in Romanian, is formed very differently when compared to English. The noun must be definized and
the possessor comes after the noun. Also, the possessive indicator is declined according to the gender and number
of the
object being possessed.
It is what you have been waiting for, the „Mama 6-Pack”

meu | mei | nostru | noştri

mea | mele | noastră | noastre
tău | tăi | vostru | voştri
ta | tale | voastră | voastre
său | săi |
sa | sale | lor
lui/ei*

my mine | our ours

your yours | your yours
his/hers her | their theirs

*„lui” is „his” and „ei” is „hers,” thus „fratele ei,” is „her brother”

The general pattern is:

Definized noun + possessive indicator or
genitive/dative form

Examples:
sora lui – his sister
scaunul lor – their chair
pixul nostru – our pen
prietena voastră – your friend

Examples using the genitive dative forms:

un pom – unui pom pomul – pomului
un scaun – unui scaun scaunul – scaunului
o casă – unei case casa – casei
o floare – unei flori floarea – florii
o cafea – unei cafele cafeaua – cafelei
o bucătărie – unei bucătării bucătăria – bucătăriei
nişte pomi – unor pomi pomii – pomilor
nişte scaune – unor scaune scaunele – scaunelor
nişte casă – unor case casele – caselor
nişte floare – unor flori florile – florilor
nişte cafea – unor cafele cafelele – cafelelor
nişte bucătărie – unor bucătări bucătăriile – bucătăriilor

For more about how to form the genitive forms, read the page on it later in this book.

(Most female names end in „a,” and so change to „ei” or „ăi.” Any that don’t end in „a” follow the
male name pattern, using „lui.” Last names also take „lui.”)

Genitive Sounds

al | ai + possessive indicator or al cui? – whose?

a | ale or genitive/dative form

In general, the genitive sounds are used:

1. Whenever the possessor and the object being possessed are separated. (The verb “a fi” is usually the
separator)

22
Examples:
Scaunul e al lui – The chair is his
Cartea e a ei – The book is hers.
Pantofii sunt ai tăi – The shoes are yours
Casele sunt ale noastre – The houses are ours

2. When speaking in general, or of a previously identified object

Examples:
a Mariei – Maria’s
a profesorului – the professor’s
al domnului Pop – Mr. Pop’s

3. When something is not the only one (When the noun being possessed is not defenized)
Examples:
Sunt prieteni de-ai lui – They are his friends
un director al firmei – a director of the firm
Este un membru al bisericii – He is a member of the church

*Notes: Don’t say „sunt membrul bisericii.” This implies that you are the ONLY one
Don’t say “prietenul meu” unless he actually is your only friend or your boyfriend

23
 Dative Possession
This is another technique of forming possession that is commonly used and heard often. It uses the dative reflexive
pronouns. With a few minor exceptions.

*Important Note: the noun must be definized

îmi | ne
îţi | vă
îşi (îi) | îşi (le)

Examples:
Îi vizitez pe bunicii mei – Îmi vizitez bunicii – I visit my grandparents
Ai luat tu bicicleta lui? – I-ai luat tu bicicleta – Did you take his bike?
S-au întors părinţii lor? – Li s-au întors părinţii? – Did their parents come back?
L-a anunţat pe profesorul său – Şi-a anunţat profesorul – He told his professor
Ai luat medicamentele tale – Ţi-ai luat medicamentele?
Am uitat ceasul meu – Mi-am uitat ceasul – I forgot my watch
Aţi făcut tema voastră? – V-aţi făcut tema? – Did you do your homework?

The last three examples are considerably easier and used much more frequently than the normal, long possessive
form.

*(Possessive dative uses the dative ref. pronouns, „îi” and „le,” when the possessor is not also the subject of the
sentence.)*

Examples:
Deşi Dumnezeu este într-adevăr milostiv, noi trebuie să-i ţinem poruncile mereu –
Although God is merciful, we need to always keep his commandments
Prietenii mei sunt atât de bogaţi încât nu au observat când un hoţ le a furat maşina –
My friends are so rich that they didn’t notice when a thief stole their car

The Dative possession form can also be used to possess articles and objects in the imperative or command form.

Examples:
Binecuvântează-ne familiile – Bless our families
Ia-ţi rucsacul şi vino cu mine – Grab your backpack and come with me
Bea-ţi ceaiul şi pe urmă mai vorbim – Drink your tea then we will talk!
Gasiţi-vă mobilul şi apoi sunaţi-mă – Find your cell phone and then call me

24
 Prepositions
Prepositions play a major role in connecting words within phrases and sentences, as it does in English.
Prepositions fall into three categories:
simple prepositions (cu, de, la, etc.)
compound prepositions (de la, de lângă, pe după, etc.)
prepositional phrases, (în faţa, în spatele, pe dedesubtul, etc.)
*Prepositions may be preceded by „de” which means „care este/sunt.”*
Examples:
Cartea care este pe masă – Cartea de pe masă – The book that’s on the table
Scaunul care este acolo – Scaunul de acolo – The chair that’s there
În faţa clădirii se află o statuie – Statuia care este în faţa clădirii reprezintă războiul şi pacea – Statuia din faţa
clădirii Reprezintă războiul şi pacea – The statue in front of the building represents war and peace
Liniştea care este înaintea furtunii – E liniştea dinaintea furtunii – The calm before the storm
A cântat superb la sfârşitul recitatului – He sang superbly at the end of the recital
Piesa de la sfârşitul recitatului a fost bună – The piece which was at the end of the recital was good

Place:
în (in), pe (on), la (at/to), din (from), de pe (from, on), de la (from), sub (under), după (after), lângă (next to), peste
(over), deasupra (over), în spatele/în urma/înapoia (behind), în faţa (in front of), înauntrul (inside), spre/înspre/către
(towards), dinspre (from), pe la (at, around)

Time:
la (at), în (in), pe la (around), de (since), după (after), înainte de/înaintea (before), în timpul (during), în cursul
(during),
în timp de (during), în curs de (during), în jur de (around)

Manner:
cu (with), fără (without), la (of), la (at), pe (on), drept (as), ca (as, like), prin (through), sub formă de (in the form
of),
în chip de (as), în loc de (instead)

Condition:
cu condiţia (on the condition)

Cause:
din cauza (because of), din pricina (due to), datorită (thanks to), mulţumită/graţie (thanks to), de/din (because of)
Concession:
în ciuda (in spite of), în pofida (despite, in spite of)

Purpose:
pentru/spre (for), în scopul (with the purpose of), în vederea (for)

Relation:
relativ la/în raport cu (related to/regarding), legat de (with respect to, regarding), cu privire la (concerning)
în privinţa la(concerning) , în legătură cu (regarding), referitor la (referring to)

Exception:
în afara de (besides, except), fără (without), cu excepţia (with the exception)

Addition:
pe lângă (in addition to, plus), în afara de/în afara (besides)

Instrument:
cu (with, by), la (at, by), prin (through, with), prin intermediul (by means of, through), prin bunăvoinţa (care of),
datorită/mulţumită/graţie (thanks to)

Association:
cu (with), împreună cu (together with), la un loc cu (with, together with), laolaltă cu (together with)

25
The genitive case is required by a large number of prepositions. In such cases all are definite and either feminine
or neuter. If they end in „a,” then they are feminine and take „mea, ta, etc.” If they don’t end in „a,” then they are
neuter and take „meu, tău, etc.”

*Note, there are some important exceptions that are dative and not genitive.
Especially these three:
datorită ţie not datorita ta
graţie mie not graţia mea
mulţumită lui not mulţumita lui

Feminine
deasupra (over), înaintea (before), în faţa (in front of), în fruntea (as a leader), asupra (on, about, regarding), contra
(against), în vederea (for, to), în urma (after, in consequence of), în privinţa (concerning), din cauza (because of),
în ciuda (despite), cu ocazia (on, for)

Neuter
în spatele (behind), împrejurul/în jurul (around), în mijlocul (in the middle), de-a lungul (along, throughout),
de-a latul (across), în timpul/în cursul (in, during), în decursul (in the course of), la începutul (at the beginning),
la sfârşitul (at the end), la mijlocul (at the middle), în locul (instead), în numele (on behalf of)

*NOTE* „În” is used with places when speaker is in the same place to which he/she is referring
and is used with countries and big cities.*

26
 Conjunctions
Conjunctions connect two or more words in a simple sentence, or two or more clauses in a complex sentence.
These can be linked by coordination or subordination.

Simple Conjunctions:
şi (and), iar (and, while), dar (but), să (to), ci (but), că (that), sau (or), ori (or), căci (because),
deşi (although), dacă (if), încât (so that), etc.

Compound Conjunctions:
ca să (in order to), precum şi (as well as), încât să (so that), etc.

Structures ending in conjunctions:

în caz că (in the case that), cu toate că (although), pentru ca să (in order to), fără să (without),
chiar dacă (even if), măcar că (at least that), etc.

Coordinating Conjunctions
Addition:
şi (and), nici (nor), şi…şi… (both...and...), nici…nici… (neither...nor...)

Opposition:
dar (but), însă (however), iar (and), ci (but)

Choice, Alternative:
sau (or), ori (or), sau…sau… (either...or...), ori…ori (either...or...), fie…fie… (either...or...)

Conclusion:
deci (so), aşadar (thus), prin urmare (therefore), în concluzie (in conclusion)

„Şi” equates and integrates two words or clauses. „Iar” integrates and contrasts two clauses.
Speakers often use „iar” instead of „şi” when they refer to two different but often simultaneous actions (sentences),
even if the contrast between them is not very strong, so „iar” means the same thing.

Examples:
Bogdan împodobeşte pomul şi Andreea îl ajută
Bogdan is decorating the tree, and Andreea is helping him
El îşi petrece Crăciunul în România, iar eu rămân în America
He is spending his Christmas in Romania, while I’ll stay in America

„Dar/însă” contrast two absolutely independent elements.

Examples:
Eu îmi petrec Crăciunul în SUA, dar/însă aş fi vrut să mă duc în România
I am spending my Christmas in the states, however, I would have liked to go to Romania

„Ci” is used to underline opposition (with the first clause in the negative using „nu”).

Example:
Noi trebuie să răspândim evanghelia nu numai pe stradă, ci si în blocuri
We need to share the gospel not only on the street, but also in the blocks
Eu nu-mi petrec Crăciunul în America, ci mă duc în România
I’m not spending my Christmas in America, but I’m going to Romania

Subordinating Conjunctions
Cause:
fiindcă (because), pentru că (because), deoarece (because), căci (because), din cauza că (because), din pricină că
(because), pe motiv că (due to), sub pretext că (under the pretext of), întrucât (because, since), dat fiind că (given it
being that),
având în vedere că (considering that), de vreme ce (since), din moment ce (since), o dată ce (since)

27
Consequence:
încât (so that), de (so that)

Concession:
deşi (although), chiar dacă (even if, though), chiar de (even if, though), chiar să (even if, though), cu toate că
(despite),
în ciuda faptului că (in spite of the fact that)

Condition:
dacă (if), de (if/of), cu condiţia să/ca…să (provided that), în caz că (in case that), în ipoteza că (supposing),
în ideea că (on the assumption that)

Purpose:
să (to), ca să (in order to)

Time:
în timp ce (while), în vreme ce (while), până ce (until), până când (until), până să (until), după ce (after),
imediat ce (as soon as), în dată ce (as soon as), de cum (as soon as), înainte să (before, no sooner than),
ori de câte ori (anytime), o dată ce (once)

Manner of Action:
ca şi cum (as if), ca şi când (as if, as though), fără să (without), pe masură ce (while, as)

Relation:
relativ la faptul că (related to the fact that), cu privire la faptul că (considering the fact that)

Exception:
în afară de faptul că (other than the fact that), în afara faptului că (besides, except for)

Opposition:
în timp ce (while), pe când (while), în loc să (instead of)

Addition:
pe lângă faptul că (besides), după ce că (besides, not only that...but)

In order to emphasize a certain element in a pattern built with a subjunctive, the compound „ca…să” is used
instead of „să.” The same is true for „fără ca…să” and „înainte ca…să” and some other similar conjunctions.

Examples:
Vreau să vă simţiţi bine – Vreau ca voi să vă simţiţi bine – I want you to feel well.
Ar fi bine mâine la test să nu lipseşti – It would for you not to miss the test tomorrow
Mi-ar plăcea să mă ajuţi atunci când am nevoie – I would like that when I need it, for you to help me
Întinde-I o mână de ajutor înainte ca el să ţi-o ceară – Give him a helping hand before he asks you for it

28
 Adjectives
The adj. is generally placed after the noun it modifies and it always takes the gender, number and case of the
modified noun. There are 1, 2, 3, and 4 forms adjectives.

4 – form adj.

consonant u | i bun | buni frumos | frumoşi albastru | albaştri

ă | e bună | bune frumoasă | frumoase albastră | albastre

Most adjectives have 4 forms. The ending „u” occurs only when the stem ends in „consonant + r/l” or in „u.”
There are some irregulars such as: „greu, grea, grei, grele” and „rău, rea, răi, rele.”

3 – form adj.
consonant (c, g)/u (iu)/tor | i/ii/tori românesc | româneşti
ă/ie/toare | i/ii/toare românească | româneşti

mic | mici larg | largi roşu | roşii viu | vii auriu | aurii
mică | mici largă | largi roşie | roşii vie | vii aurie| aurii

fermecător | fermercători strălucitor | strălucitori

fermecătoare | fermecătoare strălucitoare | strălucitoare

There are two groups of three forms: m pl. = f pl. + f s. = f pl.

2 – form adj.
e/i (ui) | i/i (ui) mare | mari verde | verzi dulce | dulci
e/e (uie) | i/i (ui) mare| mari verde | verzi dulce | dulci

vechi | vechi gălbui | gălbui

veche | vechi gălbuie| gălbui

There are two groups of two forms: m s. = f s. + f s. = f pl. and m pl. = f pl., and m s. = m pl. = f pl.

1 – form adj.
Examples: eficace (efficient), cumsecade (nice, kind, decent), roz (pink), kaki (khaki), gri (grey), bleu (light blue),
maro (brown)

More Examples, watch the morphological changes

rece | reci orb | orbi moale | moi gol | goi

rece | reci oarbă | oarbe moale | moi goală | goale

confuz | confuzi sfânt | sfinţi ortodox | ortodocşi

confuză | confuze sfântă | sfinte ortodoxă | ortodoxe

Adjectives preceding nouns

By placing an adj. before a noun, it places a greater amount of stress on the adjective, thus setting it apart from
other
nouns that wouldn’t have the adjective. For example:
o actriţă minunată - a wonderful actress vs. o minunată actriţă - a wonderful actress

actriţa excepţională excepţionala actriţă the exceptional actress

prietenul meu bun bunul meu prieten my good friend
multe fete fete multe many girls

Some adjectives can’t be placed before nouns (e.g. – 1 form adjectives designating colors – roz, bej, kaki, etc)
Some adjectives can only be placed before nouns (e.g. – biet, biată, bieţi, biete – bietul câine, un biet câine)

29
 Adverbs & Adverbial Structures
Adverbs are invariable parts of speech that can accompany and modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.
Modifying a
verb – „repetăm toate adverbele astăzi,” an adj. – „deşi suntem puţin obosiţi,” and an adv. – „însă putem face asta
numai acum.” Just like prepositions, adverbs can be preceded by „de,” which means „care este/sunt.”

Basic adverbs
unde, aici, acolo, acum, atunci, cum, aşa, bine, rău, etc.
Many adverbs are identical to the masculine singular form of adjectives, having the same ending
-a specific adverbial suffix (eşte) is often added to form adverbs: bărbat – bărbăteşte, copil – copilăreşte,
frate – frăţeşte, om – omeneşte, român – româneşte, pasăre – păsăreşte, etc.

Indefinite adverbs
„ori, va” added to basic interrogative adverbs (unde, când, cum, cât, etc.)
Some adverbs can form diminutives with suffixes „el, or şor” uşor – uşurel, repede – repejor, bine – binişor,
mult – mulţişor, departe – depărţişor, etc.
„mai, mai puţin, foarte:” mai frumos, mai puţin frumos, cel mai bun, foarte concis

Short adverbs
mai (repetition, continuity), şi (addition), tot (continuity), nu prea (low intensity)
Placed just before verb, and after „nu:” nemaivăzut, (never before seen), nemaiauzit (never before heard of), etc.

Relative adverbs
Interrogative adverbs can act as relative adverbs: biletele sunt unde le-ai pus, a venit când a putut,
vorbesc nemţeşte cum pot, munceşte cât poate
Correlative pairs
atunci când, acolo unde, aşa cum, atât cât, etc.: biletele sunt acolo unde le-ai pus

Adverbs taking prepositions

de acasă, până acasă, pe acasă, de aici, pentru aici, de jos, până sus, etc.

Adverbial Phrases
fără îndoială (without doubt), cu siguranţă/sigur/de bună seamă/ bineînţeles (definitely),
cu totul/complet (completely, totally), din nou/ iarăşi (again), de ajuns/sufficient (enough),
cine ştie unde/undeva (who knows where), cine ştie când (who knows when),
extrem de/foarte/ nemaipomenit de (extremely, very), zi de zi/zilnic (everyday),
când şi când/din când în când/uneori (from time to time, sometimes)*, uşurel/încetişor (slowly, quietly)

*„Din când în când” and „uneori” are used somewhat differently even though in most cases they are
interchangeable.
„Din când în când” means that something happens sometimes. While „uneori” or „câteodată” mean that it happens
sometimes, as in at specific times, and not other times.
For example:
Uneori, trebuie să lăsăm în urmă ceea ce avem – Sometimes, we have to leave what we have behind
But:
Din când în când, mă gândesc la familia mea – Sometimes, I think about my family

Place
acasă (at home), acolo (there), afară (outside), aici (here), aproape (close), deasupra (above), departe (far away),
dincolo (in the other room, beyond), înainte (before), înapoi (back), înauntru (inside), jos (down),
pretutindeni (everywhere), sus (up), unde (where), undeva (somewhere), peste tot (everywhere), etc.

30
Time
acum (now), alaltăieri (day before yesterday), aseară (last night), astăzi (today), atunci (then), când (when),
cândva (sometime), câteodată (on occasion), curând (soon), demult (long time ago), deocamdată (at the moment),
devreme (early), dimineaţa (in the morning), iarna (in the winter), ieri (yesterday), imediat (right away),
îndată (straight away/ after), mâine (tomorrow), noaptea (in the night), poimâine (the day after tomorrow),
seara (in the evening), târziu (late), (în)totdeauna (always), din când în când (sometimes), zi de zi (daily),
din două în două ore (every two hours), de două ori pe an (twice a year), la prânz (at lunch), azi-noapte (last night),
acum o lună (a month ago), deja (already), încă (yet), diseară (tonight), peste o oră (in an hour), etc.

Manner
aşa (as, so), altfel (otherwise), bine (well), degeaba (in vain), împreună (together), încet (slowly), repede (quickly),
separat (separately), pe de rost (by heart), cum (how), turceşte (in Turkish, the Turkish way), etc.

Quantity
atât(a) (as much, so much), cât (how much), destul (enough), mult (a lot), puţin (a little), cât de cât (slightly), etc.

Affirmation
ba da (yeah, huh!), desigur (of course), fireşte (naturally), cu siguranţă (certainly), etc.

Negation
ba nu (nu-uh!), deloc (not at all), nicăieri (nowhere), nici (not), nicicum (not at all),
nicidecum (certainly not), niciunde (nowhere), niciodată (never), nicicând (never), când o face plopul pere
(when poplar trees grow pears…meaning never), etc.

Reinforcement
chiar (really, even), tocmai (just), etc.

Restriction
cel puţin (at least), măcar (at least), decât (than, only if), doar (just), numai (only), etc.

Modality
posibil (possibly), probabil (probably), poate – eventual (maybe), oare (I wonder if), etc.

31
 Comparative & Superlative
Adjectives and adverbs can form a comparative of superiority („more… than”), a comparative of equity („as…as”).
In the superlative there is a superlative relative of superiority („the most/best…”), and a superlative of inferiority
(„the least/worst…”).

The comparative of Superiority

„mai” + adj./adv. + „decât/ca” + acc.
The comparative of Inferiority
„mai puţin” + adj./adv. + „decât/ca” + acc.
The comparative of Equality
„tot aşa de/tot atât de/la fel de” + adj./adv. + „ca/ca şi” + accusative

„Ca” is more frequently used than „decât” in colloquial speech. The stressed forms of the personal pronouns are
required in this structure: decât/ca mine, tine, el, ea, noi, voi, dvs., ei, ele.

„Mai” and „mai puţin” can be reinforced by other adverbs, such as: mult, cu mult, incomparabil, infinit, etc.

Examples:
Filmul este mult mai interesant decât romanul
Romanul este incomparabil mai bun decât filmul
Filmul este mult mai puţin interesant decât romanul

The superlative relative of Superiority

„cel/cea/cei/cele mai” + adj. ( + dintre/din)
The superlative relative of Inferiority
„cel/cea/cei/cele mai puţin” + adj. ( + dintre/din)
The superlative absolute
„foarte/tare/extrem de/cât se poate de” + adj.

The whole superlative structure can be followed by „din” + noun/ pronoun in the singular or „dintre” +
noun/pronoun
in the plural.

The element „cel/cea/cei/cele” that comes before „mai” or „mai puţin” agrees with the gender and number of the
modified noun. The adj. can be placed after or before the modified noun. If the adj. comes after the noun then
the noun is definized. When the adj. precedes the noun, the noun isn’t definized.

Examples:
Romanul cel mai interesant – Cel mai interesant roman
Cartea cea mai interesantă – Cea mai interesantă carte
Colegii cei mai puţin interesanţi – Cei mai puţin interesanţi colegi
Colegele cele mai puţin interesante – Cele mai puţin interesante colege

More Examples:
Cel mai bun dintre studenţi
Cea mai bună dintre ele
Cele mai puţin bune dintre acelea
Cel mai bun din clasă
Cea mai bună din grupă
Cei mai puţin buni din concurs
Cele mai puţin bune din tot corul

*Some adjectives can’t be part of a comparative or superlative structure: superior superior, inferior inferior,
major major, minor minor, anterior previous, ulterior ulterior, optim optimal, ultim last/ultimate, suprem supreme,
perfect perfect, desăvârşit perfect, asemenea alike, unic unique, etc.*

32
 Pronouns
acc. acc. dat. short dat.
nom. s. d.o. emp. i.o. dat. emp.
1st per s | eu mă (m-, -mă) pe mine îmi (mi-, -mi) mi mie
2nd per s | tu te (te-, -te) pe tine îţi (ţi-, -ţi) ţi ţie
| dumneata pe dumneata dumitale
3rd per s | el îl (l-, -l) pe el îi (i-, -i) i lui
| dânsul
| dumealui pe dumnealui dumnealui
| ea o (-, -o) pe ea îi (i-, -i) i ei
| dânsa
| dumneaei pe dumneaei dumneaei
1st per pl | noi ne (ne-, -ne) pe noi ne (ne-, -ne) ni nouă
2nd per pl | voi vă (v-, vă) pe voi vă (v-, vă) vi vouă
3rd per pl | ei îi (i-, -i) pe ei le (le-, -le) li lor
| dânşii
| dumnealor pe dumnealor dumnealor
| ele le (le-, -le) pe ele le (le-, -le) li lor
| dânsele
| dumnealor pe dumnealor dumnealor
rd
3 per ref | el, ea, se (s-, -se) pe sine îşi (şi-, -şi) şi lui, ei, lor
ei, ele lor

Inanimate objects take the pronouns depending on their gender and number.

Examples:
Masc: Pantoful – îl Pantofii – îi
Neut: Scaunul – îl Scaunele – le
Femn: Cartea – o Cărţile – le

*When a verb takes both a direct and an indirect object, the pronoun in the dat. comes first,
and the pronoun in the acc. comes second.*

Indirect & Direct Objects combined (just some of the many combinations that are possible)

îmi trimite ursul – mi-l trimite îmi trimite urşii – mi-i trimite
ţi-a trimis ursul – ţi l-a trimis ţi-a trimis urşii – ţi i-a trimis
îi va trimite ursul – i-l va trimite îi va trimite urşii – i-i va trimite

ne trimite ursul – ni-l trimite ne trimite urşii – ni-i trimite

v-a trimis ursul – vi l-a trimis v-a trimis urşii – vi i-a trimis
le va trimite ursul – li-l va trimite le va trimite urşii – li-i va trimite

îmi trimite oaia – mi-o trimite îmi trimite oile – mi le trimite

ţi-a trimis oaia – ţi-a trimis-o ţi-a trimis oile – ţi le-a trimis
îi va trimite oaia – i-o va trimite îi va trimite oile – i le va trimite

ne trimite oaia – ni-o trimite ne trimite oile – ni le trimite

v-a trimis oaia – v-a trimis-o v-a trimis oile – vi le-a trimis
le va trimite oaia – le-o va trimite le va trimite oile – li le va trimite

When in subjunctive form it follows the above rules, staying separate from the „să.”

Example:
Vreau să-mi dea dicţionarul – Vreau să mi-l dea

33
Ref. Verbs & Direct objects combined

îşi aminteşte copacul – şi-l aminteşte îşi aminteşte copacii – şi-i aminteşte
şi-a amintit copacul – şi l-a amintit şi-a amintit copacii – şi i-a amintit
îşi va aminti copacul – şi-l va aminti îşi va aminti copacii – şi-i va aminti

îşi aminteşte povestea – şi-o aminteşte îşi aminteşte poveştiile – şi le aminteşte

şi-a amintit povestea – şi-a amintit-o şi-a amintit poveştiile – şi le-a amintit
îşi va aminti povestea – şi-o va aminti îşi va aminti poveştiile – şi le va aminti

Set Phrases with Acc. And Dat.

(Pe mine) mă:

…cheamă (my name is) …doare/dor (___ hurts me, definized noun)
…mănâncă (itches, definized noun) …ustură (____ burns me/ stings me, definized noun)

Examples:
Mă cheamă Elder___, şi sunt un reprezentant al bisericii lui Isus Hristos. – My name is Elder ___, and I am a
representative of the Church of Jesus Christ
Te ustură ochii? – Are your eyes bothering/stinging/burning?
Mă mănâncă nasul acum din pricină că am alergie la polen. – My nose itches now because I am allergic to pollen.
A inceput să vă doară piciorul? – Did your leg start to hurt?

(Mie) mi-e:
…dor de (I miss…) …poftă de (I’m craving…) …frică/ teamă de (I’m scared of…)
…ruşine de (I’m ashamed of…) …rău (I feel bad …sick) …somn (I’m tired)
…foame (I’m hungry) …sete (I’m thirsty) …scârbă (I’m disgusted)
…frig (I’m cold) …cald (I’m hot) …indiferent (I’m indifferent)

Examples:
Încă îţi mai este foame? – Are you still hungry?
Nu vă e frig? – Aren’t you cold?
Ţie îţi este ruşine de ceea ce faci? – Are you ashamed of what you do?
Fiind aici de un an, a inceput să îmi fie dor de familia mea – Being here for a year, I have started to miss my family
Tocmai am ieşit afară la soare şi acum mi-e tare cald – I was just outside in the sun and now I am really hot
Mi-e pofta de un tort de ciocolată, şi ţie? – I am craving a chocolate cake, what about you?
Dacă mergem peste un ani sau un secol mi-e indiferent – If we go in a year or in a century, I’m indifferent
Mi-e rău fiindcă eu am mâncat o gramadă de mâncare – I feel sick because I hate a ton of food
Ştiu că mamei mele i-e frică de fantome, şi ţie îţi este? – I know my mom is scared of ghosts, are you too?
Mi-e scârbă atunci când îl văd pe cineva vomitând – I’m disgusted when I see someone throwing up
Alergand la un maraton mi-s-a facut sete – Running in a maraton, I became thirsty
Petrecând toată noaptea la club nu v-a facut să vă fie somn azi? – Partying at the club all night didn’t make
you tired today?

(Mie) îmi place… (like, definized noun)

Examples:
Îmi place acest cântec la nebunie – I like this song tons!
Animalele îmi plac foarte mult – I like animals a lot
Tare mult îmi place de mama ta, e o femie extraodinară – I like your mom a lot, she is an amazing woman
Sper să nu-ţi mai placă să bei alcool – I hope you don’t like to drink alcohol anymore
Mi-au placut cartofii până la vârstă de 10 ani – I liked potatoes until I was 10 years old

*Notes: Use a definized noun

Use the 3rd person plural form with plural nouns in both past and present
Use “de” with the verb when referring to people
Don’t forget that it does have a subjunctive when following “să”

34
 Reflexive Speech
(Însuşi & Sine)
„Însuşi” is a pronoun that is usually placed after the long stressed form of personal pronouns in order to reinforce it.
The 3rd person form can also modify a noun. It aggress in gender, number, and case with the personal pronoun or
noun it modifies. The English equivalents are „(me) myself,” „(you) yourself,” etc.

1st Person
m s. f s. m pl. f pl.
nom.eu însumi eu însămi noi înşine noi însene
gen. -- -- -- --
dat. mie însumi mie însămi nouă înşine nouă însene
acc. pe mine însumipe mine însămipe noi înşine pe noi însene

2nd Person
m s. f s. m pl. f pl.
nom.tu însuţi tu însăţi voi înşivă voi însevă
gen. (al d-tale însuţi/însăţi) (al d-stră înşivă/însevă)
dat. ţie însuţi ţie însăţi vouă înşivă vouă însevă
acc. pe tine însuţi pe tine însăţi pe voi înşivă pe voi însevă

3rd person
m s. f s. m pl. f pl.
nom.el însuşi ea însăşi ei înşişi ele însele
gen. al lui însuşi a ei înseşi ai lor înşişi ale lor însele/înselor
dat. lui însuşi ei înseşi lor înşişi lor însele/înselor
acc. pe el însuşi pe ea însăşi pe ei înşişi pe ele însele

Examples:
Am adus eu însumi cererea la secretariat – I brought the request form to the secretary myself
Mi-a spus ea însăşi că vine mâine, nu poimâine – She told me herself that she is coming tomorrow not the day after
Studenţii au convenit cu rectorul însuşi ca să încheie cursurile cu o zi mai târziu – The students worked with the
rector himself in order to end the classes a day later

Besides the short forms used with ref. verbs, the reflexive pronoun has long forms for the 3rd person: „pe sine”
(acc.)
and „sieşi” (dat.). These forms can take different prepositions. Their English equivalents will be „himself, herself,
themselves.” The long forms can work as synonyms.

Examples:
pentru sine (for himself, herself, themselves)
despre sine (about himself, herself, themselves)
graţie sieşi (thanks to himself, herself, themselves)
nu se gândeşte decât la ea însăşi – nu se gândeşte decât la sine (she only thinks about herself)

The pronoun „sine” doesn’t have a nominative case form, given its ref. nature. However, there is a noun
„sine” (the self), which occus in some set phrases

Examples:
în sinea mea/ta (in my/your mind, speaking to myself/yourself)
în sine (in itself)
lucrul în sine(the thing in itself)
problema în sine (the problem as such)

35
 Demonstrative Pronouns
Proximity & Remoteness

acest/acesta (ăsta) | aceşti/aceştia (ăştia) this | these

această/aceasta (asta) | aceste/acestea (astea) this | these

acel/acela (ăla) | acei/aceia (ăia) that | those

acea/aceea (aia) | acele/acelea (alea) that | those

acest pix = pixul acesta = pixul ăsta = this pen

„acest” is always in pre-position, whereas „acesta” (definized) and „ăsta”(definized and short) are always in post-
position.

*The feminine singulars (aceasta and aceea) also have general meanings: am spus aceasta, asta e, de aceea, etc.*

When followed by a modifier, forms of „cel” can be used instead of „acela.” Although when done so the meaning
of remoteness is lost in some situations, it becomes just a simple substitute for a noun. This also works for the
genitive-dative forms.

Examples:

acela de lângă tine – cel de lângă tine

aceea de acolo – cea de acolo
aceia care stau acolo – cei care stau acolo
acelea care parchează maşina – cele care parchează maşina

Differentiation & Identification

celălalt | ceilalţi the other (one) | the other (ones)

cealaltă | celelalte the other (one) | the other (ones)

acelaşi | aceiaşi the same (one) | the same (ones)

aceeaşi | aceleaşi the same (one) | the same (ones)

„Celălalt” can precede or follow the noun, but „acelaşi” always precedes the noun.

Examples:
unde e celălalt? – unde e studentul celălalt? – unde e celălalt student?
aceeaşi – aceeaşi persoană

Genitive-Dative Forms

acestui/acestuia (ăstuia) | acestor/acestora (ăstora)

acestei/acesteia (ăsteia) | acestor/acestora (ăstora)

acelui/aceluia (ăluia) | acelor/acelora (ălora)

acelei/aceleia (ăleia) | acelor/acelora (ălora)

celuilalt | celorlalţi aceluiaşi | aceloraşi

celeilalte | celorlalte aceleiaşi | aceloraşi

Examples:
Cărţile sunt ale acesteia
Le-am arătat acestora materialele
Am oferit flori celeilalte delegate
Sunt ale studentului celuilalt
Sunt ale aceloraşi studenţi
– ale studentei acesteia – ale acestei studente
– studenţilor acestora – acestor studenţi
– delegatei celeilalte – celeilalte
– ale celuilalt student – ale celuilalt
– sunt ale aceloraşi

36
 All Other Pronouns

With some pronouns „va” can be added to the end, designating real persons/things/circumstances that are unknown
to
the speaker or which he doesn’t intend to reveal/describe. Such as: „undeva” somewhere, „ceva” something,
„cumva” somehow, „cândva” sometime, „altceva” something else, etc. The English equivalent is generally
„some-.”
They are only used as pronouns and always take the m form of an adj. (ceva frumos). Most of them do not have a
genitive-dative form, although „cineva” someone  „cuiva,” and „altcineva” someone else  „altcuiva.”

With these same pronouns „ori” can be added to the beginning, designating a random choice made by the speaker
from
a series of persons/things/circumstances. Such as: „oriunde” (wherever, anywhere), „oricum” (anyhow, however),
„oricând,” (whenever, anytime), „orice” (whatever, anything). etc. The English equivalent is generally „any-”
or „-ever” Most of them do not have a genitive-dative form, although „oricine” (anyone, whoever) has „oricui.”

When negative pronouns are used, the verb must always be in the negative. „Nimic” (nothing) doesn’t have a
genitive-dative form, but „nimeni” (no-one) does, „nimănui” (câinele nu e al nimănui, nu e câinele nimănui – The
dog isn’t anyone’s). „Nimenea” and „nimica” are the colloquial forms.

„Un, alt, vreun, nici un” (in the adj. form) and „unul, altul, vreunul, nici unul” (in the pronoun form) also have
genitive-dative forms. „Vreun” shows possibility or probability, and a higher degree of uncertainty than „un,” and
is used in interrogative or dubitative contexts (este vreun restaurant prin apropiere? – Is there any restaurant
nearby?)

un/unul | unii/unii unui/unuia | unor/unora one | some

o/una | unele/unele unei/uneia | unor/unora one | some

alt/altul | alţi/alţii altui/altuia | altor/altora other/another | others

altă/alta | alte/altele altei/alteia | altor/altora other/another | others

Examples:
Unii studenţi vorbesc bine, alţi studenţi încă au probleme – Some students speak well, other students still have
problems
Unii vorbesc bine, alţii încă au probleme – Some speak well, others still have problems

vreun/vreunul | vreunii/vreunii vreunui/vreunuia | vreunor/vreunora

vreo/vreuna | vreunele/vreunele vreunei/vreuneia | vreunor/vreunora

one/any | some/any
one/any | some/any

nici un/nici unul | nici unii/nici unii

nici o/nici una | nici unele/nici unele

nici unui/nici unuia | nici unor/nici unora not one | not any
nici unei/nici unela | nici unor/nici unora not one | not any

Pronouns of amounts have genitive-dative forms. Note, for all of these, when followed by a noun, the noun is
definized.

cât | câţi -- | câtor/câtora how much | how many

câtă | câte -- | câtor/câtora how much| how many

atât(a) | atâţi(a) -- | atâtor/atâtora that (so) much | that (so) many

atâta | atâtea -- | atâtor/atâtora that (so) much | that (so) many

câtva | câţiva -- | câtorva some | several

câtăva | câteva -- | câtorva some | several
37
oricât | oricâţi -- | oricâtor/oricâtora
oricâtă | oricâte -- | oricâtor/oricâtora

as much as | as many as
as much as | as many as

tot | toţi -- | tuturor all | all

toată | toate -- | tuturor all | all

mult | mulţi -- | multor much | many

multă | multe -- | multor much | many

Examples:
Câţi băieţi? Atâţi băieţi/atâţia
doar/numai atât
atât de puţin/mult
atâta lume/iubire
mai avem câtva timp („mai avem ceva timp” is more common)

The more colloquial, but less correct, form of genitive-dative is with „a” and „la.”

Examples:
A câţi studenţi?
La toată familia?
La puţin/mulţi/amândoi

cel | cei celui | celor the (one) | the (ones)

cea | cele celei | celor the (one) | the (ones)

Examples:
Cel mai frumos, cele trei scrisori, cele două, cele trei muşchetari
Unde îmi este rochia? Care, cea neagră sau cea verde?
Cel de sus (God), cel cu coarne (devil)
Cel bogat face cum vrea, cel sărac face cum poate
Tânăra blondă – Tânăra cea blondă (stronger emphasis or makes more specific)
Ai cumpărat cele trei tablouri? Da, le-am cumpărat pe cele trei
Cartea acelei studente vesele, cartea celei triste, ramele celor trei tablouri
I-ai dat dicţionarul studentei celei vesele? Nu, i l-am dat celei triste

cel ce/care | cei ce/care celui ce/care | celor ce/care

cea care | cele ce/care celei ce/care | celor ce/care

the one who | the ones/those who

the one who | the ones/those who

„Ceea ce”(that which) is a compound relative pronoun, f in form, and generally means „ce” (what). It is also
used to summarize the content of a previous sentence or to make it a more concrete replace for a noun (which).

Examples:
Cel ce/Cel care a prezentat, cei ce/cei care au prezentat
Ceea ce văzuseră, pentru ceea ce a scris, mă gândesc la ceea ce s-a petrecut
Însemnătatea a ceea ce s-a petrecut (genitive is formed with the addition of „a”)
N-am acordat atenţie la ceea ce mi s-a recomendat (a close form of dative is formed by adding „la”)
Lucrarea e interesantă, ceea ce înseamnă că...

care | care cărui/căruia | căror/cărora which | which

care | care cărei/căreia | căror/cărora which | which

Examples:
Colegul care stă lângă mine este din Germania
Colegul pe care l-am invitat la mine este din Germania
Cartea pe care am primit-o ieri e de la prietena mea

38
Băiatul cu care ai vorbit este din Anglia
Fata despre care vorbeai e frumoasă
Ziua la care m-am gândit a ajuns
Colegul căruia i-am împrumutat cartea, n-a venit astăzi
Colega căreia i-am împrumutat cartea, n-a venit astăzi
Colegii cărora le-am împrumutat cartea, n-au venit astăzi

When „care” is used in the genitive, it is a bit more complicated, and can be in pre-position or post-position.
„Care” appears only in the post-position when the noun indicating the possessed object is not the nominative.
If the noun designating the possessed object is in the acc., then the whole construction is preceded by a preposition.
(Thus yielding pe care in the accusative form and căruia/căreia/cărora in the dative form)

Examples:
Tânărul al cărui băiat joacă în film e fratele meu (nom.) – The young man whose boy plays in the film is my brother
Tânărul despre băiatul căruia am vorbit e fratele meu (acc.) – Tânărul despre al cărui băiat am vorbit e fratele meu –
The young man whose boy we talked about is my brother

More Examples:

Tânărul al cărui prieten… – The young man whose friend…

Tânărul a cărui faţă … – The young man whose face…
Tânărul ai cărui fraţi… – The young man whose brothers…
Tânărul ale cărui mâini… – The young man whose hands…

Tânăra al cărei pix… – The young lady whose pen…

Tânăra a cărei carte… – The young lady whose book…
Tânăra ai cărei pantofi... – The young lady whose shoes…
Tânăra ale cărei surori… – The young lady whose sisters…

Tinerii al căror tată… – The young men whose father…

Tinerii a căror fată… – The young men whose girl…
Tinerii ai căror pantaloni… – The young men whose pants…
Tinerii ale căror mame… – The young men whose mom…

Tinerele al căror accent… – The young ladies whose accent…

Tinerele a căror dragoste … – The young ladies whose love…
Tinerele ai căror băieţi… – The young ladies whose boys…
Tinerele ale căror ceasuri… – The young ladies whose watches…

1.
oricare | oricare any/anybody| any
oricare | oricare any/anybody| any

dat./gen.: oricărui/oricăruia |oricăror/oricărora

oricărei/oricăruia |oricăror/oricărora

2.
fiecare | -- each/every | --
fiecare | -- each/every | --

dat./gen. fiecărui/fiecăruia | --
fiecărei/fiecăreia | --

Examples:
Poţi citi oricare roman, vorbesc serios, îl poţi citi pe oricare
Citeşte fiecare roman, citeşte-l pe fiecare în parte
(Îl) poţi invita pe oricare student, (îl) poţi invita pe oricare
Încearcă să-l inviţi pe fiecare student, invită(-l) pe fiecare

39
 Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive mood indicates an action that is not viewed as accomplished, confirmed, or definitely real, but
rather
is viewed as possible, desired, virtual, or planned. It is always accompanied by the element „să.” It has both a
present tense and a past tense.

Present

The first and second personas are identical to the indicative present. The 3rd person s. and pl. are identical, and are
based off the 3rd person s. indicative present.

ăe eşte  ească ează  eze şcă  şte

eă ieşte  iască iază  ieze consonant + „re”  consonant +„re”
ie  ie ăşte  ască şte  scă consonant +„le”  consonant + „le”

Examples:
„A fi” has a complete subjunctive paradigm

The general pattern is:

„Să” + pronouns + subjunctive verb

Uses of the Subjunctive Present

1. Used as the secondary verb following verbs expressing: wish, desire, preference, permission, possibility,
request, advice, etc.
(Doresc să plec – I want to leave)
(Preferăm să rămânem acasă – We prefer to remain home)
(Te rog să mă ajuţi – Please, help me)
(El se teme să meargă singur noaptea – He fears to go out alone at night)
(Le-am permis să vină şi să vorbească – We allowed them to come and speak)
2. After impersonal verbs and expressions
(Trebuie să-l asculte – They need to listen to him)
(Este uşor să facă ce e drept – It is easy to do what is right)
(Este mai bine să tacă – It’s best to be quiet )
(Poţi să vii? – May you come?)
(Se recomandă să nu se fumeze – It’s recommended to not smoke)
3. After „a şti, a putea, a plăcea,” and verbs that are similar
(El ştie să-şi resolve problemele lui nu ale altora – He knows how to solve his own problems, not others)
(Putem să dansăm – We can dance)
(Îmi place să cânt – I like to sing)
4. After „a avea” + interrogative
(Nu am ce să vă dau – I don’t have anything to give you)
(Ai cui să-i scrii? – Do you have someone to whom you can write?)
5. With „numai” to imply a wish
(Numai să vină şi ea! –Only if she comes too!)
6. After complex conjunctions including „să” (fără să, în loc să, ca să, înainte să, etc.)
(Mă duc la magazin ca să cumpăr ceva – I’m going to the store in order to buy something)
(În loc să vină aici, a mers acasă –Instead of coming here, he went home)
7. Use „ca să” when the subject of the main verb is different from the subject of the subordinate verb. The
subject
of the subjunctive verb goes between „ca” and „să.” If the second subject is not named, then the „ca” is not used.
(Vreau să stai = Vreau ca tu să stai – I want you to stay)
(E bine să stea = E bine ca el să stea – It’s good that he stays)
(Sper să vii = Sper ca tu să vii = I hope you come)
8. Independently, it may have the value of „should”. (especially with questions)
(Unde să plecăm? – Where should we go?)
(De ce să plece? – Why should he leave?)
(Ce să fac? – What should/can I do?)
(Să plec? – Should I leave?)

40
9. As imperative, especially 1st and 3rd persons. In the second person it is stronger than the normal,
imperative,
also implying obligation and submission. It is often used with „hai, haide, haidem, haideţi” to intensify.
(Hai să ne cărăm – Let’s get out of here!)
(Să-mi aduci caţiva covrigi! – Bring me a few pretzels!)
(Să plecăm acum, sau să rămânem? – Should we leave now or stay?)
10. Also for some specific sayings.
(Să creşti mare – May you grow big! Said to children)
(Să ne/îţi/etc. fie de bine – May it be to our good! Said after a meal)
(Dumnezeu să îl/o/etc. ierte – May God forgive him/her! Said when someone died recently)
(Să trăiţi – Live on! Said to older men as a greeting)
(Să vă trăiască – May he/she/them live on! Said to parents when speaking of their children)

Past
The past subjunctive is used in a few special cases. It has only one form for al persons: subjects and objects are
revealed by context and nouns/ pronouns. It sometimes expresses a possible action that did not necessarily happen.

„Să fi” + p.p.

Examples:
a tăcea – to shut up a se simţi – to feel a merge – to go
să fi tăcut | să fi tăcut să mă fi simţit | să ne fi simţit să fi mers | să fi mers
să fi tăcut | să fi tăcut să te fi simţit | să vă fi simţit să fi mers | să fi mers
să fi tăcut | să fi tăcut să se fi simţit | să se fi simţit să fi mers | să fi mers

The general pattern is:

„Să” + pronouns + „fi” + p.p.

„Mai” and „cam” come between „să” and „fi”

Uses of the Past Subjunctive

1. Presumption – unsubstantiated but presumed action in the past

(Mihai nu este acasă. E posibil să fi plecat la cursuri – Mihai isn’t here, it is possible that he’s gone to his classes)
(Cred că băieţii sunt acasă. Nu cred să se fi dus undeva – I think the boys are home. I don’t believe they’ve gone
anywhere.)
2. Potential – suggests (often doubtfully) a possibility
(Să fi spus Mihai acesta? – Could Mihai have said this?)
(N-a fost nici o parte a trupului lor care să nu se fi cutremurat – There was no part of their body that could
have not been shaken)
3. Conditional – replaces the past conditional, indicating the condition on which an unrealized past action
could have taken place.
(Chiar să fi avut timp, tot nu m-aş fi dus la filmul acela – Even had I had time, I would not have gone to that film)
(Să fi mers cu taxi, am fi ajuns la timp – Had we gone by taxi we would have arrived on time)
4. After the past tense verbs requiring the subjunctive (a vrea, a putea, a trebui, etc.)
(A trebuit să fi plecat mai devreme – He needed to leave earlier)
(Trebuia să fi plecat mai devreme – He needed to leave earlier)
(Ar fi trebuit să fi plecat mai devreme – Figure that one out on your own)
(Trebuise să fi plecat mai devreme – Ooh, a curveball)
(Trebui să fi plecat mai devreme – Another tricky one)
(Nu trebuia să-I fi spus asta – He didn’t need to tell him this)
(Trebuia să fi fost vreo pădure prin apropiere – There had to be a forest nearby)
5. In certain prepositional phrases, (mainly with “înainte”)
(Înainte să fi venit în România, nu fusesem gras – Before I came to Romania I wasn’t fat)
(Ar fi trebuit să treacă pe la bancă înainte să se fi dus la restaurant – He should have stopped by the bank
before going to the restaurant)

41
 Optative-Conditional Mood
The optative-conditional mood is used to indicate actions that are desired, possible, or conditioned. Such actions
are generally viewed as unreal or as yet realized. It has two tenses: present and past. It translates as „would” and
„would have.”

Present

Would – aş | am
ai | aţi + verb inf.
ar | ar

Could – aş | am
ai | aţi + „putea” + verb inf./„să” + verb subjunctive
ar | ar

Should – „ar trebui să” + verb subjunctive

The general pattern is:

Subject + pronouns + indicator + infinitive verb

Examples:
Te-ai duce în locul meu? – Would you go in my place?
Nu m-aş duce în locul tău – I wouldn’t go in your place

Most pronouns come before the indicator and must have the shortened form; however, the s., f, acc. pronoun
„o” comes after the infinitive.

Example:
Pe Radu l-ai vedea acolo, dar pe Alexandra n-ai vedea-o. Mai degreabă ai găsi-o la bibliotecă
You would see Radu there, but you wouldn’t see Alexandra. Rather, you would find her at the library.

The adverbs „mai, cam, şi, tot” come between the indicator and the infinitive verb

Example:
Aş mai sta puţin daca aş avea mai mult timp liber – I would stay a little longer if I would have more free time.

Uses of the Optative-Conditional Mood

1. Condition: when one action is conditioned on another’s taking place, then both the desired action and the
required action are expressed in this mood. The required action is generally preceded by „dacă” or „de.”
(Aş veni dacă aş avea timp – I would come if I had time)
(Dacă ai munci mai mult, ai câştiga mai mult – If you worked more, you would earn more)
(De-am avea timp, ne-am întâlni mai des – If we had time, we’d get together more often)
2. When the desired action is in conditional while the obstruction is expressed in the indicative, with „dar”
and „însă”
(Aş veni dar n-am timp – I would come but I don’t have time)
(Ai putea găsi mai mulţi simpatizanţi, dar nu lucrezi prea mult –You could find more investigators, but you don’t
work much)
(Ne-am întâlni mai des însă nu avem timp – We’d get together more often, but we don’t have time)
3. Mild or polite desires and requests
(Ar trebui să plecaţi – You should leave)
(Aş vrea să nu fumaţi în casă – I’d like you to not smoke in the house)
(Ai vrea să mă ajuţi? – Would you like to help me?)
(Aţi dori o carte? – Would you want a book?)
(Mi-ar plăcea să călătoresc – I’d like to travel)
4. Comparisons: often used with „ca şi cum” and „de parcă”
(Te-ai îmbrăcat de parcă am fi în Siberia! – You dressed as if we were in Siberia!)
(Se comportă ca şi cum colegii ar fi sclavii săi! – He acts as if his colleagues were his slaves!)

42
5. Potential, probability, or uncertainty
(Dacă ai fi acolo, n-ai vorbi aşa – If you were there, you wouldn’t talk like that)
(Nu aş putea să mă bucur mai mult! – I couldn’t be happier!)
(Am auzit că s-ar putea veni – I heard that he might come)
6. Expressions of doubt and some idiomatic expressions may use reverted word order:
verb infinitive + pronoun indicator. This is often used when there is a lot of emotion behind what is
being said. Usually anger, and swearing… not used commonly by missionaries.
(Mânca-te-ar mama – I (mama) could just eat you up)
(Vedea-te-aş mort – I’d like to see you dead! A very dangerous expression)
(Mira-m-aş! – I’d be amazed!)

Past

Would have – aş | am
ai | aţi + „fi” + p.p.
ar | ar

Could have – aş | am
ai | aţi + „fi putut” + verb inf./„să” + verb past
ar | ar subjunctive

Should have – „ar fi trebuit să” + verb past subjunctive

The general pattern is:

Subject + pronouns + indicator + „fi” past participle

Examples:
Te-ai fi dus în locul meu? – Would you have gone in my place?
Nu m-aş fi dus în locul tău – I wouldn’t have gone in your place

Most pronouns come before the indicator and must have the shortened form; however, the s., f, acc. pronoun
„o” comes after the infinitive.

Examples:
Pe Radu l-ai fi văzut, dar pe Maria n-ai fi văzut-o acolo niciodată. Mai degrabă ai fi găsit-o la bibliotecă
You would have seen Radu, but you would have never seen Maria there. More likely you would have found
her at the library

The adverbs „mai” and „cam” come between the indicator and „fi.” The adverbs „şi” and „tot” come between
„fi” and the past participle.

Examples:
Aş mai fi stat puţin… I would have stayed a little longer…
Aş fi tot stat la soare, dar… I would have remained in the sun, but…

Uses of the Past Optative-Conditional

1. Condition: when one past action is conditioned on another’s having taken place, then both the desired
action and required action are rendered in the past conditional. The required action is generally preceded
by „dacă” or „de.”
(Aş fi venit dacă aş fi avut timp – I would have come if I had had time)
(De-am fi avut mai mult timp, ne-am fi întâlnit mai des – Had we had more time, we would have gotten together
more often)
2. Projected or predicted actions in the past.
(El ar fi venit şi aşa a făcut – He would have come, and he did)
3. Obstacles: the desired action is in the conditional while the obstacle is expressed by the indicative,
with „dar” and „însă.”
(Aş fi venit, dar n-am avut timp – I would have come but I didn’t have time)
(Ne-am fi întâlnit mai des însă n-am avut timp – We would have met more often but we didn’t have time)
4. Comparison in the past: often used with „ca şi cum” and „de parcă”
(Te-ai îmbrăcat de parcă am fi fost în Siberia – You dressed as if we were in Siberia)
(S-a comportat ca şi cum ar fi încoronat rege – He acted as if he had been crowned king)

43
5. Potential, probability, or uncertainty
(Dacă ai fi fost acolo, n-ai fi zis aşa – Had you been there you wouldn’t have said that)
(N-aş fi putut să mă fi bucurat mai mult! – I could not have been happier!)
6. After verbs of necessity or desire requiring subjunctive, the past subjunctive is used
(Noi ar fi trebuit să fi rămas acasă– We should have stayed home)
(Aş fi putut să fi venit – I could have come)
(Am fi vrut să fi vorbit – We would have liked to talk)
7. Reproaches after „a putea,” the present subjunctive is often used to express reproval.
(Ai fi putut să-mi telefonezi! – You could have called me!)
(Aţi fi putut să veniţi! – You could have come!)
8. The imperfect indicative may replace the optative-conditional past in expressions of condition,
necessity, or desire
(Mai bine cumpărai biletele ieri, si atunci nu mai aveam această problemă acum – If you would had bought the
tickets yesterday, we wouldn’t have this problem now)
(Nu puteam să mă fi bucurat mai mult! – I couldn’t have been happier!)
(Trebuia să fi rămas acasă noi – We should have stayed home)
(Vroiaţi să fi venit – You would have wanted to come)

44
 Presumptive Mood
The presumptive mood is used to express supposition, hypothesis, hope, and doubt. It’s usage indicates a level of
detachment or skepticism on the speaker’s part. It may take on modal values of suspicion, skepticism, doubt,
uncertainty, possibility, probability, or even hope.
(This mood is used and heard most often in the third person)

Present

oi | om
oi (âi) | oţi (âţi) + verb infinitive (Depending where you are, the six pack can slightly change for tu/dvs)
o | or

Overall, this tense is rarely used in the tu/dvs forms, but mainly in the rest

The general pattern is:

(Subject) + pronouns + indicators + verb inf. + (subject)

Example:
Om veni la biserică mâine – We might come to church tomorrow

Most pronouns come before the indicator and must take the shortened form; however, the f s. acc. pronoun „o”
comes after the infinitive verb.

Examples:
Om găsi-o noi altundeva – We might find her elsewhere
M-o găsi el acolo mâine – He might find me there tomorrow

The following adverbs come between the indicator and verb: „mai, cam, şi, tot.”

Example:
Om mai veni la biserică – We might come to church again

The subject often follows the verb when using the presumptive mood.

Example:
Mi-oi resolva eu toate problemele – I might resolve all my problems

Uses of the Present Presumptive

1. Presupposition related to current events or states of being

(O fi acasă – He might be home)
(O lucra la birou acum – He might be working at the office)
2. Hope for a good future action
(Ne-om mai vedea noi într-o bună zi – We might meet again some day)

Present Progressive (Correct, but rarely used)

oi | om
oi (âi) | oţi (âţi) + „fi” + verb gerund
o | or

The general pattern is:

(Subject) + pronouns + indicators + „fi” + verb gerund + (subject)

Example:
El o fi venind la biserică – He might be coming to church (right now)

45
Most pronouns come before the indicator and the shortened forms are compulsory; however, the s. acc. f pronoun
„o” follows the gerund, hyphenated.

Examples:
L-o fi îngrijind mama lui – His mother might be caring for him
O fi îngrijind-o mama ei – Her mother might be caring for her

The subject often follows the gerund

Example
O fi venind el la biserică – He might be coming to church

More colloquial would be:

În momentul acesta, el este în drum spre biserica – He might be on his way to church right now

The adverb „mai” goes between the indicator and„fi,” while the adverbs „cam, tot, şi” come after fi and
before the gerund.

Uses of the Present Progressive Presumptive

1. Supposition about an unconfirmed or possible event taking place at the moment of speaking.
(S-or fi aşteptând ca noi să venim cu ajutor – Maybe they’re waiting for us to come with help)

Past Presumptive

oi | om
oi (âi) | oţi (âţi) + „fi” + p.p.
o | or

The general pattern is:

(Subject) + pronouns + indicator + „fi” + p.p. +(subject)

Example:
El o fi venit la biserică – Maybe he came to church

Most pronouns come before the indicator and must take the shortened forms; however, the s. f acc. pronoun
„o” follows the past participle, hyphenated.

Examples:
L-o fi ajutat Jan pe Mihai ieri – Maybe Jan helped Mihai yesterday
O fi ajutat-o Jan pe Ana ieri – Maybe Jan helped Ana yesterday

The subject often follows the past participle.

Example:
O fi venit el la biserică – Maybe he came to church

The adverbs „mai” and „cam” come between the indicator and„fi,” whereas the adverbs „şi” and „tot” come
between „fi” and the p.p.

Uses of the Past Presumptive

1. Doubt or disbelief about a past event or supposed past event

(O fi avut vreo boală gravă – He might have had a serious disease)

46
 Imperative Mood
The imperative is used to give commands and order. In English, it is an exception because the verb appears without
the subject, whereas in Romanian the subject may follow the imperative for added emphasis. It forms differently
depending on the person.

2nd Person Plural

It is identical to the 2nd person indicative (with one exception – fiţi! be!)

Examples:
Aşteptaţi! – Wait! Veniţi! – Come! Coborâţi! – Get off!
Lucraţi! – Work! Oferiţi! – Offer! Rămâneţi! – Stay!
Ieşiţi! – Leave! Scrieţi – Write! Vorbiţi! – Speak!
Citiţi! – Read! Mergeţi! – Go! Ascultaţi! – Listen!

Negation is identical to the negated 2nd person plural indicative (with one exception – nu fiţi! Don’t be!)

Examples:
Nu aşteptaţi! – Don’t wait! Nu veniţi! – Don’t come!
Nu coborâţi! – Don’t get off! Nu lucraţi! – Don’t work!
Nu oferiţi! – Don’t offer! Nu rămâneţi! – Don’t stay!
Nu ieşiţi! – Don’t leave! Nu scrieţi – Don’t write!
Nu vorbiţi! – Don’t speak! Nu citiţi! – Don’t read!
Nu mergeţi! – Don’t go! Nu ascultaţi! – Don’t listen!

2nd Person Singular

The affirmative imperative may form two different ways depending on the conjugation and the nature of the verb.

For all „a,” „î,” and (esc) verbs, as well as transitive „e,” „ea,” and (-i) verbs the 2nd person s. Imperative = the
3rd person s. indicative.

Examples:
Aşteaptă! – Wait! Dă! – Give! Întârzie! – Be late!
Lucrează! – Work! Bea! – Drink Hotărăşte! – Decide!
Citeşte! – Read! Coboară! – Get off! Mănâncă! – Eat!
Scrie! – Write! Oferă – Offer! Aleargă! – Run!

For all of the intransitive „e,” „ea,” and (-i) verbs, the 2nd person s. imperative = the 2nd person s. indicative.

Examples:
Mergi! – Go! Şezi! – Sit! Râzi! – Laugh! Taci! – Be quiet!
Ieşi! – Exit! Stai – Stay! Fugi! – Run! Sari! – Jump!
Vezi! – See! Dormi! – Sleep! Rămâi – Stay!

Irr. Verbs

Fii! – Be! Adu! – Bring! Vino! – Come! Desfă! – Undo!

Fă! – Do! Ai! – Have! Du-te! – Go! Devino! – Become!
Vezi!– See! Condu! – Drive! Tradu! – Translate!
Zi! – Say! Scade! – Diminish! Uite! – Look! (from uită-te)

Some verbs have two forms depending on whether it is used in a transitive or intransitive sense.

Verbs with similar conjugations will have the same pattern of imperitives. (“Vino” and “Revino”)

With negation, all verbs, including even the exceptions, use the infinitive of the verb.

47
Examples:
Nu aştepta! – Don’t wait! Nu bea! – Don’t drink! Nu hotărî! – Don’t decide!
Nu dormi! – Don’t sleep! Nu rămâne! – Don’t Stay! Nu fi! – Don’t be!
Nu lucra! – Don’t work! Nu coborî – Don’t get off! Nu merge! – Don’t go!
Nu şedea! – Don’t sit! Nu râde! – Don’t laugh! Nu face! – Don’t do!
Nu citi! – Don’t read! Nu oferi! – Don’t offer! Nu tăcea! – Don’t shut up!
Nu ieşi! – Don’t leave! Nu sta! – Don’t stay! Nu veni! – Don’t come!
Nu scrie! – Don’t write! Nu fugi! – Don’t run! Nu sări! – Don’t jump!
Nu da! – Don’t give! Nu duce! – Don’t bring! Nu întârzia! – Don’t be late!

Imperative with Pronouns

Whereas pronouns in other moods go before the verb, with the imperative mood pronouns follow the verb in the
affirmative. They are linked to the verb by hyphenation. This applies to all pronouns, acc. and dat., objective and
ref.

Examples:
Uitaţi-vă! – Look! Vorbeşte-ne! – Talk to us! Mişcă-te! – Move!
Opreşte-te! – Stop! Vorbiţi-ne! – Talk to us! Întreabă-l! – Ask him!

If the verb ends in „ă” and is followed by the s. f acc. pronoun „o,” then the „ă” is dropped.
The only exception is if the verb is already monosyllabic or based off such a verb.

Examples:
Cântă-l! – Sing it! Desfă-o! – Undo it! Copiază-l! – Copy it!
Cânt-o! – Sing it! Ia-o! – Take it! Copiaz-o! – Copy it!
Fă-o! – Do it! Reia-o! – Retake it! Predă-o! – Teach it!

When two pronouns are used, the dat. comes first in double pronoun form and the acc. follows. Double
hyphenation
is compulsory.

Examples:
Arată-mi-o! – Show it to me! Arată-i-i! – Show them to him!
Arată-mi-l! – Show it to me! Arată-li-le! – Show them to them!
Arătaţi-i-le! – Show them to him! Arătaţi-ne-o! – Show it to us!
Arătaţi-ni-le! – Show them to us! Arătaţi-ni-l! – Show it to us!

In the negative the pronouns come before the verb and are no longer linked to the verb by hyphenation. The same
order of dat. acc. is preserved.

Examples:
Nu vă uitaţi! – Don’t look! Nu-l acoperi! – Don’t cover it!
Nu te opri! – Don’t stop! N-o cânta! – Don’t sing it!
Nu-l întreba! – Don’t ask him! Nu mi-o arătaţi! – Don’t show me it!
Nu ne vorbi! – Don’t speak to us! Nu-l lua! – Don’t take it!
Nu-ţi aminti! – Don’t remember! Nu-l copia! – Don’t copy it!
Nu-l lua! – Don’t take it! Nu vă întrebaţi! – Don’t wonder!
N-o face! – Don’t do it! Nu ne întrebaţi! – Don’t ask us!

3rd Person

This is used mostly in literature and is rarely heard in spoken language outside of „The Lord’s Prayer.”
The 3rd person imperative is identical to the 3rd person subjunctive.

Examples:
Fie! – May it be! Vină! – May it come! Facă-se – Let it be done

Also: “Odihnească-se” and “Sfinţească-se”

48
 Infinitive Mood
The inf. is an impersonal mood upon which all other tenses and moods are based.
There are two forms: the short inf., which preceded by the grammatical marker „a,” and the long inf.
The short inf. occurs in both present and past tense.
When referring to the inf., the short inf. present is meant, unless otherwise specified.

Short Inf. Present

a citi (esc) – to read a lucra (ez) – to work

a vedea (Irr.) – to see a târî (ăsc) – to drag

The general pattern is:

„a” + pronouns + verb

Pronouns must take the shortened form and are hyphenated to „a,” unless separated by negation or involved
in double pronouns.

Examples:
a se gândi – to think a i-o da – to give it to him
a-şi aminti – to remember a vă cunoaşte – to know you
a-l întreba – to ask him a nu ne vedea – to not see us

The adverbs „mai, cam, şi, tot, prea” immediately precede the verb.

Examples:
a se mai gândi – to still think a-l tot suna – to keep calling him

When pronouncing, the emphasis falls on the last vowel, except for „e” verbs. When pronouncing „e” verbs, the
emphasis falls on the second to last vowel (a merge, a scrie, a rupe)

Short Inf. Past

This is a rarely used form equivalent to the English „to have done.”

a fi mers – to have gone a-şi fi amintit – to have remembered

a-i fi plăcut – to have liked

The general pattern is:

„a” + pronouns + „fi” + p.p.

The same rules apply for pronouns as in the short infinitive present.

Uses of the Short Inf.

1. Following prepositions: the inf., with „a” is used. not the gerund.
(Pentru a citi – in order to read, de a citi – replaces subjunctive/of reading, cu a citi – with reading,
prin a citi – through/by reading, despre a citi – about reading, în a citi – in reading, spre a citi – toward reading,
la a citi – to/at/about reading)
(M-am gândit la a veni – I thought about coming)
(Învăţăm prin a citi şi a studia – We learn by reading and studying)
2. Following the verb „a putea,” without „a.” Pronouns come before „a putea.”
(Putem veni – We can come)
(N-ai putut vorbi – You couldn’t speak)
(V-aţi putea duce – You could go)
(M-aş fi putut bucura – I could have been glad)

3. After the following verbs, with „a.” (Note* others do exist)

49
a începe – to begin, a îndrăzni – to dare, a evita – to avoid,
a se cuveni – to be proper, a se hotărî – to decide, a se grăbi – to hurry
(Eu încep a înţelege româneşte – I begin to understand Romanian)
(El îndrăzneşte a înainte – He dares to go forward)
(S-au hotărât a se duce – They decided to go)
4. After adjectives with „a.”
(A fi necesar/uşor/greu/dator/gata/etc – to be necessary/easy/hard/ indebted/ready/etc.)
(Este necesar a ajuta – It is necessary to help)

Long Inf.
The long infinitive is equivalent to the gerund as used as a noun in English.
The basic rule is to add „-re” to the short inf., however, there are two exceptions: „î” and „ea” verbs.
With „î” verbs „î”  „â.” With „ea” verbs the final „a” is dropped before adding „-re.”

Examples:
a citi – citire – reading
a vorbi – vorbire – speaking
a lucra – lucrare – working
a coborî – coborâre – descending
a asculta – ascultare – listening/obedience
a rupe – rupere - ripping
a tăcea – tăcere – being quiet
a vedea – vedere – seeing
a hotărî – hotărâre – deciding

Normal rules of pluralization (e  i, are  ări) apply as do rules of definization.

Examples:
ruperea cărţii – the ripping of the book
intensitatea ascultării sale – the intensity of his listening
începutul lucrării – the beginning of the work

50
 Gerund Mood
The gerund in Romanian serves very nearly the same roles as the present participle or gerund in English. It is an
impersonal mood and therefore does not conjugate according to the person of the subject. This mood is used with
general action and commonly expresses how something was done.

To form gerund in Romanian:

Verbs ending in „i,” „-ie,” „-chea,” „-ghea.” And „-ia” take the „-ind” ending.

Examples:
a vorbi –> vorbind – speaking a scrie –> scriind – writing
a veni –> venind – coming a descrie –> descriind – describing
a supraveghea –> supraveghind –supervising îngenunchea –> îngenunchind – kneeling

If „-ia” forms a dipthong (one syllable), then the gerund has only one „i.”

Examples:
a descuia –> descuind – unlocking a tăia –> tăind – cutting
a încuia –> încuind – locking a îmbăia –> îmbăind – giving a bath
a încheia –> încheind – closing a înmuia –> înmuind – dipping

If „-ia” forms a hiatus (two syllables), then the gerund forms with double „ii.”

Examples:
a studia –> studiind – studying a beneficia –> beneficiind – benefiting
a copia –> copiind – copying a elogia –> elogiind – praising
a întârzia –> întârziind – being late a apropia –> apropiind – approaching

Verbs ending in „-a,” „-ea,” „-e,” „-î” (any that were not mentioned above) take the „ând” ending.

Examples:
a pleca –> plecând – leaving a lua –> luând – taking
a bea –> bând – drinking a lucra –> lucrând – working
a tăcea –> tăcând – silencing a merge –> mergând – going
a vrea –> vrând – wanting a da –> dând – giving
a sta –> stând – staying

Spelling Shifts:
a întoarce –> întorcând – turning a cădea –> căzând – falling
a bate –> bătând – hitting a cunoaşte –> cunoscând – knowing
a face –> făcând – doing a scoate –> scoţând – taking out
a pierde –> pierzând – losing a permite –> permiţând – permitting
a naşte –> născând – giving birth

Exceptions:
a fi –> fiind – being a şti –> ştiind – knowing
a vinde –> vânzând – seeing a vedea –> văzând - seeing

The general pattern is:

Gerund + Pronouns

Like the imperative mood, pronouns come after the gerund and are linked by hyphens. The letter „u” is attached to
the end of the gerund and pronouns take the short form. The exception is the s. f acc. pronoun „o” with which the
added „u” is omitted. While the gerund doesn’t conjugate, reflexive pronouns must match the subject.

Examples:
rugându-mă – praying (I) spunându-le – telling them
rugându-te – praying (you) scriindu-vă – writing to you
rugându-l – asking him amintindu-şi – remembering (he/she/they)
rugând-o – asking her amintindu-i – reminding him

51
With double expression of pronouns the order is dat. acc. The dat. double pronoun forms must be used.

Examples:
dându-i-le – giving them to him cântându-ne-o – singing it to us
dându-li-le – giving them to them cântându-ni-l – singing it to us
părându-ţi-se – seeming to you încredinţându-mi-o – entrusting it to me

In the negative, „ne” attaches directly to the front of the verb as a prefix.

Examples:
neavându-i – not having them negândindu-se – not thinking

The adv. „mai” may be inserted between „ne” and the gerund. All other adverbs come separately before the verb.

Examples:
nemaiascultând – no longer listening nemaiştiind – not knowing anymore
cam neştiind – as if without knowing tot neascultând – (still) not listening

Generally the subjects of the main verb and gerund are the same, but the gerund may also have a subject different
from the main verb.

Examples:
Ieşind din clădire te-am văzut în stradă – Leaving the building I saw you in the street
Din stradă te-am văzut ieşind din clădire – From the street I saw you leaving the building

The gerund never, never, NEVER follows a preposition. Only infinitives follow prepositions.

The gerund may not be possessed in Romanian as it is in English.

Instead the so-called long infinitive is used, a noun formed by adding „-re” to the verb.

Example:
Vorbirea ta mă înnebuneşte – Your talking is driving me crazy

Uses of the Gerund

1. Causality: shows the cause of another action
(Mergând pe jos, a obosit – Walking, he got tired)
(Văzând conflictele între biserici, Joseph a căutat un raspuns din Biblie
Seeing the conflicts between the churches, Joseph searched for an answer in the Bible)
2. Condition: expresses a necessary condition for another action
(Numai luând un taxi vei ajunge la timp – Only by taking a taxi will you arrive on time)
3. Modality: shows how something was done
(Am traversat oceanul înotând – We crossed the ocean by swimming)
(El a spus, şoptind... – He said, whispering...)
4. Time: shows the period of time or moment of another action
(Ţi-ai pierdut ceasul mergând acasă – You lost your watch while going home)
(Coborând din tramvai, s-a împiedicat şi a căzut – While getting off the tram he stumbled and fell)
5. Simultaneity: shows how two actions are taking place at once
(Uitându-se la televisor, el vorbeşte la telefon– Watching the tv, he is talking on the phone)
6. Supplemental predicative element
(L-am găsit lucrând – I found him working)
(Am văzut-o trecând pe lângă mine – I saw her passing by me)
7. Attribute: it may rarely be used as an adj. As such, it must decline
(Mi-a întins o mână tremurândă – He offered me a trembling hand)

52
 Supine Mood
The supine mood is an impersonal mood which allows the verb to act as a noun. The equivalent in English is the
„-ing” form or the infinitive.

It generally takes the form of a preposition followed by a p.p.

The p.p. is not functioning as an adj., so it doesn’t decline.

Examples:
de mers – to go/going de cules – to gather/gathering
de făcut – to do/doing de spălat – to clean/cleaning

For negation „ne” attaches directly to the p.p.

Examples:
de nevăzut – unseen de necrezut – unbelievable

Uses of the Supine Mood

1. After prepositions, most often „de” but also „la, pentru, pe, după,” etc.
(Toamna ne ajutăm părinţii la cules fructele – Autumn we help our parents to gather the fruit)
(Bătrânul umblă după băut – The old man wanders to find something to drink)
2. Obligation or anticipated action: used with both „a fi de” and „a avea de.”
(Am mult de mers – I’ve got a long way to go)
(Ce este de spălat? – What needs to be washed?)
3. With such verbs (using „de” unless indicated: a termina, a se apuca, a se pregăti, a fi în stare,
a se pune (pe), a se sătura, a se plictisi, a ajunge, a se face, a deveni, a rămâne, a sfârşi, a isprăvi, etc.
(Rămâne de văzut – It remains to be seen)
(Te faci de râs – You make yourself a laughingstock)
(M-am săturat de spălat vasele! – I’m fed up with washing dishes!)
(Vă puneţi pe curăţat! – You are all working really hard at cleaning!)
(O să mă apuc de citit – I will begin reading)
4. After adjectives or adverbs, usually with „de.” (Used with an adjective, declination is needed, with an
adverb it is not)
(Carnea e bună de mâncat – The meat is good to eat)
(Pare uşor de făcut – It seems easy to do)
(Părea imposibil de rezolvat această problemă – It seemed impossible to resolve this problem)
5. After nouns, with „de,” indicating the purpose of the noun
(Fier de călcat - Iron)
(Maşina de spălat – Washing machine)
(Ochelari de citit – Reading glasses)
6. With repeated or absent verbs
(Eu fac ce am de făcut – I do what I gotta do)
7. After the verb „a trebui.” No preposition is used.
(Mesajul trebuie împărtăşit – The message must be shared)
(Faţa ta trebuie spălată – Your face must be washed)
8. After a noun, supine in the negative, for an adjectival effect.
(Vacanţă de neuitat – Unforgettable holiday)
(Păcat de neiertat – Unforgivable sin)

53
 Passive Voice
The passive voice indicates either that the speaker/listener is more interested in the action itself than in the agent
who performs it, or that the agent is not (or should not/need not be) known. Any sentence including an active
transitive verb (predicate) can be transformed into a passive sentence (the former direct object becomes the subject
of the new sentence).
There are two ways of turning the active voice into passive in Romanian.

1. The transitive verb is replaced by the corresponding form (mood and tense) of the verb „a fi” + p.p. of
verb, that agrees in gender and number with the new subject. The former subject may occur in a „de”
+ noun (pronoun)/de către + noun (pronoun) pattern, but its presence isn’t compulsory.

Examples:
Mama mi-a aruncat tricoul în gunoi – My mom threw my t-shirt in the trash.
Tricoul meu a fost aruncat în gunoi de mama – My t-shirt was thrown in the trash by mom.

Studenţii au citit toate materialele – The students read all the materials
Toate materialele au fost citite de către studenţii – All the materials were read by the students

Ei vor pune cărţile la loc – They will put the books back in their place
Cărţile vor fi puse la loc – The books will be put back in their place

2. Many verbs can form the passive with the reflexive pronoun „se” and the 3rd person, s. or pl.,
of the verb. The passive acquires thus an impersonal meaning.

Examples:
Ei vor organiza conferinţa la Bucureşti – Conferinţa se va organiza la Bucureşti –
The conference will be organized in Bucharest

Ei vor traduce cărţile acestea cu sprijin financiar din partea UNESCO

Cărţile se vor traduce cu sprijin financiar din partea UNESCO
The books will be translated with the financial support of UNESCO

Vocative Case
This is the case of direct address in Romanian. Words in the vocative case have no grammatical function but to

54
emphasize whom the subject is addressing. It is used to special esteem or familiarity for the person being
addressed, though the familiarity may also come in the form of ridicule or irony.
The vocative may also be used to turn an adjective into a name or title.

Generally, vocative words have special ending based on the gender, number, and final letter.
-consonant + e | băiat  băiatule! |
-u  e | fiu  fiule! | domni 
-u + le | + lor unchi  unchiule! | domnilor!
-consonant/-i + ule | . moş  moşule! | .
-ă/a  o | + lor soră  soro! | doamne 
-e + o | vrăjitoare  vrăjitoareo! | doamnelor!

These endings apply also to people’s names.

Examples:
Dan  Dane! Radu  Radule! Elena  Eleno! Petru  Petre!

Masculine nouns ending in „e” or „ă” don’t take special endings.

Examples:
frate  frate! George  George! tată  tată!

There are no definite rules at all for endings. Those are above are simply guidelines.
Examples:
băiat  băiate!/băiatule! erou  eroule!

When using adjectives, first decline the adj. and make any necessary phonetic changes.
Then add the vocative endings.

Examples:
deştept | deştepţi  deşteptule | deşteptilor
deşteaptă | deştepte  deşteapto | deşteptelor

Some words always take specific endings, also, they don’t translate that well.
Examples:
domnule! – Sir! fiule! – Son! prietenule! – friend!
unchiule! – uncle! bunicule! – grandpa! vere! – cousin!
doctore! – doctor! omule! – Man! (used also as slang)
bunico! – grandma! deşteptule! – smart one!
iubito! – love! deşteapto! – smart one!
fraţilor! – brothers! domnilor! – sirs!
fetelor! – girls! doamnelor! – ladies!
Some words are a lot more debateable, some believe they do not have vocative endings and others disagree with
this and give some of these words vocative endings. It seems like there is no standard rule. A word may be
considered vocative with or without special endings.

Examples:
fată! – girl! mamă! – mom! doamnă! – madame!
copii! – children! prieteni! – friends! băieţi! – boys!

The vocative is also used in direct addressing (letters or speaking). The noun in the vocative is usually preceded by
certain adjectives, such as: drag, iubit, scump, stimat. The noun in the vocative can be used in a simple structure –
adj. + noun, or in complex structures including possessive adjectives. The noun doesn’t take the special vocative
ending.

When addressing someone, both in written and in spoken language, the noun is often omitted.
Examples:
dragul meu, iubita mea, scumpii mei, dragele noastre

Cardinal Numbers
0 – zero 11 – unsprezece (unşpe) 30 – treizeci

55
1 – unu/una 12 – doisprezece (doişpe)/ 40 – patruzeci
2 – doi/două douăsprezece (douăşpe) 50 – cincizeci (cinzeci)
3 – trei 13 – treisprezece (treişpe) 60 – şaizeci
4 – patru 14 – paisprezece (paişpe) 70 – şaptezeci
5 – cinci 15 – cincisprezece (cincişpe) 80 – optzeci (obzeci)
6 – şase 16 – şaisprezece (şaişpe) 90 – nouăzeci
7 – şapte 17 – şaptesprezece (şaptişpe)
8 – opt 18 – optsprezece (optişpe)
9 – nouă 19 – nouăsprezece (nouăşpe)
10 – zece 20 – douăzeci

21,22,23,etc. – douăzeci şi unu/una, douăzeci şi doi/două, douăzeci şi trei

31, 32, 33, etc. – treizeci şi unu/una, treizeci şi doi/două, treizeci şi trei

Beginning with „20” the cardinal numeral is linked to the following noun by „de.”

Examples:
doi studenţi, doisprezece studenţi, trei studente, treisprezece studente
douăzeci de studenţi, treizeci de studente

The cardinal numerals „sută” (hundred) and „mie” (thousand) are formally identical to f nouns, whereas „milion”
and „miliard” act as neuter nouns. All have genitive-dative forms.

o sută/suta – unei sute/sutei o mie/mia – unei mii/miei

nişte sute/sutele – unor sute/sutelor nişte mii/miile – unor mii/miilor

un milion/milonul – unui milion/milionului

nişte milioane/miloanele – unor milioane/miloanelor

un milliard/miliardul – unui milliard/miliardului

nişte miliarde/miliardele – unor milioane/miloanelor

200, 300, etc. – două sute, trei sute

2000, 3000, etc. – două mii, trei mii

2000000, 3000000, etc. – două milioane, trei milioane

2000000000, 3000000000, etc. – două miliarde, trei miliarde

The groups of figures representing thousands are not separated by commas in Romanian,
but they can be separated by dots (1.000.000).

The combination of a numeral bigger than „9” with „sute” is not possible in Romanian. Numerals like „2000”
can’t be expressed as „twenty-hundred,” but only as „two thousand” (două mii). The numeral „mii” can be
preceded by any number smaller than „o mie” (nouă sute de mii).

When the number of thousands, millions, or billions is bigger than „19,” the numerals „mii, milioane, miliarde”
are preceded by „de.”

Examples:
nouăsprezece mii, nouăsprezece milioane
douăzeci de mii, douăzeci de milioane

The nouns coming after „o sută, o mie, un milion, un miliard,” as wells as numerals composed with them
are preceded by „de.”

Examples:
o sută de foi, trei sute de lire, suta mea de dolari (heh, mi-aş dori)
trei miliarde de lire, milionul meu de dolari (vreau şi eu!)
milion de foi

When not preceded by another numeral, they designate a large but indefinite number

56
(sute/mii/milioane/miliarde de oameni).

In compound numbers biiger than „100,” the elements form a simple string without any connector.
Romanians read numerals bigger than „1000” identical to writing numbers in letters.

Examples:
o sută unu, două sute treisprezece, o mie trei sute patruzeci şi cinci
o mie o sută, o mie două sute cinci, o mie trei sute patruzeci şi trei

The preposition „de” after numerals over „100” is not required if the compound numeral in the final position is not
bigger than „19.” If a numeral between „20” and “99” is in the final position, then „de” must be used.

Examples:
o sută cinci cărţti, o mie trei sute nouăsprezece cărţi
o sută douăzeci de cărţi, trei sute patruzeci şi cinci de cărţi

In the genitive and in the dative the cardinal numerals are preceded by prepositions:
„a” is for genitive, „la” for dative.

Examples:
Am corectat testele a trei studenţi/a trei dintre ei
Le-am dat test la opt student/ la opt dintre ele

The combination of a cardinal numeral + noun can be preceded ba „cei/cele,” which identifies or refers to a group
of objects as a whole. It can also be genitive-dative.

Examples
Cele trei scrisori, cele două fete/cele două din Grecia
Am văzut cele trei cărţi
Le-am văzut pe cele trei fete
Cărţile celor trei studente
Aceste coperţi sunt ale celor trei cărţi
Le-am dat cărţi româneşti celor trei studente din Italia

57
 Ordinal Numbers
al câtelea? (m) / a câta? (f)

The general pattern is:

m – al + number + lea
f – a number +a (or change ă to a)

1st – întâiul, primul, înâia, prima

2nd – al doilea (second), a doua (secundă)
3rd – al treilea (terţ), a treia (terţă)
4th – al patrulea, a patra
5th – al cincilea, a cincea
6th – al şaselea, a şasea
7th – al şaptelea, a şaptea
8th – al optulea, a opta
9th – al nouălea, a noua
10th – al zecelea, a zecea
11th – al unsprezecelea, a unsprezecea
12th – al doisprezecelea, a douăsprezecea
13th – al treisprezecelea, a treisprezecea
14th – al paisprezecelea, a paisprezecea
15th – al cincisprezecelea, a cincisprezecea
16th – al şaisprezecelea, a şaisprezecea
17th – al şaptesprezecelea, a şaptesprezecea
18th – al optisprezecelea, a optisprezecea
19th – al nouăsprezecelea, a nouăsprezecea
20th – al douăzecilea, a douăzecea…şi aşa mai departe
100th – al (o) sutălea, a (o) sută
1000th – al (o) miilea, a (o) mia
1000000th – al (un) milionulua, a (o) milioana

In a compound numeral, only the last number in the series is ordinal, but the whole structure takes the
possessive article „al” or „a.”

Examples:
al douăzeci şi unulea, a douăzeci şi una
al douăzeci şi doilea, a douăzeci şi doua
al o sută douăzeci şi treilea, a o sută douăzeci şi treia

The synonyms „second/secundă” and „terţ/terţă” have a very limited usage.

Examples:
locul secund, echipa secundă
terţă parte, terţă persoană

The ordinal numeral is often preceded by „cel/cea” and „de” (cel de-al doilea/cea de-a doua). „Întâiul/Întâia”
becomes „cel dintâi/cea dintâi.” „Primul/prima, second/secundă, terţ/terţă” can’t be preceded by „cel de/ cea de.”

The difference between the ordinal numerals with or without „cel de/cea de” isn’t relevant in the nominative-
accusative, but in the genitive-dative „cel/cea” changes.

Examples:
al treilea concurent – cel de-al treilea concurent
notele delui de-al treilea concurent, celei de-a trei concurente

Ordinal numerals can be used independently, as noun substitutes. They can also function as noun modifiers
(before or after a noun). When in pre-position, it doesn’t take the definite article. In post-position the noun takes
the definite article. It is very seldomly used with „cel de/cea de” in post-position.

58
Examples:
Sportivul din Franţa a ieşit al treilea
Cel de-al treilea este din Franţa
Aceasta este a treia încercare – Cea de-a treia încercare – o a treia încercare
Aceaste este încercarea a treia – încercarea cea de-a treia
„Primul/prima” is most frequently placed before the noun. „Întâiul/întâia” can precede or follow the noun.
In pre-position it always takes the definite article, but in post-position it will have the invariable form „întâi.”

Examples:
Primul examen a fost foarte greu
Este vorba despre întâia mişcare
Eu stau la etajul întâi
Ea este în clasa întâi

„Primul” and „Întâiul” can’t replace each other in all contexts. For instance, „primul sărut” and „întâiul sărut,”
and „prima mişcare” and „întâia mişcare” have the same meaning, but „clasa întâi” means „first grade,”
while „prima clasă”is „the first classroom.”

Ordinal numerals can form a particular type of adverbial numeral in association with the nouns „dată/oară.”

Examples:
prima dată, prima oară, a doua oară, a zecea oară

If the ordinal numeral precedes the noun „parte,” it shows a fraction:

„a treia, a cincea parte, a zecea parte” (a tenth).
When the ordinal numeral comes after „parte,” it preserves its regular ordinal meaning:
„partea a treia, partea a cincea, partea a zecea” (the tenth part)

To indicate parts or sections in books, plays, ballets, operas, movies („capitol, volum, act, scenă”), ordinal numerals
should be used. However, in colloquial language, cardinal numerals frequently used and are commonly heard.

Examples:
Volumul întâi, capitolul al doilea, actul al treilea
Volumul unu, capitulul doi, actul trei

The ordinal numerals can also replace the name of the month when expressing a date. Also, since they are
associated with Roman numerals, the month can be written like that. When using the Roman numerals, the day
doesn’t take „0” when lower than „10.”

Examples:
02.03.1999/2.03.1999/2.III.1999 – doi a treia o mie nouă sute nouăzeci şi nouă

întâiul/primul | întâii/primii întâiului/primului | întâilor/primilor

întâia/prima | întâile/primele întâii/primei | întâilor/primelor

Cel dintâi – celui dintâi cea dintâi – celei dintâi (First)

Cel de-al doilea – celui de-al doilea cea de-a doua – celei de-a doua
Cel de-al treilea – celui de-al treilea cea de-a treia – celei de-a treia

Examples:
Numele întâiului copil este Dan, numele primei fiice este Elena
Primilor li s-a spus deja ce trebuie să facă
Copiii celei de-a doua surori a mamei sunt deja la şcoală
Dă-I dicţionarul acesta celui de-al patrulea student din rândul întâi

However, in some situations the ordinal numerals come after the modified noun, not preceded by „cel/cea.”
Such nouns as: „clasă, an (de studii), grupă, etaj, rând, lecţie, exerciţiu, etc,” the ordinal numerals can be replaced
with cardinal numerals after all these except „clasă.” The ordinal numeral doesn’t change in genitive-dative.

Example:
Elevii clasei a douăsprezecea mănâncă

59
 Collective Numeral
For a group of two objects (both), the collective numeral is „amândoi/ amândouă.” The synonyms „ambii/ambele”
are also used, but mainly in administrative or journalistic style.

amândoi  amândurora ambii  ambilor

amândouă  amândurora ambele  ambelor

Both „amândoi” and „ambii” can function as independent words or as noun modifiers. When „amândoi” modifies
a noun, it normally comes first and the noun is definized. When „ambii” modifies a noun, it comes before the noun
and the noun doesn’t take an article.

Examples:
amândoi studenţii, amândouă studentele
ambii studenţi, ambele studente

More Examples:
Ai văzut cărţile? Le-ai văzut pe amândouă/ambele?
Le-ai văzut pe studentele din Franţa? Le-ai văzut pe amândouă/pe ambele?
Le-ai văzut pe amândouă colegele/pe ambele colege din Franţa?
Am stat de vorbă cu amândoi
Avem cadouri pentru amândouă
Am vorbit despre amândouă studentele din Franţa
Vreau să stau lângă ambii profesori
Este casa amândurora/ambilor
Casa e a amândurora/a ambilor
Le-am oferit flori amândurora/ambilor/ambelor
(Le-)am oferit flori ambilor profesori/ambelor profesoare (not „amândurora”)

„Amândurora” can’t function as a noun modifier in the dative, „ambilor/ ambelor” is used instead.
For groups of more than three elements, the most frequent structure is „toţi/toate” + cardinal numeral. The nouns
after these will always be definized. The cardinal numeral can also be preceded by „cei/cele,” if so then the noun
will not take an article.

Examples:
S-au închis toate trei teatrele din oraş
S-au închis toate cele trei teatre din oraş

More Examples:
Am văzut toate trei cărţile/toate cele trei cărţi
Le-am văzut pe toate trei studentele/pe toate cele trei studente
Ai văzut toate trei cărţile, da, le-am văzut pe toate trei
Le-ai văzut pe toate trei studentele, da, le-am văzut pe toate trei

For genitive and dat. the structure „tuturor celor” + cardinal numeral (+noun in the nominative).
The dat. can also be formed with „la” (the structure without „cel/cea” can also be used in this dat.)

Examples:
Lucrările tuturor celor zece/tutoror celor zece studenţi
Le voi oferi bomboane tuturor celor cinci/la toţi cinci/la toţi cei cinci

„Trei” and „patru” can also be formed with „tus-“ and „câteşi-” (tustrei, tustrele, tuspatru, câteşitrei/câteşitrele,
câteşipatru). However, these forms are rather archaic and seldom used in standard speech.
They are mainly associated with nouns designating persons.

Examples:
Au venit tustrei
Nu-mi place când apar câteşipatru

60
 Distributive & Adverbial Numeral
Distributive Numeral
The distributive numeral indicates several identical groups of objects, and is formed with the cardinal numeral
preceded by „câte” („câte doi/câte două” – two by two/in twos, „câte trei” – three by three/in threes, etc.)
The genitive-dative form is formed with „a” (genitive) and „la” (dative).

Examples:
Comisia examinează câte cinci candidaţi pe zi
Am oferit fiecărui copil câte două bomboane
Propun să formăm grupuri de lucru de câte patru
Directorul nu aprobă decât cererile a câte trei din fiecare grup
Am distribuit materiale la câte trei din fiecare grup

In order to emphasize the distributive meaning and to add the idea of repetitiveness, cardinal numerals (mainly
small numbers) may be used both before and after „câte.”

Example:
Copii, mergeţi doi câte doi!

Adverbial Numeral

The adverbial numeral expresses the idea of repetitive action („once, twice, three times, etc.”)
The question for this is „de câte ori?” (How many times?).
Adverbial numerals bigger than „1” use „de” + cardinal numeral + „ori.”
For numerals over „20,” „ori” will be preceded by „de.” For once, „o dată” is used.

Examples:
o dată
de două ori, de trei ori, de patru ori, de zece ori
de douăzeci de ori, de treizeci şi cinci de ori

„Zece, sută, mie, milion, miliard” in the plural can also work within this structure. Like all the adverbs,
the adverbial numeral is invariable.

Examples:
de sute de ori, de mii de ori, de milioane de ori, de miliarde de ori
de câte ori să-ţi spun că nu pot să vin mâine? Ţi-am spus de sute de ori
În ultima lună ne-am văzut doar de două ori

61
 Multiplicative & Fractional Numerals
Multiplicative Numeral

The multiplicative numeral shows the progressive growth of a value („twice as much, etc.”) It is formed by
derivation from the cardinal numeral with the prefix „în-” and the suffix „-it.”

Examples:
Îndoit, întreit, împătrit, încincit
înzecit, însutit, înmiit

Only some cardinal numerals from multiplicative numerals. The most frequent are those above.
A limited number of multiplicative numerals have synonyms. As adjectives they agree with the noun.

Examples:
dublu, triplu, cvadruplu, cvintuplu, sextuplu
Am câştigat triplu/întreit
Am avut câştiguri triple/întreite

When the adverbial numerals are followed by „mare” or „mult” they can replace the multiplicative numerals.

Examples:
Am câştigat de trei ori mai mult
Am avut câştiguri de trei ori mai mari

Fractional Numeral

The fractional numeral indicates parts of a unit. It is formed by derivation from the cardinal numeral with the
suffix „-ime.” The derivation has a plural that ends in „-imi.” If the number is over „20,” the fractional
numeral will be preceded by „de.”

Examples:
o doime, o treime, o pătrime, o cincime, o şesime, o şeptime, o optime, o noime, o zecime, o sutime,
o mime, două treimi (2/3), trei pătrimi (3/4), şapte noimi (7/9), două cincimi (2/5), trei zecimi (3/10),
treizeci de sutimi (30/100), patru miimi (4/1000)

The fractional numeral can be preceded by words indicating indefinite quantity, such as „câte, atâtea, multe,
câteva, nenumărate, puţine.”

Example
Rezultatul atletei din SUA a fost mai bun cu câteva zecimi de secundă

„Jumătate” (half) and „sfert” (quarter) are commonly used instead of „doime” and „pătrime.”
The fractional numerals „doime, treime, pătrime, optime, şaisprezecemi,” are also musical terms.

Fractions can be expressed with the cardinal numeral and „pe” or „supra.” The percentage and per-mileage the are
expressed with the cardinal numeral + „la” + „sută/mie.” Decimal fractions are written with a comma („virgulă”),
not a dot. So, „1.5” will be written „1,5,” and will be said as „unu virgulă cinci.” The genitive is formed with „a,”
and the dative with „la.”

Examples:
doi pe trei, cinci pe opt
doi supra trei, cinci supra opt
zece la sută, douăzeci la sută, optzeci la sută
zece la mie, cincizeci la mie, şaptezeci şi cinci la mie
treisprezece virgulă şaptezeci şi cinci
Am aici notele a o treime dintre studenţi
Voi da note mari numai la o treime dintre studenţi

62
 Numerical Approximation
The approximation of a certain quantity/number of objects is expressed by the adverbs „aproximativ, circa, în jur
de,
cam, vreo.” The typical structure includes one of these and the numeral. „În jur de, cam vreo” are mainly used in
colloquial speech, while „aprovimativ” and „circa” are more frequent in documents, mass-media texts, etc.

Examples:

Au venit vreo 15 persoane la conferinţă

La conferinţa organizată de UNESCO au participat aproximativ 30 de specialişti

Approximation can also be rendered by a structure made of two close numbers that are either hyphenated or
separated
by a comma. If the first number is „un” or „o,” the noun will come after this.

Examples:

În trei-patru zile va fi foarte cald

Într-un an, doi n-o s-o mai recunoşti

To indicate a large quantity of objects that exceeds a round standard,, the number is preceded by such elements as
„peste (puţin peste, mult peste” mai mult de, mai bine de,” or followed by such elements as „şi ceva, şi mai mult,
şi mai bine.”

Examples:

Am de citit peste 100 de pagini pe zi

Am stat mai mult de trei ore la birou
Am dat pe toate cărţile astea opt dolari şi ceva

To indicate a smaller quantity of objects than a round standard, one of the elements „aproape, sub, (ceva)
mai puţin de” are used before the number.

Examples:
Au venit aproape cincizeci de persoane
Mai sunt mai puţin de trei minute până intrăm în direct!

63
 Expressing Time
Cât este (e) ceasul? Ce oră e? Cât aveţi (ai) ceasul? Aveţi (ai) un ceas?

Este ora nouă şi zece minute (9.10)

Este ora douăzeci şi unu şi zece minute (21.20)
Este ora paisprezece şi patruzeci şi cinci de minute (14.45)

When a third numeral indicating the seconds is added, „şi” is eliminated.

Este ora nouă, zece minute, treizeci şi cinci de secunde

Este ora paisprezece, patuzeci şi cinci de minute, zero secunde

The familiar style of telling time uses „1-12” for hours and „1-29” for minutes. „Jumătate/jumate” (half) and „un
sfert” (a quarter) are also very frequent the presence of „ora” and „minute” is optionial. In order to specify the
moment of the day. „Dimineaţa” (in the morning), „ziua” (in the afternoon), „seara” (in the evening) or „noaptea”
(in the night) are used.

If the time is exactly on the hour, the structure is: „este (ora)” + the number + „fix.”

Este ora unu fix (1.00)

E unu ziua (13.00)
E şase (6.00)
Este ora douăsprezece noaptea (0.00)

To express the minutes there are two ways. The first is with „şi” (and) and the second is with „fără” (without).

E unu şi cinci (1.05)

Este ora trei şi cincisprezece minute (3.15)
Este cinci şi douăzeci şi cinci de minute (17.25)
E opt şi treizeci (8.30)
E ora patru şi cincizeci şi opt de minute (4.58)
Este şapte fără douăzeci (6.40)
E ora opt fără cincisprezece minute (7.45)
Este unşpe fără două minute (22.58)

For the interval of 30 minutes, „jumătate” (half) (more formal, and used with „şi”), or „jumate” (more informal,
and
used directly following the number), and for the interval of 15 minutes, „un sfert” (a quarter) is used.

E unu şi jumătate/e unu jumate

Este ora cinci şi un sfert
Este opt fără un sfert

When asking question about the time/moment when an action takes place, „la ce oră?” (when?) are used. To
answer these question, „la” is used.

Examples:
La ce oră decolează avionul? La ora nouă şi patruzeci şi cinci de minute
La ce oră plecăm? La zece fără un sfert
Când avem seminar? La zece fix

For uncertain or approximate time information, some preposition or adverbs can be placed before the structure.

Examples:
Este în jur de şase (it’s about six)
Sosim pe la patru (we’ll arrive at four or so)
Este aproape ora două (It’s almost two)

64
 Expressing Dates
The days of the week are not capitalized, and are feminine. They can take the definite article, which can also have
adverbial value (every).

Ce zi a fost ieri? / Ce zi este astăzi (e azi)? / Ce zi va fi mâine?

Ieri a fost duminică / Astăzi este (azi e) luni – Mâine va fi marţi

În ce zi? Când?

luni – on Monday lunea – în fiecare luni – each/every Monday

marţi – on Tuesday
miercuri – on Wednesday
joi – on Thursday
vineri – on Friday
sâmbătă – on Saturday
duminică – on Sunday
marţea – în fiecare marţi – each/every Tuesday
miercurea – în fiecare miercuri – each/every Wednesday
joia – în fiecare joi – each/every Thursday
vinerea – în fiecare vineri – each/every Friday
sâmbăta – în fiecare sâmbătă – each/every Saturday
duminica – în fiecare duminică – each/every Sunday

The months of the year are not capitalized, and are masculine. They can’t take the definite article.

Ce lună e acum? ianuarie

În ce lună? când?

în ianuarie – in January în iulie – in July

în februarie – in February
în martie – in March
în aprilie – in April
în mai – in May
în iunie – in June
în august – in August
în septembrie – in September
în octombrie – in October
în noiembrie – in November
în decembrie – in December

The seasons are not capitalized, and are feminine. They can take both the definite and the indefinite articles.
The forms with the definite article can also have an adverbial value.

Ce anotimp este acum? / Care este anotimpul tău preferat?

Este primăvară / Anotimpul meu preferat este primăvară

în ce anotimp? când?
primăvara – spring vara – summer la iarnă – iarna viitoare – next winter
toamna – fall/autumn iarna – winter astă-vară – vara trecută – last summer

To specify the date of a certain day cardinal numerals are used. The order is day, month, year.
The first day of the month can also be expressed by „întâi.” In answer to „când?” the date is
preceded by „la, în, pe” or „la data de/în data de” is used.

Examples:
02.03.1999 – 2 martie 1999 – doi martie o mie nouă sute nouăzeci şi nouă
în/pe 10, în mai, în 2002, în ianuarie 2003,
(with just the month or year, or when they are together, „în” is used.)

65
 Usage of „Pe”
„Pe” isn’t used when the direct object is:
A common noun designating inanimate objects or unidentified animals
(when not implying a metaphor designating persons).

Examples:
Am citit un articol / un articol interesant / articolul / articolul despre lei / trei articole / cele trei articole
Ai văzut măgarul?

A common noun designating unidentified persons, categories of people (nationalities, profession), ideal or
imaginary persons, as well as any noun preceded by „aşa, atare, astfel de” (such).

Examples:
Caut translator / un translator de limba portugheză / profesorul ideal / o fată frumoasă
Ai mai văzut aşa un om?
Cine a mai cunoscut o atare persoană?

Any common noun (including persons) with the definite article that is used in the possessive dative.

Examples:
îmi caut cartea/sora

A proper noun designating countries, cities, mountains, rivers, buildings, monuments, etc. the can generally take
the definite article.

Examples:
Iubesc Kenya
Visez Parisul zi şi noapte

An unstressed form of the personal pronoun in the acc.

Examples:
M-a invitat la teatru
Te visez în fiecare noapte

An interrogative-relative, indefinite or negative pronoun that is a substitute for non-personal objects, such as „ce,
cât, ceva, altceva, orice, nimic” (however, „care, fiecare, oricare” will be preceded by „pe” whenever they express a
direct object, even if it’s an inanimate object).

Examples:
Ce ai cumpărat? Câte ai cumpărat?
Am găsit ceva frumos, dar aş vrea să-i cumpăr altceva
Cumpără-i orice, n-am cumpărat nimic

„Pe” is used when the direct object is:

A common noun designating identified, definite or unique persons, as well as persons assumed as known both by
the speaker and the listener.

Examples:
O aştept pe mama
Îl caut pe professor / profesorul de matematică / profesorul Gheorghiu

A proper noun, the name of a person or of an animal.

Examples:
L-am văzut aseară pe Cristian
Îl plimbi tu pe Rex? (a dog)

66
A common noun designating inanimate objects or animals that implies a metaphor for a person, or is used in a
complex comparison in which the first term is a person, as well as names of toys that can be perceived as people
or pets (dolls, teddy-bears, etc.).

Examples:
A aruncat-o pe iubita lui ca pe o măsea stricată
O iubeşti pe păpuşă? Dar pe ursuleţ?

A construction with the possessive (al, a, ai, ale) or demonstrative (cel, cea, cei, cele) articles, that works as a
substitute for nouns designating both persons and objects.

Examples:
Prietenii mei au venit deja, acum îi aşteptăm pe ai Alexandrei
Prietenii de la viena au venit, acum îi aşteptăm pe cei de la Roma
Am băgat în casă scaunele din curte, hai să le băgăm şi pe cele de pe teresă

A stressed form of the personal or ref. pronoun.

Examples:
Mă aşteptaţi şi pe mine?
A possessive pronoun (for both persons and objects).

Examples:
I-am văzut pe prietenii mei, şi i-am văzut pe ai tăi
Am luat toate caietele de pe masă, şi le-am luat şi pe ale tale

A demonstrative pronoun (for both persons and objects), except the feminine forms with a general value.

Examples:
Invită-I, te rog, şi pe aceia de acolo să intre în sală
Ce flori doriţi? Le vreau pe acelea de lângă geam

The indefinite pronouns „oricare” and „fiecare,” as well as „toţi/toate” (for both persons and inanimate objects).

Examples:
Pe cine să invităm? Pe oricare dintre colegi. Invită-i pe toţi!
Ce carte să iau? Ia-o pe oricare, toate sunt bune. Ia-le pe toate!

The interrogative-relative pronouns „cine” or „care.”

Examples:
Pe cine ai invitat?
Pe care l-ai cunoscut ieri? Pe colegul din china?

An indefinite or negative pronoun that substitutes nouns designating persons.

Examples:
I-am invitat şi pe unii din Grecia la petrecerea de diseară
N-am văzut pe nimeni în parc

Cardinal numerals preceded by „cei/cele,” as well as ordinal and collective numerals acting like pronoun and
substituting nouns that designate both persons and inanimate objects.

Examples:
I-ai invitat la cină pe cei trei din Anglia?
Pe care student l-ai ales? Pe al treilea
I-ai invitat la cină pe toţi trei?
Ce revistă să iau? Ia-o pe a doua, sau mai bine, ia-le pe amândouă

When „pe” precedes the main direct object the double expression of the direct object is compulsory.
Examples:

Pe tine, te spun!! (I’m telling on you!!)

67
 Double Expression
Both the direct and indirect object are often expressed twice in Romanian. The double expression depends on
several restrictions, as well as the word order in the sentence. In Romanian the word order is relatively free, so
the main direct or indirect object can come either after the verb (the regular word order) or before the verb
(reverse order, that has emphatic or emotional value.) Therefore, the Romanian grammar makes a distinction
between anticipating (regular word order) and reiterating (reverse order) the direct or indirect object.

The anticipation of the direct object occurs with most of the direct objects that take „pe.” Old grammar rules do not
consider this compulsory with identified or definite persons; however, in contemporary standard Romanian, this
anticipation is an obvious tendency, and without, it is perceived as incorrect.

The anticipation of the direct object is required when the main direct object is:

A stressed form of the personal or ref. pronoun.

Examples:
Ne-a aşteptat pe noi

A possessive pronoun (for both persons and non-persons)

Examples:
Vin şi prietenii tăi? Da, i-am invitat şi pe ai mei
Ai luat toate scrisorile din cutie? Le-ai luat şi pe ale mele?

A demonstrative pronoun (for both persons and non-persons)

Examples:
Vreau să lucrez cu studentul acela, îl prefer pe acela
Vreau să folosesc dicţionarul acesta, îl prefer pe acesta

The anticipation of the direct object is not required when the main direct object is:

Built without „pe” or when it is expressed by one of the interrogative-relative, indefinite or negative pronouns
substituting nouns that designate persons („cine, care, cineva, careva, altcineva, oricine, nimeni”).

Examples:
Ai văzut pe cineva?
Invită pe altcineva
Accept ca vecin pe oricine
Nu vreau să văd pe nimeni

The reiteration of the direct object is required when the main direct object preceding the verb is:

Built with „pe” (except „pe cine, cineva, careva, altcineva, oricine, nimeni”).

Examples:
Pe Maria am văzut-o ieri la facultate
Ceilalţi colegi ştiu că avem test? Nu, pe ceilalţi nu i-am anunţat
Unde sunt scaunele celelalte? Pe celelalte le-am lăsat afară

Any noun (for both persons and non-persons) modified by a demonstrative pronominal adj.

Examples:
Acest roman l-am citit recent
Romanul acesta l-am citit recent
Pe acest om îl cunosc de când aveam şase ani
Pe omul acesta îl cunosc de când aveam şase ani

68
Any noun (for both persons and non-persons) with the definite article, preceded or not by „pe.”

Examples:
Filmul l-am văzut, dar romanul nu l-am citit
Rudele mi le cunoaşte, şi pe prietenii mei îi cunoaşte destul de bine

Any noun (for both persons and non-persons) modified by an adj. in the superlative relative.

Examples
Cel mai frumos cadou îl vreau pentru ea!
Pe cei mai înalţi copii i-am invitat să se aşeze în ultima bancă

The reiteration of the direct object is not required for:

Most of the direct objects built without „pe” and for the direct objects „pe cineva, oricine, altcinva, nimeni.”

Examples:
Filme interesante am văzut recent, frumoase poze ai făcut!
Pe cineva aş invita, pe altcineva nu vreau să invit
Pe nimeni n-am sunat de când m-am întors în Bucureşti
The anticipation of the indirect object is not compulsory, in general.

The anticipation of the indirect object is required when the lexical indirect object is:

A stressed personal pronoun in the dative

Examples:
Mi-a încredinţat acest secret numai mie, deja v-am spus vouă

Mentioned in an impersonal construction indicating a state of being (a-I fi cuiva foame, frig, rău, etc.)

Examples:
Îi e foame bietului copil, şi îi e cald femeii

The anticipation of the indirect object isn’t accepted when the indirect object is:

A noun that designates an inanimate object (with all others it is optional, although „le-am scris părinţilor”
is preferred to „am scris părinţilor,” however both are correct.)

Examples:
Dă prioritate camionului, ştiu că n-ai dat atenţie la nimic!

The reiteration of the indirect object is required with:

Most indirect object designating all kinds of things (animate, inanimate, person, non-persons).

Examples:
Fratelui meu îi scriu rar, lui nu îi lipseşte nimic

The reiteration of the indirect object isn’t accepted when it:

Would imply impossible combinations of dat. and acc. pronoun – „ţi mă. i mă, vi mă, le mă, mi vă, ţi vă, i vă, ni
vă,” so the first is left out (with dative of „cine, oricine, cât, oricât,” reiteration is optional, but normally preferred.)

Examples:
Mă prezintă (pe mine) vouă

69
 Phonetic Mutations
These are a list of the changes that are made when words are changed by either adding letters or taking away,
depending on the situation. Mostly with verb conjugations and pluralizations of nouns.

Vowel Mutations

1. o/oa: „o” followed by consonant(s) - „oa” when the next syllable includes „ă” or „e”
Examples:
avion – avioane, domn – doamnă, frumos – frumoasă, orbi – oarbe

2. e/ea: „e” followed by consonant(s) or syllable including „ă” – „e” when the next syllable includes „e” or „i”
Examples:
românesc – românească, negru – neagră

3. ă/e: „ă” followed by consonant(s) or syllable, including „ă” – „e” when the next syllable includes „e” or „i”
Examples:
capăt – capete, sâmbătă – sâmbete, măr – mere, proaspăt – proaspete

4. a/e: „(i)a” followed by a syllable including „ă” or „e” – „ă” when the next syllable includes „(ur)i”
Examples:
masă – mese, piatră – pietre, iarnă – ierni, viaţă – vieţi, iarbă – ierburi, băiat – băieţi, canadian –
canadieni

5. a/ă: „a” followed by a syllable including „ă” or „e” – „ă” when the next syllable includes „(ur)i”
Examples:
ţară – ţări, gară – gări, carne – cărnuri, lucrare – lucrări, cetate – cetăţi

6. ea/e: „ea” followed by consonant(s) or a syllable including „ă” or „e” – „o” when the „ă” or „e” in the next
syllable changes into „i”
Examples:
armean – armeni, moldoveancă – moldovenci, dimineaţă – dimineţi, viteaz – viteji

7. oa/o: „oa” followed by consonant(s) – „ia” when the next syllable includes „ă”
Examples:
biet – biată

8. â/i: „â” followed by consonant(s) - „i” when the next syllable includes „e” or „i”
Examples:
cuvânt – cuvinte, vână – vine

9. a/ă: „a” stressed – „ă” unstressed

Examples:
eu caut – noi căutăm, eu tac – voi tăceţi, ţară – ţăran

10. u/o: „u” unstressed – „o” stressed

Examples:
eu mă joc – noi ne jucăm, eu rog – noi ne rugăm

70
Consonant Mutations

1. c/ce or ci
Examples:
copac – copaci, capac – capace, bancă – bănci, nemţoaică – nemţoaice, mic – mici, sălbatică – sălbatice

2. g/ge or gi
Examples
fag – fagi, dungă – dungi, catarg – catarge, drag – dragi, lung – lungi

3. s/ş + i
Examples:
urs – urşi, rus – ruşi, frumos – frumoşi, gras – graşi

4. st/şt + i
Examples:
artist – astişti, poveste – poveşti, îngust – înguşti, prost – proşti

5. str/ştr + i
Examples:
astru – aştri, ministru – miniştri, albastru – albaştri, nostru- noştri

6. sc/şt + i or e
Examples:
broască – broaşte, moluscă – moluşte, cască – căşti, lumesc – lumeşti

7. t/ţ + i or e
Examples:
bărbat – bărbaţi, frate – fraţi, tată – taţi, cetate – cetăţi, atent – atenţi, cult – culţi

8. d/z + i(â) or ă
Examples:
brad – brazi, ladă – lăzi, verde – verzi, bland – blânzi

9. z/j + i
Examples:
obraz – obraji, cneaz – cneji, viteaz – viteji, treaz – treji

Other Mutations

l/ … + i (meaning when we get rid of „l”)

Examples:
cal – cai, cale – căi, moale – moi, gol – goi

n/ … + i (same as „l” but „n”)

Examples:
eu pun – tu pui, eu rămân – tu rămâi, eu vin – tu vii

71
 Correct Pronunciation & Accentuation
In Romanian, given the phonetc principle of writing („we write as we pronounce, we read as we write”), spelling is
only necessary when there is hesitation on how to write a proper name or a very uncommon word. In order to make
clearer the usage of one particular letter, familiar names of people or places starting with that letter are used as a
reference term, introduced by „de la” (from).
Examples:
Cum se scrie „Durham?” „D” de la Dana, „u” de la Urlaţi, „r” de la Raluca, „h” de la Horia, „a” de la Ana, „m” de la Maria

The Romanian Alphabet

A, a – similar to „a” in father but shorter
Ă. ă – similar to „a” in about, like „uh”
–, â – pronounced somewhat like „ă,” but farther back, like getting punched in the gut
B, b – like „b” in bar
C, c – like „c” in car, as well as in groups like „che/chi,” unless followed directly by „i” or „e,” without an „h” in
between, where it sounds like „ch” as in charter
D, d – similar to „d” in dare
E, e – similar to „e” in send
F, f – like „f” in far
G, g – like „g” in grade, as well as in groups like „ghe/ghi,” unless followed directly by „i” or „e,” without „h” in
between, where it sounds like „j” in job
H, h – like „h” in hi
I, i – longer than the short „i” in win and shorter than the long „i” in deep, if in initial position before vowel or final
position after vowel, then is similar to „y” in yes or in boy, if in final position after consonants, then it is softly
breathed out and almost unnoticeable
Î, î – same as „â”
J, j – like „s” in pleasure
K, k – like „k” in key, not a commonly used letter
L, l – like „l” in life
M, m – like „m” in man
N, n – like „n” in nose
O, o – like „o” in order
P, p – like „p” in peace
R, r – similar to „r” in bread, but rolled
S, s – like „s” in sound
Ş, ş – like „sh” in sharp
T, t – like „t” in team
Ţ, ţ – like „ts” in its, or „zz” in pizza
U, u – like „u” in rule, if between other vowels, then like „w” in want
V, v – like „v” in voice
X, x – either like „k + s” or „g + z”
Z, z – like „z” in zero

In foreign words, especially proper nouns, letters like „Q, q, W, w, Y, y, etc.” are used and as a rule, foreign
words are pronounced in Romanian as close as possible to the foreign language they come from.

Correct Pronounciation, words that are commonly mistaken:

băiat (not băiet) obiect (not object) gură (not gără)
ecuson (not echison) subiect (not subject) până (not poonă)
misionar (not mişionar) căsătorie (not casătorie) pământ (not pămoont)
ochelari (not ochilari) sănătate (not sanitate) câştigă (not cuştigă)
săptămână(not septămoonă) mămăligă (not mamaligă) putut (not pătut)
sămânţă (not seminţa) mânastire (not monastire) durut (not dărut)
crângaşi (not criingaşi) gata (not gată) morcovi (not marcovi)
România (not Româniă) salată (not sălată) prooroci (not proroci)
proiect (not project) cravată (not crăvată) alcool (not alcohol

Accentuation

72
**In Romanian it is best to over-exaggerate when you pronunciate, being sure to sound out each and every
vowel.**

Accent the final vowel of all infinitives except „e” verbs.

Examples:
se vor împărtăşi, de a pleca, vom merge

Accent the last vowel in all past participles.

Examples:
a plecat, a crezut, au mers, au trimis, a părut

Accent generally falls on the last vowel of m nouns.

Examples:
profet, botez, izvor, Isus Hristos, adevăr, Braşov

Accent often falls on the second to last vowel in f nouns, with many exceptions.
Examples:
lumină, apostazie, preoţie, mărturie, soţie, familie, mizerie, cerere, caracatiţă

Accent will rarely fall on an „ă,” but there are exceptions.

Examples:
zahăr, tovarăş, adevărul, adevărurile, salvării

Accent never falls on noun qualifiers („ul, lui, uri, ile, lor,” etc.)
Examples:
scopurile, ţelurile, lucrurilor

Accent always stays on original root of word in the singular undefinized form.
Examples:
învăţătură, învăţături, scriptură, scripturi, destul, sătul, lucru

Accent the end of „ea” verbs in the „noi” and „voi” forms.
Examples:
cădem, tăceţi, vedem

Accent the end of certain indefinite pronouns.

Examples:
ceva, cineva, altcineva, oricum

73
 Accusative VS. Dative
Oftentimes, it remains a question as to whether a verb should use the accusative pronouns or the dative pronouns.

The accusative pronouns are:

mă | ne
te | vă
îl / o | îi / le

These are generally used when the subject is acting directly on the substantive, which is why we call
it the direct object.

Examples:
I love you so much – Te iubesc aşa de mult
I’m so sorry that I ran over you with that car – Îmi pare atât de rău că te-am călcat cu maşina aia

The dative pronouns are:

îmi | ne
îţi | vă
îi | le

These are generally used when the subject is not directly acting on the substantive, but it is still effected by the
main subject’s action, which is why we call it the indirect object.
Generally, when you use or could use the word to in English.

The gaps often make it harder. Along with the fact that there are times when in English it is shorter and
easier to say a sentence without using the word to.

Examples:
I will give you a book – Îţi voi da o carte
He will send me the CDs that he made – El îmi va trimite CDurile pe care el le-a făcut

In general, the appearance or possibility of the use of the word to siginifies the need of the dative pronouns.
However, there are some notable exceptions:

The following are not dative:

a asculta, a chema, a învăţa,
Examples:
Ascultă-mă! – Listen to me!
Te-am chemat acum o oră – I called out to you an hour ago.
L-aţi învăţat limba română – You taught Romanian to him.

The following are dative:

a promite, a cere*, a aminti, a arăta, a deschide, a închide, a răspunde, a mulţumi
Examples:
Mi-a promis că va veni duminică – He promised me that he’ll come Sunday
Ţi-am cerut acel dicţionar – I asked you for that dictionary
Le-a aminitit că trebuie să vină – She reminded them that they need to come
Arată-mi şi mie! – Show me too!
Puteţi să-mi deschideţi uşa? – Can you open the door for me?
De ce i-ai închis uşa? – Why’d you close the door on him?
Şi mie mi-a răspuns după ce am făcut partea mea – He answered me too after I did my part
Îţi mulţumesc că ai scris această carte pentru noi – Thank you for writing this book for us

Beware, there are verbs that can be used as either dative or accusative.
Examples:
Ţi-am trimis 300 de dolari – I sent you 300 dollars Te-am trimis la Sibiu – I sent you to Sibiu.
Te cer – I’m asking you to marry me Ţi-am cerut să mă ajuţi – I asked you to help me

74
 Correct verb Usage
Verb Mismatches

1. a citi (esc) – to read 1. a cita (-ez) – to cite/quote

2. a ura (ez) – to wish 2. a urâ (urâsc) – to hate
3. a prepara – to prepare (food) 3. a pregăti (esc) – to prepare (anything else)
4. a developa – to develop (film) 4. a dezvolta (-a) – to develop (talents,
muscles,etc.)
5. a împarţi – to share/divide (things) 5. a (se) împărtăşi– to share/impart
(sacrament)
6. a da un examen – to take a test 6. a lua un examen – to pass a test
7. a spera (-a) – to hope 7. a speria (-a) – to frighten
8. a strica – to damage/spoil/break 8. a striga (-a) – to yell
9. a sluji (esc) – to serve (cuiva) (religious) 9. a servi (esc) – to serve (pe cineva)
10. a urma (ez) – to follow/ pursue/watch 10. a urmări (esc) – to keep/follow up on/ (facultate)
11. a asista – to attend (passive) (concert) 11. a participa/a lua parte – to attend/ participate
12. a uita (-a) – to forget 12. a se uita la (-a) – to look at
13. a munci (esc) – to work 13. a mânca (Irr.) – to eat
14. a (se) găsi (esc) – to find (to be found) 14. a (se) afla (-a) – to find out (to be found)
15. a se pricepe la – to be good 15. a se percepe – to perceive/levy (tax commission)
16. a hrăni – to feed/nourish 16. a răni – to wound/injure
17. a risipi – to squander (active) 17. a irosi (esc) – to waste
(money/resources) (passive) (time/opportunities)
18. a răspunde – to answer 18. a răspândi (esc) – to spread (evanghelia)
19. a îngriji (esc) – to care for/take care of 19. a (se) îngrijora (ez) – to concern (worry)
20. a cumpăra (-a) – to buy 20. a compara – to compare
21. a păstra (ez) – to keep/preserve 21. a ţine – to hold/keep
22. a apărea – to appear 22.a apăra – to defend
23. a proba – to try/try on/prove 23. a aproba – to approve
24. a se pocăi (esc) – to repent 24. a se căi (esc) – to feel remorse/regret
25. a (se) descurca (-a) – to manage/get by 25. a descărca (-a) – to unload/ discharge
26. a încurca – to mix up/confuse 26. a încărca – to load/charge/ weigh down
27. a pleca (-a) – to leave/lower 27. a (se) apleca (-a) – to bend/ tilt/ (bow)
28. a (se) pleca (-a) – to bend/tilt/(bow) 28. a aplica – to apply
29. a (se) mişca (-a) – to move 29. a muşca (-a) – to bite
30. a căpata – to receive/acquire (passive) 30. a obţine – to obtain (active)
31. a obţine – to obtain (active) 31. a dobândi (esc) – to obtain/get (legal)
32. a însemna (-a) – to mean/signify 32. a însemna (ez) – to mark/note
33. a rugini (esc) – to rust 33. a ruşina (ez) – to embarrass/be ashamed
34. a durea – to hurt 34. a dura (ez) – to endure/last
35. a proteja – to protect (an inferior) 35. a apăra – to defend
36. a proteja – to protect (an inferior) 36. a ocroti – to protect (endangered species)
37. a bate – to beat 37. a zdrobi – to crush
38. a (se) lovi (pe/cu) (esc) – to hit/strike 38. a izbi de – to strike against
39. a sparge – to shatter/break 39. a strica – to break/break down
40. a rupe – to rip/tear 40. a sparge – to shatter/break
41. a reţine – to keep (retain in memory) 41. a-şi aminiti/ aduce aminte (esc) – to remember
42. a ţine minte de – to keep in mind/remember 42. a-şi aduce aminte – to remember
43. a antrena (ez) – to train/coach (sports) 43. a pregăti (esc) – to prepare/teach
44. a (se) căsători (esc) – to marry (general) 44. a (se) mărita/însura – to marry (female/
male)
45. a remarca – to remark/comment 45. a remorca – to tow
46. a decide – to decide 46. a deceda – to be deceased (only in past
tense)
47. a afecta – to affect/influence/feign 47. a efectua – to effect/accomplish/realize
48. a râde – to laugh 48. a (se) rade – to shave/cut
49. a ploua – to rain (să plouă) 49. ploaie – rain (the noun)
50. a însărcina – to give a task 50. însărcinată – adj. pregnant
51. a se îndoi (esc) – to doubt 51. a îndoi (esc) – to bend/fold

75
 52. a întreba (-a) – to ask (questions) 52. a ruga (-a) – to ask (action or favor of somebody)
53. a ruga (-a) – to ask (favor of sombody) 53. a cere – to ask for/demand(objects)

Others

să are – subjunctive of “to plow-a ara” să aibă – subjunctive of “to have-a avea”

n-au dat – they didn’t give ne-au dat – they gave to us

nu ne-au dat- they didn’t give to us

voi – future indicator (I will…) a voi – to will/desire

voi – plural you

Verb Uses

A arăta (-a) (to show to)

a. is a dative verb – îţi arăt, not te arăt
b. ele arată frumos, not frumoase because it is an pl., not an pl.

A învăţa (-a) (to teach/learn)

a. is not dative – te învăţ, not îţi învăt.
b. if you înveţi ceva, you are learning
c. if you înveţi pe cineva you are teaching

A întreba (-a) (to ask/question) – is not dative – l-am întrebat pe el, not i-am întrebat lui

A se gândi (esc) (to think) – a se gândi la, NEVER despre – mă gândesc la famila mea

A minţi (-i) (to lie) – is not dative – mă minţi not îmi minţi

A promite (to promise) – is dative – îţi promit, not te promit

A asculta (-a) (to listen) – is not dative

A da (Irr.) (to give) – a da ascultare (to be obedient to…) is dative

Ascult muzică, dăm ascultare poruncilor, ascultăm la radio, ascultăm pe profeţi

A simţi (-i) (to feel things)

a. is transitive – simt Spiritul
b. when ref. means “to feel about” or “state of being” – mă simt bine
c. when ref. and followed by an pl. it means the person feels that they are such – ea se simte mai
puternică
d. with an pl., it means how they feel – ea se simte prost, not proastă

A întâlni (esc) (to meet someone) versus A se întâlni (esc) (to meet with someone/to date)

A mirosi (-i) (to smell) – „miroase a ciuperci” (smells like mushrooms), or „are un miros de ciuperci”
(has a scent of mushrooms)

A aştepta (-a) (to wait for), A căuta, (-a) (to search/look for), a cere (to ask for), the „for” is implied,
„pentru” is not needed – aştept timpul, cautăm ulei, cerem ajutor

76
A vrea (Irr.) (to want)
a. use „ca să” with actions and subjunctives, not „pentru” – Vreau ca el să…, not vreau pentru el să…
b. use „pentru” with objects – vreţi ceva pentru el

A dori (esc) (to wish) is much more polite in most instances than „a vrea”

„Eu vreau şi ei vor” not „ei vreau” and „ei o să fie” not „fiu”

Infintives are used with all conditional indicators (aş, ai, ar, am, aţi, ar) – „aş vreau” is wrong, „aş vrea” is right

A se concentra (ez) (to concentrate) asupra is followed by genitive - Să ne concentrăm asupra muncii misionare

A trece (to pass by) in the sense of passing by requires the use of „pe la” – „vom trece pe le voi,”
not „vă vom trece” which means „we will run you over”

The subjunctives of „a plăcea, a părea, a durea, a păsa” follow the rules just like all the rest of the verbs –
ca să vă placă (so you’ll like it), o să-ţi pară rău (you’re gonna be sorry), ca să nu te doară (so it won’t hurt you),
de ce să-mi pese (why should I care?)

The verbs „a plăcea, a durea, a trebui” are to be used in the 3rd person
a. „v-a plăcut, filmul,” not „v-aţi plăcut filmul,”
b. mie, nu-mi place” not „eu,”
c. „cui îi place?” not „cine”
d. „am trebuit să venim” and „eu voi trebui să fiu” are wrong, „a trebuit să venim” and „va trebui să fiu”

A se interesa (ez) (to interest/look into) de – is not dative

Dacă cineva are un inters în biserică, they have a material benefit or gain
a. Este intersat de biserică, pe el îl interesează (it interests him),
b. se interesează (he’s looking into it)

A mulţumi (esc) (to thank), a se mulţumi (to be satisfied/content), a fi mulţumit (to be content)

A se îngrăşa (-a) (to fatten/get fat) - ref., a slăbi (esc) (to thin/weaken) – not ref.

„Se uită” generally means „it/they are looking,” but can also be the passive tense of forgetting

Verbs with different ref. meaning can still have the passive of the nonreflexive meaning

„I” verbs such as: a acoperi/diferi/oferi/referi/sprijini/suferi because of the ending sounds, are conjugated
like „a” verbs in the 3rd person – sprijin, sprijini, sprijină, să sprijină

„A” verbs such as „a se apropia/întârzia/speria/zgâria” are conjugated differently because of the „I” directly in
front of the last „A” – mă apropii de, te apropii de, se apropie de, să se apropie de

Add even more…

77
 Common Noun Mismatches
1. copii – children 1. copii – copies
2. ardei – peppers 2. arde – it burns or to burn
3. cai – horses 3. căi – paths/ways
4. cifră – number 4. chiflă – roll
5. fond – fund of money 5. fund – butt (anatomy)
6. oţel – steel 6. oţet – vinegar
7. mulţime – multitude 7. mulţumire – thankfulness
8. bancă/bănci – bank, bench 8. banc/bancuri – joke
9. mândrie – pride (the noun) 9. mândru – proud adj.
10. porumbel – dove 10. porumb – corn – păpuşoi
11. măcar – as much as 11. cel puţin – at the least
12. numai – only/merely 12. doar – only/just/perhaps
Numai el ştie să facă Mai mulţi ştiu, dar doar el va face
13. orar – business program hours 13. orele – hours for anything
14. atunci – then – a fixed/exact time 14. pe urmă / apoi – after/then (relative)
15. viteaz – brave (adj.) 15. viteză – speed
16. rai – paradise 16. răi – pl. m bad/evil
17. zeu – god 17. zău – really/wow (exclamation)
18. gros/groasă – thick 18. gras/grasă – fat
19. sau – or 19. său – 3rd person possessive pronoun
20. geantă – bag (not jeantă) 20. jantă – rim (or a car wheel)
21. că – that 21. ca – as / like / than
22. circ – circus 22. cerc – circle
23. în cer/ceruri – in heaven (religious) 23. pe cer – in the sky
24. diseară – tonight (said in the morning) 24. astă-seară – tonight (said afternoon)
25. noi – pl. adj. new 25. noi – we
26. câţiva – several/few m 26. câteva – several/few f
27. roman/î – Romanian/s 27. roman – novel
28. romane – novels 28. românce – Romanian girls
29. familial – pertaining to families 29. familiar – familiar, common, obişnuit
30. temporal – pertaining to temporal things 30. temporar – temporary, trecător
31. luni – months 31. luni – Monday
32. unde – where 32. unde – waves (radio, sound…)
33. aproape – nearby 33. apropo – by the way / speaking of
34. veri – plural cousins 34. veri – plural summers
35. văi – plural valleys 35. vai – interjection – oh snap
36. ceară – wax 36. ceară – subj. of a cere
37. camp – field 37. câmpie – plain / prairie
38. grâu / grâne – wheat 38. greu - difficult / heavy / dense
39. ministru – minister 39. minister – ministry
40. cameră – room 40. aparat – camera (photo)
41. migdală – almond 41. amigdală – tonsil
42. paznic – guard 42. paşnic – peaceful
43. praznic – feast / commemoration 43. năpraznic – sudden
(Un paznic prea paşnic a venit năpraznic la praznic)
44. cui – nail 44. cui – gen/dat of cine
45. …eşti – plural adj. (origin) 45. …eşte – adverb ending
(Ceasuri româneşti) (urmezi orbeşte) (discutăm omeneşte)
46. lumină – light 46. lumânare – candle
47. mascul – masculine (the noun) 47. masculine – masculine adj
48. de două ori – twice 48. a doua oară – the second time
49. feţe zâmbitoare – smiling faces 49. fete zâmbitoare – smiling girls

78
50. geam – pane of glass 50. gem – jam
51. crezul – creed / belief (definite) 51. credul – adj. credulous / simple-
minded
52. toaletă / wc – bathroom (toilet) 52. baie – bathroom (bath / shower / etc.)
53. depresiune – geographical depression 53. deprimare – emotional depression
54. deprimare – emotional depression 54. depresie nervoasă –nervous
depression
55. binişor – fairly well 55. bine / uşor – well / easy
56. plasă – net 56. a lua plasă – to get stood up / bunged
57. broască – lock/frog 57. broască (ţestoasă) – turtle
58. broască– frog 58. broască (râiuască) – toad
59. rigolă – street gutter 59. streaşină – rain gutter
60. proprietară – landlady 60. proprietăreasă – wife of the landlord
61. companie – company(presence/military) 61. campanie – campaign
62. firmă – firm/company 62. ferma- farm
63. ci – on the contrary 63. dar – but
64. adunare – gathering 64. întâlnire – meeting/date
65. şedinţă – sitting (political/prof.) 65. miting – street meeting
66. vise / visuri – dreams 66. viză / vize – visa 66. vis – dream
67. original – original 67.originar – originator 67. origina - oirigin
68. vie / vii – vineyard/s 68. vie / vii - alive 68. vii – you come
69. groaznic – terrible 69. grozav – great 69. zugrav – painter
70. colţ – corner / fang 70. colţuri – corners 70. colţi – fangs
71. ochi(uri) –egg(s) / burner(s) 71. ochi – eye(s) 71. ochi – glass pane
72. masă – table / mass 72. mese – tables 72. mase - masses
73. nouă – nine 73. nouă – new 73. nouă – to/for us
74. capitol(e) – chapter 74. capitală(e) – capital (city) 74. capital – capital $
75. piesă – part(auto), piece(theater)75.partitură – part/score(music)75.parte – part (other)
76. temă – theme/homework 76. teamă – terror 76.temei/uri – basis
77. cărare – path / hair part 77. carieră – career / quarry 77.carie – cavity (teeth)
78. şi – and / also 78. iar = şi + ci (while) 78. iarăşi – again

79
 General Tips & Mistakes
1. General or unmodified subjects of sentences must be definite – Prietenii ştiu de ce (Friends know why),
Rugăciunea e importantă (Prayer is important).

2. With „a plăcea” (to like) & „a durea” (to hurt) what would be the object in English is the subject in
Romanian – colegului meu îi plac pisicile (my colleague likes cats). Thusly, those nouns are all definized.

3. Astă este de ce sunt aici” is wrong, instead – „de aceea sunt aici,” or „de aia sunt aici,” or “…motivul
pentru care sunt aici”

4. Use definite nouns after: tot/toată/toţi/toate (all), amândoi/amândouă (both), place/plac (to like),
doare/dor (to hurt)

5. Undefinized nouns follow ambii / ambele (both) whereas definized nouns will always follow amândoi /
amândoua (both) –– amândoi băieţii, ambii băieţi (both boys), amândoua fetele, ambele fete (both girls)

6. The preposition „pentru” will rarely directly preceed „să” whether or not the subject is used, „the Ca să
Principle” is used instead... spre exemplu: noi vrem ca tu să vii cu noi (We want you to come with us),
or ...ca noi să putem pleca mâine, va trebui să ne facem bagajele în grabă. (...for us to be able to leave
tomorrow, we will have to pack our bags in a hurry.) The other alternative would be to use pentru
followed by the long infinite of the verb. (Pentru a pleca).

7. In modern romanian „Δ is found only at the beginning or end of words except those roots with prefixes,
otherwise „â” is used – în curând (soon), a urî (to hate), urâsc (I/They hate), a noi, a reînnoi (to renew)

8. De-al/a/ai/ale means one of many – un prieten de-al meu (assuming there is more than one friend).
Normal genitive sound is then used whenever a noun is not definized, and the de does not need to be in
front of the indicated articles .

9. Sunt membrul Bisericii, is wrong, --The genitive sound needs to be used --Sunt membru al Bisericii, is
correct

10. With the future tenses: o să vin (I’m gonna come), am să vin (I intend to come), Voi veni (I will come)

11. Definite articles and genitive/dative endings can be put on the pl. if it preceds the noun – frumoasa sa
soţie, conform marelui plan al preşedintelui nostru

12. Transitive verbs are the only verbs that are used as reflexive verbs. Transitive verbs are those used with
direct objects, intransitives verbs such as --a fi, merge, sta-- can’t be reflexive

13. The shortened dative pronouns (mi, ţi, i, ni, vi, li) are used with possessive/ref. voice – mi se spune că
(They say to me that), also when combining indirect & direct objects – ni le-a dat(He/She gave them to
us), li i-a dat (He/She gave it to them)), dă-mi-l (Give it to me)

14. Vocatives derived from adjectives decline according to the gender of the person – Surdule/Surdo (Deaf),
those formed from nouns maintain the gender of the object –Legendo (legend) or Scobitoareo (toothpick)

15. Use indefinite nouns after prepositions, unless the noun is further modified by adjectives or is being
possessed – mergem în parc (We’re going to the park), în Biblie este scris (In the Bible it is written)

16. When „cu” is used as a preposition meaning with, it is articulated/definized except with the adverbial
phrases – mergem cu metroul (We’re going with the metro), Să ne folosim timpul cu înţelepciune (Let’s
use our time with wisdom)

17. When „cu” is used as a conjunction it is articulated/definized, can be replaced with „împreună cu” or „şi
cu” – mergem cu/împreună cu prietenii în parc (We’re going with friends to the park)

18. Many verbs can form nouns by adding „-re” & „ţie,” one is an action, the other is the result thereof, o
injectare (the giving of an injection), o injecţie (the acutal injection/substance)

19. Most infinitives can form nouns by adding „-re” – a clădi (to build), o clădire (a building), două clădiri
(two buildings), în spatele clădirii (in the back of the building)

80
20. Some gerund type nouns are formed with the past participle – fumatul (the smoking), v-aţi lăsat de fumat
(you quit smoking), cum merge cu cititul (how’s it going with the reading), alergatul (the running)

21. Long infinitives are the general form of verbs that can follow prepositions, gerunds can’t follow
prepositions, use infinitives instead – prin a citi.

22. The supine mode doesn’t decline when following a proposition, but when used after the verb “a trebui”, it
does. Am multe haine de spălat (invariable-doesn’t decline)(I have a lot of clothes to wash), această haină
trebuie spălată (variable-declines)(This clothing needs to be washed)/aceste haine trebuiesc spălate
(variable-declines) (These clothes need washing)

23. Sentences shouldn’t end in prepositions in Romanian or English, but it sounds especially terrible in
Romanian!!!

24. While câtorva (to a few), amândurora (to both), fiecărora (to each), multor (to many), tuturor (to all) do
exist, colloquially „la” is more frequently used – la puţin, la doi, la toată lumea, la mulţi, la câteva

25. “Destul de” is used with adverbs where as destul(+declination) is used with nounsDestul de bine (good
enough), destul de cald (hot enough), but destul timp (enough time), apă destulă (enough water), destui
bani (enough money), destule hârtii (enough papers)

26. Feminine names (geographic or for a person) are generally definite (except Dunere), girls’ names
generally end in „a” (except Carmen)

27. Masculine geographic names can be definite or indefinite – e frumos Clujul (Cluj is beautiful)

28. Reference to a people/nation requires a definite noun – Românii sunt mai deştepţi decât americanii

29. Use „în” when referring to countries or in the referred place, otherwise use „la,” the same basic rules
apply to „din” and „de la” – Suntem în Bucureşti (We are in Bucharest), mergem la Ploieşti, şi pe urmă în
Bulgaria (We are going to Ploieşti, and after that to Belgium)

30. When referring to time „din” is used as „since” while „de” is used as „for” – ne cunoaştem din 1960
(We’ve known each other since 1960),îl cunosc de două luni (I’ve known him for 2 months)

31. „Că-s” & „Nu-s” are short for „că îs” and „nu îs” which are short for „că sunt” and „nu sunt” (...that I
am) (I am not...)

32. Care-i, unde-i, and nu-i are short for care este (which is), unde este (where is), and nu este (is not)

33. Use poftiţi/poftim/cum in place of ce/ce aţi zis/ce ai zis

34. Ceva, cineva, undeva are all masculine – Familia este ceva important (Family is something important) –
and the accent is on the va part of the word.

35. După mult timp, după ce cântăm (verbs all use după ce), şi după aceea (after that)

36. Infinitives can function as noun, adjectives or adverbs in sentences – a avea credinţa înseamnă că (To
have faith means that), scopul este acela de a ne aduce fericire (The purpose is that of bringing us
happiness), pentru a se asigura oamenii că (In order to assure the people that), spre a birui păcatul
(Overcoming the sin), în a desăvârşi (In perfecting the saints)

37. Only „-toare” exists, not „-toară,” but other „oară’s” decline – ea este recunoscătoare (she is grateful), o
vorbitoare (a speaker (girl)), o învăţătoare (a teacher (girl)), o profesoară (a professor (girl)), două
profesoare (2 of ’em)

38. Just as the accusative pe care is used with an article afterwords, so is the dative/genitive
căruia/căreia/cărora. Example: Fata aceasta este cea pe care tu ai lovit-o şi cea căreia i-am sugerat să se
ducă la spital.

39. The President of the Branch is “preşedintele ramurii”, but a branch president is “un preşedinte de ramură”

40. El a folosit uneltele care ruginiseră (He used tools that had rusted), but with „pe care” a pronoun must be
used – uneltele pe care le-a folosit au fost ruginite (The tools that he used were rusted), pentru această zi
pe care o avem (for this day that we have). Unlike in english, the “which” can not be skipped or replaced
with “că”. –Cartea am citit is not correct neither is Cartea că am citit.

81
41. Nouns must be definized when datively possessed! Mi-am uitat ceasul (I forgot my watch) îţi sparg faţa
(I’m going to break your face) ---And yes, threats in Romanian are used in the present tense

42. Care is also used genitively or datively – ale căror strălucire şi glorie întreceau (whose brightness and
glory surpass), băiatul căruia i-am dat cartea nu mi-a înapoiat-o (the boy to whom I gave the book, did not
give it back to me)

43. Trebuie s-o citiţi pe această carte is wrong, trebuie să citiţi această carte (you need to read this book) is
correct, „pe” is only used in this sense for people (unless you want to read on top of the book)

44. „Pe care” doesn’t work for everything – use other prepositions in front of care as well –
de/despre/sub/peste/prin, etc. Este o carte în care este scris (There is a book in which it is written),
depinde de care selecţie (depends on the selection)

45. Other options for „unul pe altul” are: faţa de/pentru/cu/către, etc – arătăm dragoste unul faţă de altul (We
show our love one for another). Another good way of saying it is with the word “reciproc”. Ne iubim
reciproc (We love each other)

46. Dative possession is used when the object is owned by the subject, especially when directly after the verb
– să-mi împărtăşesc sentimentele, el şi-a format biserica sa

47. The verb tense is preserved when talking of the past – he told me that he was there (before he told me),
mi-a spus că a fost acolo – he told me that he was there (when he told me), el mi-a spus că este acolo, he
told me that he would be there (later than when he told me) el mi-a spus că va fi acolo

48. Future is all future, I’ll go when it’s warmer – Voi merge când va fi mai cald, not „este”

49. „Ce” is overused, care este scopul vieţii (what is the purpose of life), care e diferenţa între… (what is the
difference between…), cum e mai correct? (what is more correct?)

50. Using „doi” and „şepte” on the phone avoids confusion, it is especially common in Bucureşti

51. „Cum” (how) can also mean „just as/as soon as” – te sun cum ajung

52. Ne rugăm lui when we are talking about to whom, ne rugăm la biserică for where.

53. Use „că atunci când” and „ca şi când,” also „ca şi cum,” or use „virgulă” (comma), beware of
subjunctives – ească că

54. „Lămâie” can be dangerous, use the plural – „lămâi” or „lemon” to be safe.

55. Instead of „o scriptură” or „un scriptur,” say „un verset” or „un pasaj din scripturi”

56. Remember to pronounce the difference between „aceasta” and „această”

57. Verb usage does not all translate directly such as—it is not “a se gândi despre”, it is “a se gândi la”—it is
not “a asculta la” it is used instead accusatively— see more on Correct Usage of Verbs page.

58. Things and time are „scurt,” not people, people are „scund”

59. „Să ajută-ne” is wrong, either „ să ne ajuţi” or the imperitive (command form) „ajută-ne”

60. When asked „care-i problema?” the response isn’t „nu e o problemă,” it is just asking what the point or
purpose is

61. After a fi unarticulated/indefinite pronouns – sunt misionar al bisericii (I am a missionary of the church),
este un misionar nou (He is a new missionary)

62. Occupations and nationalities aren’t capitalized or definized

63. A female Romanian is a româncă, not română

64. Possession is automatically implied with body parts hurting/itching – Mă doare gâtul (my throat hurts)
Mă mănâncă piciorul (my leg itches)

65. „Numele de biserică” is a church type of name, „Numele Bisericii” is the name of the church

66. „Ei/Ele sper/plec/aştept/se rog” is wrong, Drop A verbs are conjugated instead - „speră/pleacă/aşteaptă/se
roagă

82
67. „Un imn la pagina 19,” not „pe pagina,” imnul 19 is more correct because the hymns are numbered

68. „Suntem terminaţi” means we’re dead / finished, „am terminat” means we have finished

69. Instead of sunt târziu/întârziat say am întârziat or sunt în întârzie. A fi întârziat means to be retarded.

70. A îngenunchea is not ref., do not say s-a îngenuncheat.

71. „Cu tu, după eu” is wrong, say „cu mine, după tine”. The accusative stressor must be used after
prepositions.

72. The preposition “pe” is not used for the tv or the phone as it is in English: „Am văzut la televizor şi am
vorbit la telefon,” not „pe,” which means on top of

73. „Nişte sunt buni” is wrong, it can’t be alone, say „unii sunt buni, alţii nu sunt”

74. Everyone in Romanian is singular… „Toată lumea a venit” not „au venit” It is also declined feminely…
“Toate lumea este prietenoasa aici”

75. Majoritate & grămadă are technically singular but mostly conjugated in the plural (depends on the
situation) – Majoritatea e necesară (the majority is necessary), majoritatea oamenilor cred (the majority of
people believe), majoritatea oamenilor au diferite păreri (the majority of people have different opinions)

76. „Un om se numeşte Lehi” is wrong, he died long ago, use „un om numit/un om se numea/un om al cărui
nume a fost”

77. The words mai, cam, si, prea, and tot are used directly preceeding the verb (after all indicators) „Ai mai
fost?” not „Mai ai fost?”

78. „Nu mai vreau să vă ajut” means I no longer want to help--- say „doar vreau să vă ajut” or “vreau numai
să vă ajut”

79. Money is plural in Romanian– „Banii sunt bani, şi n-am destui bani”—lots of other words are used plural
that aren’t in used that way in English, be on the look out.

80. „Mi-a părut bine, şi mie,” not „şi eu,” „mă bucur, şi eu” is correct because it’s not dative. Along the same
lines, don’t say “eu îmi place” it must be “mie îmi place” or “îmi place mie”

81. Din păcate, not din păcat….. and mai ales means especially, not more or less

82. Avoid using o să, aia, asta, astă, etc in public speaking or formal settings

83. The word “okay” is not used in Romanian in the same way as it is in English… avoid using it for the
most part, especially in agreeance and in checking for understanding.

84. Nişte is the equivalent in the plural form of o or un. It does mean some, but it does not work in all
circumstances. Nişte apa, nişte suc, nişte ajutor, or nişte followed by any singular noun will never work
in Romanian to mean some of something. In most cases the word ceva or câtva replaces it. Use instead,
ceva ajutor.

85. Also regarding of some, even in plural form of the word, nişte is not used in all circumstances. Too often
is replaced unii/unele with nişte. The best way to remember which to use is by figuring out if you are
talking about a portion of the whole, or about a random number/several.... example would be: Unii
oameni (not nişte!) sunt prietenoşi, alţii nu sunt...

86. Be careful with both intonations and pauzes in sentences when speaking Romanian. Don’t raise your
voice unless you are emphasizing a certain part or asking a question. Make sure to group sentences the
same as they are grouped in english, do not put random pauzes in where there is no comma. Ex (it is not
„Noi te rugăm să... ne binecuventezi cu... fericire şi success şi...”)

87. With „a plăcea” & „a durea” make sure to use the third person plural conjugation when working with
plural nouns such as (Îmi plac calculatoarele and Mă dor picioarele). Only use îmi place de when
referring to people, not other nouns!

88.. Make sure to always pronounce the definized part of the word… it is not said maşină mea, it is maşina
mea (accent stays on the second syllable) and it is Domnul not Domnol or Domnâl (accent staying on the
first syllable)

83
 Key to Verb List Symbols
(se) Indicates verbs that are commonly used in reflexive formations. Those reflexives with marked
differences in meaning are indicated by parnthesis in the definition column
(3rd) Indicates verbs referring generally to inanimate objects that are to be conjugated only in the
third person

Bold Type Indicates frequently used verbs, approvimately 500 of the 1200+ verbs

() Parenthesis in the definition column indicate irregular imperatives, unusual conjugations, and
other exceptional cases.
[prep] Square brackets indicate those prepositions that are particular to specific verb usages
& Indicates those verbs that are commonly used in dative formationis
(a-şi) Indirect Reflexive (genitive) Ex. Mi-am spălat maşina
Dative-Reflexive verbs Ex. Mi-am dat seamă

Most verbs can be used in noun formation by adding RE to the infinitive for the singular, RI for the plural,
and RII for the gen/dat case.

Ex. inf. a clădi – to build

sing. n. o clădire – a building
plur. n. două clădiri – two buildings
gen/dat în spatele clădirii – in back of the building (behind the building)
Many gerund nouns, such as reading or smoking, are formed with the past participle.

Ex. a fuma – to smoke

fumatul înterzis – smoking prohibited

84
 Drop A Verb List
Basic Conjugation: A Aştepta
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (aştepta)
aştept | aşteptăm
aştepţi | aşteptaţi
aşteaptă | aşteaptă

*Accentuation will generally fall on the second vowel in a dipthong and will almost never fall on ă when
at the end of a word. (aşteaptă)
**Note 3rd person singular and plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Aştepte (i.e. replace ă with e)
*Subjunctives change only in 3rd person singular and plural and are the same for both.
Past Participle: Aşteptat (add T to the infinitive)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (aşteptat)
Imperative: singular – Aşteaptă (all A verbs use 3rd person conj.)
Negativ sing. – Nu Aştepta (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Aşteptaţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)

There are five basic variations in which the verb roots are modified slightly to flow better:
@ 2nd person sing. & subjunctive – root changes from c to t (mişc, mişti, mişcă, să mişte)
# 2nd person sing. – drop da add zi (a lăuda / laud, lauzi, laudă…)
e 2nd person sing. & subjunctive – root changes from ă to e (a supăra / supăr, superi, supără / să supere) [some
3rd pers. Roots change from ă to a]
o 1st, 2nd persons plural remain unchanged – in all other cases, root changes from u to o or oa. (a ruga / rog,
rogi, roagă, rugăm, rugaţi, roagă / să roage…)
a 1st, 2nd persons plural remain unchanged – in all other cases the foot changes from ă to a. (a băga / bag, bagi,
bagă, băgăm, băgaţi, bagă / se bage…)
Asemăna (se) e liken to / compare (resemble)
Accepta accept / receive [cu]
Achita pay off / acquit Asigura assure / insure
Acuza accuse [pe] Asista attend / assist (passive)
Adăuga add [la] Astâmpăra (se) quiet / calm / quench-thirst
Adera adhere Astupa plug/ stop / cork
Admira admire Asuda # sweat / perspire / toil
Adopta adopt Aşeza (se) put / set on / arrange (sit down)
Aduna (se) gather / meet Aştepta (se) wait for / (expect)
Afirma affirm Ataca attack
Afuma smoke (meat) Aţâţa stir / rouse / instigate
Afunda (se) # sink / submerge Băga (se) a put into / push /(get involved)
Agăţa hang up / suspend Blestema curse / damn
Agita move /agitate /set in motion Boteza (se) baptize
Ajuta help Bucura (se) (be happy) / gladden [de]
Alătura (se) & join Califica qualify
Alerga run Călca a step on / iron
Aluneca slip / slide / glide Căra carry / transport
Alunga chase / pursue / cast out Căsca @ yawn / gape
Ameninţa threaten Căuta search for / look for [w/o pentru]
Amesteca mix up / combine Cânta sing /play an instrument [la]
Amâna postpone / adjourn [până] Câştiga win / gain / earn
Anunţa announce / inform Certa (se) reprove / scold / (argue) [cu]
Apăra e defend / protect [de] Chema (se) call / (be called)
Apăsa e press / push Circula circulate [pe]
Apleca (se) bow / bend / tilt Colinda # carol / stroll / roam
Aplica apply / administer [la] Comanda # command / lead / order
Aproba approve of / selection Combina combine / group
Apuca (se) e seize/(set about/begin)[de] Compara compare with / liken to
Arăta & show / display / prove Comporta (se) conduct / behave / entail
Asculta listen / heed Condamna convict / condemn

85
Confirma confirm / establish / strengthen Implora implore / plead
Confrunta (se) confront [cu] Indica & indicate / point out / mark
Confunda # confound Insista insist on
Considera consider / ponder Inspira inspire
Consista be composed / consist of Intriga puzzle / intrigue
Consta made up of / consist of [în] Invita invite / ask
Consulta consult / ask Irita irritate / provoke / annoy
Consuma consume / devour Isca bring about
Costa (3rd) cost Îmbina (se) join / unite / combine
Crăpa a crack / chop / open slightly Îmbrăca (se) a dress
Cruţa spare [pe] Împăca (se) a (get along / reconcile) [cu]
Cufunda # sink / immerse / plunge Împiedica hinder / prevent
Cugeta think over / ponder / consider Împroşca @ splash / spatter
[asupra / la] Împrumuta & lend [lui / la] /borrow[de la]
Culca (se) lay down / put to bed Împuşca @ shoot / execute
Cumpăra e buy Încălca a violate
Curăţa e clean Încânta delight / charm
Curma interrupt / cut short Încărca a load / weigh down
Cuteza dare / brave Încerca try / attempt
Cutremura (se) tremble / shake Închina (se) (cross oneself) / devote / toast
Dărâma demolish / break down Înclina incline / tilt / bend / bow [spre]
Declara & declare Încrunta (se) frown
Declina decline / refuse Încumeta venture / dare
Deştepta (se) wake Încurca mix up / confound / confuse
Dedica (se) dedicate / devote Îndemna urge / advise / stimulate
Demasca (se) @ expose / unmask / unveil Îndrepta straighten / improve / reform
Deprima depress / sadden / discourage Îndruma guide / lead
Descărca a unload Îndupleca persuade / determine / cause
Descurca (se) (manage) / disentangle Îndura endure / bear / suffer
Desfăşura o unfold / spread Îneca drown
Detaşa detach / unfasten Îngrăşa (se) a (gain weight) / fatten
Dezbrăca (se) undress Îngropa bury / entomb
Dezgheţa thaw / warm Îngroşa thicken / increase
Dezgropa dig up / unearth Înhăma a harness / bridle
Dezlega undo / untie / unbind Înhăţa a snatch / seize
Dezvolta develop / enlarge Înjura swear / abuse / call names
Discuta discuss Înlătura remove / eliminate
Diseca dissect Înnota swim
Dizolva dissolve / melt Însemna mean / signify / represent
Domina dominate / rule Înspăimânta scare / frighten
Educa educate Însura (se) o marry (for males only)
Elimina eliminate Înşela (se) (be mistaken) / cheat / deceive
Evita avoid / elude Întâmpina welcome / greet
Exalta exalt / glorify Întâmpla (se/3rd) happen / take place
Excomunica exommunicate Întreba (se) question / ask / (wonder) [de]
Executa execute / carry out Întuneca darken / cloud / dull (the mind)
Exercita practice / exercise Înţepa prick / sting / bite
Exprima (se) & express Învăţa e teach / learn (not dative)
Ezita hesitate Juca (se) o play / (play around)
Fabrica manufacture / make Judeca judge / try / sentence
Falsifica falsify Jura swear (an oath) / vow /
Fărâma crumble Justifica (se) justify / defend
Fluiera whistle Lăsa a leave to / drop / free / allow /
Flutura wave / flutter / swing permit
Frământa knead / stir / torture Lăuda (se) # praise [de] / (boast) [cu]
Freca rub / oil / massage / scrub Lega tie / connect
Fura steal Legăna e swing / rock / balance
Furnica tingle Lepăda (se) #e let fall / rid of / (deny) [de]
Gâdila tickle Luneca slide / glide
Gusta taste Lupta (se) fight / contend / (wrestle)
Ierta forgive Mărita (se) marry off / marry (girls only)
Imita imitate / copy / mimic Măsura o measure
Implica (se) implicate / involve / entail [în] Mătura sweep

86
Merita deserve / merit Sacrifica sacrifice / offer
Mesteca chew / masticate Sălta a leap / jump
Mişca (se) @ move / stir / budge / (move) Saluta greet / welcome / salute
Muşca @ bite / bite off Săpa a dig / hoe / burrow
Murmura murmur / grumble Săruta kiss
Muta (se) move (location) / displace / Sătura (se) satisfy / fill [de]
shift Scăpa a escape / deliver / save
Necesita (3rd) need / require / ask Schimba (se) change / replace / substitute
Număra e number / count / compute Scufunda # dip / submerge / immerse
Observa notice / observe Scuipa spit / expectorate
Ocupa (se) occupy / seize / conquer Scula (se) o wake / awaken / arouse
Ordona & order / command Scutura shake / agitate / shake out
Participa participate / take part in Scuza excuse / pardon
Pica drop in / fail an exam / turn up Secera reap
Pişca @ pinch / nip / bite / sting Semăna e resemble [cu] / plant
Pieptăna e comb / trim up / polish Separa a separate / divide
Planifica plan Spăla (se) e wash [pe] / bathe
Pleca leave Spânzura hang (a man)
Plimba (se) walk / (go for a walk) Specifica secify
Poseda # own / possess Spera hope
Practica practice Strâmba twist / distort / bend-truth
Predica & preach / predicate Strănuta sneeze
Prefera prefer / like better Strecura (se) o strain / filter / seep / (creep)
Prezenta present / offer Strica break / spoil / damage / wreck
Proclama & proclaim / declare Striga call / cry out / yell
Pronunţa pronounce Sughiţa hiccup
Provoca provoke / challenge [pe] Suna ring / sound / call-telephone
Publica publish / issue Supăra (se) e make angry[de]/ (be angry)[pe]
Pupa kiss Suporta tolerate / bear / support /
Purta (se) o wear / carry (oneself) / bear sustain
Răbda #a endure / bear / be patient Suspenda # hang up / suspend / deter / stop
Ramifica (3rd) branch / branch out Şuiera whistle
Răscula (se) o (rebel) / raise [împotriva] Termina finish / end / bring to a close
Răscumpăra e redeem / atone for Toca hack / chop / hew / hoe
Răsfăţa e spoil (child) / coddle Transfera transfer / put elsewhere
Răsturna o overturn / upset Transpira sweat
Răzbuna (se) avenge Tremura tremble / quiver / shake
Recomanda #@ recommend Transporta transport / convey / carry
Refuza refuse / decline / turn down Tulbura disturb / upset
Regreta regret Tuna (3rd) thunder
Releva & point out / bring to light / relate Turna o pour / cast
Renunţa renounce / give up / forgo [la] Ţipa shout / cry out / scream
Repara repair / mend Uda # wet / water
Repeta repeat Uita (se) forget [de] / (look at) [la]
Reprezenta represent / describe Urca (se) ascend / climb
Respecta respect / have regard Usca (se) dry
Respira breath / respire Ustura (3rd) sting / smart
Revărsa e pour out / shed Vărsa e spill / pour / shed [asupra / pe]
Rezema (se) lean / rest / rely / depend on Vătăma harm / hurt
Rezerva reserve / set aside Verifica verify
Rezista & resist / withstand Vindeca heal / cure
Ridica (se) raise / lift / pick up / (stand) Vomita vomit / throw up
Risca (se) @ risk / venture / chance Zbura o fly
Ruga (se) o& (pray) [lui] / ask [pe] / beg

87
 EZ Verb List
Basic Conjugation: A Lucra
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (vorbi)
lucrez | lucrăm
lucrezi | lucraţi
lucrează | lucrează

*Accentuation will generally fall on the second vowel in a dipthong and will almost never fall on ă when
at the end of a word. (lucrează)
**Note 3rd person singular and plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Lucreze (i.e. replace ează with eze)
*Subjunctives change only in 3rd person singular and plural and are the same for both.
Past Participle: Lucrat (add T to the infinitive)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (lucrat)
Imperative: singular – Lucrează (all a verbs use 3rd person conj.)
Negativ sing. – Nu Lucra (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Lucraţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)

*Note – all infinitives that end in IA change to E in the 1st pers. pl. (i.e. studiem / not sudiăm)

Abandona abandon Calma (se) calm down / set at ease

Aborda approach-people / tackle - Calomnia slander
problem Ceda & yield to / give up
Abuza abuse [de] Cerceta research / examine / investigate
Accentua accent / stress [pe] Cifra number / page
Accidenta wound / hurt / be in an accident Cina dine / sup
Achiziţiona acquire / obtain Cita quote / cite
Acomoda accomodate Cocheta flirt / attract attention
Acumula accumulate Cocoşa bend / hunch
Adapta adapt to / adjust Colora color / stain
Adresa (se) & espress / address Comenta comment on [asupra / pe]
Afecta imitate / simulate / mimic Compensa compensate / make amends
Afişa post up / announce Completa complete / fill in – a form
Agasa bother / annoy Concentra (se) concentrate [asupra] / condense
Agrea & be agreeable / like / dipsosed to Concura compete
Alăpta nurse Conforma (se) & adapt to / conform to
Amaneta pawn / swap Congela freeze
Ambala (se) package / protect / pad / wrap Conta matter / count in
Ameliora improve / get better Controla control / check / inspect
Amplasa okace / mount / fix Coopera cooperate [cu]
Analiza analyze Corecta corerect
Angaja (se) employ / engage / hire Coresponda exchange letters
Antrena train (physical) / coach (sports) Corobora corroborate [cu]
Anula annul / render void / cancel Crea create
Aprecia appreciate / set value on Curenta (3rd) shock
Apreta starch Cuvânta & say / utter / speak
Aproviziona provide Dansa dance
Aranja arrange / set in order Datora & owe
Asocia (se) associate [cu] Dăuna damage / harm
Ataşa (se) attach [la / de] Degenera degenerate / deteriorate
Ateriza land (plane) Deghiza disguise
Avansa advance / promote Degrada degrade / lower
Avertiza warn / admonish [de / pe] Depărta remove / move away [de]
Baza (se) base / found [pe] Deplasa displace
Bisa encore Deranja disturb / inconvenience
Binecuvânta bless Derula rewind (cassette)
Bomba swell out / make bulge Desena draw / sketch
Bronza (se) tan / bronze Desfiinţa abolish / suppress / dissemble
Calcula calculate / compute Developa develop (film only)

88
Diferenţia differentiate [între / de] Înapoia (se) & return / refund / restore
Diminua belittle / diminish Încadra (se) frame / enclose / border
Dirija conduct music Încăpăţâna persist / insist / be stubborn
Distra (se) have fun / entertain / divert Încasa cash in / cash
Divorţa divorce Încătuşa shackle / handcuff
Dresa train (animal) / draw a report Înceta cease / give up / slow
Dura last / have a duration / Încetoşa (3rd) fog over / grow foggy
construct Încleşta clinch / clamp
Echilibra balance / equilibrate Încredinţa& assure / entrust / commit
Echipa equip Îndatora (se) get into debt / be obliged
Echivala equate / equalize / confirm Îndepărta (se) move away [de] / make leave
Emoţiona excite / thrill / affect Înfăţişa present / show / depict
Enerva (3rd) irritate / bother / get on nerves Înfiinţa set up / establish / arrange
Epuiza exhaust / drain / run out of Înflama (3rd) inflame / swell
Escroca cheat / swindle Înfometa starve
Eşua fail (plans) Înfrâna (se) bridle / tame / (control oneself)
Evada escape Înfricoşa (se) scare / frighten [de]
Examina examine Îngenunchea kneel down (not reflexive)
Expedia & send / dispatch Îngusta narrow / thin
Familiariza (se) familiarize with [cu] / Înmâna & hand over
accustom Înmormânta bury (funerals)
Farda (se) put on makeup Înnora (3rd) cloud over
Favoriza favor / promote Înrădăcina take root
Fertiliza fertilize Înregistra record (cassette) / register
Finisa finish Însămânţa sow / impregnate
Fixa fashion / attach / fix Însărcina charge / commision [cu / pe]
Flata flatter Însemna (se) mark / note / jot down / (sign)
Fonda found Înştiinţa inform
Fora drill Întemeia found / organize / create
Forţa force Întina defile / make unclean
Forma form / build up Întotochea (se) complicate / intricate
Fotografia photograph Întrebuinţa (se) use / be used / be necessary
Frâna put on the brakes / brake Întrista sadden / grieve
Frecţiona rub / scrub Învia resurrect / raise from dead
Frecventa attend Înzestra endow [pe]
Fredona hum Jena (se) embarass / impede / hinder
Fuma smoke Jongla juggle
Furişa creep / steal into Lansa launch / introduce
Genera generate / engender Legitima identify
Ghida guide / direct / conduct Lichida liquidate / abolish / end
Grebia rake / gather Limita limit / restrict
Grupa group / classify Livra deliver (milk, letters)
Guverna govern / rule / reign Lucra work / labor
Holba (se) stare / gaze [la] Lumina light / illuminate
Ignora ignore / overlook (imp: ignoră) Maltrata mistreat
Incendia set on fire / set fire to Marca mark
Incrimina incriminate / accuse / charge Medita meditate
Influenţa influence / weight Memora memorize
Informa inform / let know Micşora make smaller / reduce
Iniţia intiate / start / begin Mima mime / mimic
Injecta inject / become bloodshot Minuna astonish / amaze / astound
Insera insert [imp. inseră] Mobila furnish (furniture)
Instala install Motiva motivate / justify
Interesa (se) interest / (look into) [de] Mura (se) soak / pickle
Interna hospitalize Naviga navigate / sail
Invidia envy / be jealous of Neglija (se) neglect / let go
Ipoteca mortgage Nota note / jot down
Îmbrăţişa embrace / hug Obiecta & object / oppose
Îmbufna (se) sulk Ofensa (se) offend / insult
Împerechea pair up Ofta sigh / sob / yearn for
Împovăra burden / load Onora honor / revere / respect
Împreuna unite / join together Opera (se) operate / do / make / perform
Înainta advance / forward Opta choose / opt

89
Organiza (se) organize Perima (se) become obsolete
Orienta (se) orientate / direct Perpetua (se) perpetuate / endure / be
Parca park (car) established
Parfuma perfume / scent Pisa pound / bother / ăester
Paria bet / wager (un pariu) Planta plant / set / fix
Pasa pass / hand off-sports Plasa (se) place / put / invest
Pasiona be fond of / fascinate Polua pollute
Păstra keep / preserve / hold Pompa pump full / pump
Păta spot / stain Poza (se) pose / photograph
Patina skate Prăda prey on [pe]
Penaliza penalize / punish Preciza specify / be precise
Pensiona retire / pension off Prelucra remake / transform / process
Perfecţiona (se) perfect / improve Prescurta abbreviate / shorten / abridge
Prezida preside over [asupra]
Proba probe / try on / try
Procrea procreate / beget children
Programa program / bill / schedule /
announce
Promova promote
Proteja protect / support / aid
Raţionaliza rationalize Situa place / situate / locate
Rafina refine Spiona spy / pry
Rambursa & repay / refund Staţiona station / be stationed
Rata fail / miss Stima esteem / respect
Realiza achieve / carry out / realize Strangula strangle
Recapitula re-emphasize / recapitulate / Studia study / examine / investigate
Recolta harvest Sublinia underline / emphasize
Recompensa recompense / reward [pe] Suda solder / wield / join / fuse
Redresa straighten out / re-establish Sugera & suggest
Reforma reform / improve / renew Supraveghea supervise / oversee
Relata & relate / state / report Surmena (se) overwork oneself
Relaxa (se) relax / calm down Şantaja blackmail
Releva & point out / bring to light / relate Şchiopăta limp / halt / slow
Remorca tow / trailer Şicana find fault / hinder / tease
Reproşa reproach smb. / upbraid Şoma be unemployed
Resemna resign oneself Şuta shoot / kick / hit / throw a ball
Revansa take revenge Tachina tease / banter [pe]
Reînvia revive Taxa tax / surcharge
Ruşina (a-i fi) put to shame / (be ashamed) Telefona & telephone / call somebody
Salva save Tenta tempt
Săra salt / season Tolera tolerate / suffer / permit
Sângera bleed Trăda betray / be a traitor
Scânteia (3rd) sparkle Trata treat / behave towards
Schia ski Traversa cross / pass through / go over
Sculpta sculpture / sculpt Trişa cheat
Scurta shorten / curb Uşura lighten / relieve / moderate
Semna sign / mark Ura & wish
Sigila seal up /affix a seal to Urma follow / attend / succeed
Vâna hunt / chase / pursue
Varia change / vary / alter
Ventila ventilate / fan / air
Vibra vibrate
Viola break / infringe / violate / rape
Visa dream
Viza visa / endorse
Vota vote / elect / poll for

90
 Drop I Verb List
Basic Conjugation: A Dormi
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (dormi)
dorm | dormim
dormi | dormiţi
doarme | dorm

**Note 1st person singular and 3rd person plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Doarmă (i.e. replace e with ă)
*Subjunctives change only in 3rd person singular and plural and are the same for both.
Past Participle: Dormit (add T to the infinitive)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (vorbit)
Imperative: This depends on whether it is transitive (with dir. object) or intransitive (w/o dir. object)
Examples: singular transitive – Sare-l (3rd Person Singular)
singular intransitive – Sări (2nd person singular)
Negativ sing. – Nu Sări (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Săriţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)

@ 1st person, 2nd person pl. remain unchanged – all other cases root changes from e to i, in the 2nd person,
drop the final consonant add i (a veni / vin, vine, venim, veniţi, vin). Imperative singular, final vowel is
o.

Absolvi graduate / absolve

Absorbi absorb Înghiţi swallow
Adormi fall asleep / put to sleep Mirosi smell / smell of [a]
Ascuţi sharpen / grind Presimţi have a premonition / sense
Auzi hear Preveni @ prevent / forewarn
Azvârli hurl / throw / kick Proveni @ come from / originate in [din]
Consimţi consent / agree / approve Răsări (3rd) rise / (sun, plants)
Contraveni @ contravene / interfere Repezi hurry off / rush
Conveni be convenient / agree / fit Reveni @ go over again / come back
Cuveni (se/3rd) & be fitting, proper Sări jump over / skip / omit [peste]
Despărţi separate Simţi (se) feel / touch (state of feeling)
Deveni @ become Slobozi set free / release / throw
Dezminţi (se) deny / (contradict) Sorbi sip / drink
Dormi sleep Surveni (3rd) @ happen / take place
Fugi run / flee Veni @& come [din, la, de la] / come to
Ieşi go out / come out Zvârcoli (se) writhe
Interveni @ intervene / interfere
Împărţi impart / share / divide

ESC Verb List

Basic Conjugation: A Vorbi
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (vorbi)
vorbesc | vorbim
vorbeşti | vorbiţi
vorbeşte | vorbesc

**Note 1st person singular and 3rd person plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Vorbească (i.e. replace eşte or esc with ească)
*Subjunctives change only in 3rd person singular and plural and are the same for both.
Past Participle: Vorbit (add T to the infinitive)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (vorbit)
Imperative: singular – Vorbeşte (all esc verbs use 3rd person conj.)
Negativ sing. – Nu Vorbi (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Vorbiţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)
Coji peel off / husk / skin
Aţinti aim / fix / direct at Compătimi sympathize / pity/ commiserate
Adânci deepen / dig / excavate Construi construct / make / build
Adăposti shelter / house / lodge Contopi (se) fuse / combine / melt together
Adeveri confirm / ascertain truth of / testify Converti convert / change /transorm
Aerisi (se) air / vetilate / (refresh) Copilări spend one’s childhood / act childish
Albi whiten / bleach / fade Copleşi overwhelm / overpower / overcome
Alcătui form / make up / create Cotropi invade
Amăgi deceive / mislead / cheat / delude Cuibări (se) nest / (nestle / snuggle)
Amănunţi detail / particularize Cuminţi (se) settle down / be with mind
Aminti (a-şi) remind / mention / (remember) Cumpăni weigh / balance / ponder / consider
Amorţi benumb / deaden Dăltui chisel / carve
Asfinţi set / decline Dărui give a gift / bestow / confer
Asupri oppress / exploit / bear down Defini define / diagnose
Asurzi deafen / lose one’s hearing Denumi name / designate / term / call
Bălmăji mumble (words) / jumble (things) Deosebi distinguish / discern / explain
Bănui suppose / presume / imagine Depăşi surpass / overtake / outrun
Bărbieri shave / make a fool of Desăvârşi (se) perfect / improve / finish / achieve
Bârfi gossip about / slander Descâlci disentangle / unravel
Batjocori make fun of / laugh at / deride Desluşi elucidate / discern / explain
Biciui whip / lash / flog Despăgubi compensate a loss / reimburse
Bombăni grumble Despleti undo / unravel / unbraid
Buşi push / punch / elbow / knock about Destăinui & reveal / confide / disclose / divulge
Căi (se) be penitent / feel sorrow / regret Dezamăgi mislead / disappoint / dissolution
Călări ride / ride on horseback Dezlipi unglue / unpaste / separate
Călători travel / journey / wander / roam Deznădăjdui despair / lose hope
Călăuzi guide / lead / conduct / advise Dispreţui despise / scorn / look down on
Cântări weigh / measure Dobândi obtain / acquire
Cârmui steer / pilot / rule / govern Domni rule / reign
Cârpi mend / repair / sew together Domoli quiet / calm / quench / comfort
Căsători (se) get married Dori wish for / desire / want
Cerşi beg Dovedi (se) prove / desmonstrate
Cerui wax / polish Duhni stink / reek (of alcohol)
Chefui carouse / party / get drunk Dumeri (se) enlighten / convince
Cheli become bald Economosi save / economize / lay away
Cheltui spend / waste / consume Făgădui & promise
Chibzui consider / ponder over / think over Făli (se) boast of
Chinui (se) torment / (fret / worry) / slave Făptui do / make / commit
Cicăli nag / pester Feri (se) keep away from (rid oneself) [de]
Cinsti honor / esteem / respect Ferici make somebody happy
Ciocăni hammer / knock /congratulate
Ciocni strike together / toast Flămânzi famish / starve
Ciopli carve / engrave / cut / whistle Foi (se) fidget / pace
Citi read / peruse Foşni rustle
Ciupi pinch / nip / sting Folosi use
Clădi build / erect / construct Frunzări leaf (tree)
Clăti rinse / gargle / wash out Gândi (se) think / (think about) [la]
Clinti move / shift / budge Găsi (se) find
Clipi blink / wink / twinkle Găti (se) prepare / cook / (do yourself up)
Găuri punch a hole / perforate Înţepeni become stiff (muscles)
Găzdui house / lodge / accomodate Învârti (se) spin / (revolve)
Ghici guess / guess future [imp. ghici] Învechi (se) become old / obsolete /wear out
Ghiftui (se) stuff / cram / (stuff oneself) Înveseli (se) cheer up / enliven / make merry
Ghionti nudge / poke / jab Învinovăţi accuse / charge / blame
Glumi joke / jest Jeli (se) mourn
Goli empty / clear out Jertfi (se) sacrifice / offer as a victim
Goni chase / banish / send away Jigni offend / insult / hurt / wrong
Gospodări (se) manage / keep house Jumuli pluck feathers
Grăbi (se) hurry Lămuri (se) explain / clear up / resolve /settle
Grăi speak (eloquent speech) Lărgi widen / stretch / expand /let out
Greşi make a mistake Limpezi clarify / clear
Hărţui harass / argue / reprimand /nag Linişti (se) calm / quiet
Hirotonisi ordain Lipi (se) glue / stick
Hrăni feed / nourish / harbor Lipsi (se) & be absent / miss
Huidui boo Locui live in (place)
Huli blaspheme / curse / swear at Logodi (se) become engaged
Instrui instruct / teach / educate Lovi strike / hit / slap / pat / kick
Investi invest Luci (3rd) glitter / sparkle
Irosi waste-lose (time, money) Lustrui glaze / gloss / polish
Iscăli (se) sign / autograph Mâhni (se) grieve
Ispăşi atone for Mândri (se) boast / be proud / be haughty
Ispiti tempt / lure / try Mări (se) enlarge / aggrandize
Isprăvi (se) end / finish / bring to a close Mărturisi confess / bear testimony /declare
Iubi love / be in love with Mărunţi break up / make smaller
Izbăvi deliver / save Mâzgăli smear / scribble
Izbi hit / strike / punch Meni destine / predetermine /bestow
Izbucni burst / break out / fire /storm Mijloci mediate
Izgoni cast out Mitui bribe / buy somebody off
Îmbătrâni grow old / look older Moţăi doze / nod off
Îmblânzi (se) tame / domesticate / train Moşteni inherit
Îmbogăţi (se) enrich / make rich Moleşi (se) weaken / soften
Îmbolnăvi (se) make sick / sicken Molipsi (se) infect / contaminate
Îmbunătăţi (se) improve Momi lure / entice / bait
Împărtăşi (se) impart (sacrament) / share Mucegăi (3rd) mold
Împleţi braid / weave Mulţumi (se) & thank / (content / settle for /satisfy)
Împlini fulfill / reach an age /complete Munci (se) work
Împodobi adorn / decorate Murdări (se) soil / dirty / stain
Împotrivi (se) & oppose / resist / object Nădăjdui hope
Împrieteni (se) make friends with Năvăli invade / rush
Înăspri harden / roughen / toughen Năzui aspire [la]
Încălzi heat up / warm Necăji (se) grieve / worry / make angry
Îndeplini fulfill / carry out a plan Nenoroci (se) make unhappy / destroy /ruin
Îndoi (se) bend / fold / double /(doubt) Nesocoti (se) overlook / omit
Îndrăgi grow fond of / come to love Netezi (se) make smooth
Îndrăgosti (se) to fall in love (with each other) Nimeri hit exactly / guess right / „nail”
Îndrăzni dare / be bold Nimici destroy
Înfăptui carry out / fulfill Numi (se) name / be named
Înflori (3rd) flower / bloom Obişnui (se) (get used to) [cu] / adjust
Înfrăţi befriend Obosi (se) make tired / tire
Îngrămădi (se) pile / heap up / assemble /gather Ocoli go around / avoid / detour
Îngriji look after / care for Ocroti protect / safeguard / preserve [de]
Îngrozi (se) frighten / terrify / horrify Odihni (se) rest / relax
Înlănţui chain / link Oglindi (se) mirror / reflect / present
Înlocui replace / substitute Opri (se) stop / withhold
Înmulţi (se) multiply / increase / enrich Osândi condemn / sentence / convict
Înnebuni drive mad / go crazy Osteni (se) tire / weary / (put yourself out)
Înnoi (se) renew Otrăvi (se) poison / kill by poison
Înrăutăţi make worse Păli pale
Înrobi enslave Păţi suffer / experience
Înroşi (se) make red / (blush) Păcăli fool / cheat / play a trick on/ hoax
Însoţi accompany Păcătui sin / transgress
Întâlni (se) meet / (meet / date) [cu] Păşi sleep / walk / advance / develop
Întări (se) strengthen / reinforce / fortify Pălmui slap
Întruni (se) combine / meet / assemble Pândi watch / spy / lie in wait
Pângări defile / profane / violate / dishonor Roti (se) turn / revolve / (rotate)
Părăsi leave / abandon / part with Rotunji round off (numbers)
Pârli (se) singe Rugini rust
Pătimi endure / bear / undergo / suffer Sălbătici (se) make wild / become-run wild
Păzi (se) guard / watch / defend Sărăci make poor / deprive
Pecetlui seal / fix / confirm Sărbători celebrate
Pedepsi (se) punish / avenge / curse Săvârşi perform / execute / carry out
Pescui fish Scârbi (se) (a-i fi) disgust / be disgusted [mi-e scârbă]
Piti (se) hide Schilodi (se) cripple
Plăti pay Schingiui torture
Plictisi (se) bore / (be bored) Scobi hollow out / pick at
Pluti float Scrâşni gnash / grind / grit one’s teeth
Pocăi (se) repent / do penance / regret Scumpi (se) raise prices / grow dearer
Poci (se) disfigure / make look ugly / mar Servi erve / attend to / wait on
Pofti desire [după] / welcome [în / la] Sfârşi (se) finish / end / conclude /complete
Pomeni mention [de] Sfătui (se) advise / (counsel with)
Porecli nickname Sfinţi (se) hallow / sanctify /consecrate
Porni (se) start (a car)/ set-out Sili oblige / compel / force
Porunci & command / order Slăbi weaken / lose weight / loosen
Potoli (se) quiet / soothe / quench Slăvi glorify / exalt / praise
Potrivi (se) arrange / adjust / match/(be fitting) Sluji serve / be in service of
Povăţui advise / counsel / guide Smeri (se) humble / subdue / abuse
Povesti tell a story / relate Socoti (se) calculate / count / consider / ponder
Prăbuşi (se) break down Sosi arrive-here [aici] / come
Prăji (se) fry / roast / broil Spicui glean
Prăpădi destroy Spori increase / advance / multiply
Preamări exalt / extol / praise Spovedi (se) & confess / confide
Preţui (se) value Stabili (se) establish / prove / determine
Pregăti (se) prepare / cook (food) Stâlci mangle (language) / corrupt
Prelungi prolong Stânjeni discomfort / disturb /hinder
Prevesti foretell / portend Stăpâni master / rule / govern / subdue
Pribegi wander Stârni (se) dam up / embank / stop /block
Pricinui cause / produce / cause conflict Strădui (se) strive / work hard for / endeavor
Primi receive Străluci (3rd) sparkle / shine / radiate
Privi (se) concern / view / look /stare Stropi (se) splash / smear / roll
Propăşi (se) thrive Suci (se) twist (ankle) / sprain / dislocate
Propovădui preach / propagate / teach Supravieţui survive / outlive
Prooroci prophesy / predict Surzi deafen / decome deaf
Pustii lay waste Şlefui polish / buff
Putrezi rot / decay Şmecheri (se) swindle / be sly / be a smart alec
Răci (se) catch a cold / (cool) Şopti whisper
Răni (se) wound Tăgădui deny / disown / disclaim / contest
Răpi kidnap Tâmpi (se) beomce stupid
Răsfoi browse / turn through the pages Tânji long for [după]
Răspândi spread / scatter Tipări print / type / imprint
Răsplăti reward / recompense Târgui (se) buy / purchase / shop / negotiate
Răstălmăci distort / mangle Toci (se) dull / wear off / (cram – school)
Răstigni crucify Tocmi (se) bargain / engage / negotiate
Rătăci (se) wander / stray / (lose one’s way) Topi (se) melt / dissolve / liquefy
Răzgândi (se) (change one’s mind) / rethink Trăi live / experience / exist
Rândui ordain / arrange / organize / Trăncăni babble / chatter / ramble/blab
Rânji (se) smirk / grin / force a smile-laughter Trândăvi be idle / piddle / be lazy
Râşni grind Trânti slam / throw / pitch
Reaminti (a-şi) recall / remind / (remember) [de] Trăsni thunder / strike / roar
Reînnoi renew Trezi (se) wake / awaken / stir up
Recăsători (se) remarry Trudi toil / labor / torture / grind
Restabili re-establish / restore Tuşi cough
Reuşi succeed Tutui use the informal form
Revizui (se) revise / re-examine / check up Ţîşni gush / spout / froth
Risipi deliberately squander / waste Uimi amaze / surprise / astonish
Robi enslave / entrail / hold captive Ului flabbergast
Roşi turn red / blush Umbri shade / cast a shadow on
Rodi bear fruit Umezi moisten / dampen / wet
Rosti utter / pronounce Umili (se) humble / humiliate
Rostogoli (se) roll / somersault Undui (se) ripple / wave / undulate
Unelti scheme / machinate
Uni (se) unite / combine / join
Urmări follow / pursue / track
Vărui whitewash / plaster
Vâsli paddle / row
Veseli cheer / gladden / delight
Vesteji wither / dry
Vesti proclaim / inform / advise
Vopsi (se) paint / dye / color
Vorbi talk / utter / speak
Vrăji bewitch / sorcery / cause by magic
Zâmbi smile
Zămisli conceive / become pregnant/invent
Zăpăci bewilder / confuse / flurry
Zări notice / observe / behold /view
Zdrobi crush / squash / break
Zgârci (se) be stingy / clench / strain /contract
Zidi build / wall / construct
Zugrăvi plaster / mud / texture
Zvoni (se) be rumored / gossip
 E Verb List
Basic Conjugation: A Merge
*Unlike all other infinitives when used in a sentence, the accent is not on the last vowel. (merge)
merg | mergem
mergi | mergeţi
merge | merg

*Accentuation will never fall on e at the end of a word. (merge)

**Note 1st person singular and 3rd person plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Meargă (i.e. replace first e with ea and the second with ă)
*Subjunctives change only in 3rd person singular and plural and are the same for both.
**Accentuation will generally fall on the second vowel in a dipthong. (meargă)
Past Participle: Mers (drop last consonant and last e and add s)
Cerut (drop e and add ut)
*Most follow the drop final consonant and e add s, others should follow the drop e add ut.
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (cerut, mers)
Imperative: This depends on whether it is transitive (with dir. object) or intransitive (w/o dir. object)
Examples: transitive – Bate-l (3rd person singular)
intransitive – Mergi (2nd person singular)
Negativ sing. – Nu Vorbi (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Vorbiţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)
@ 2nd person singular: drop final consonant -e add i. (pun, puni, pune/ţin, ţii, ţine)
# 2nd person singular: drop de add zi. (cred, crezi, crede/aprind, aprinzi, aprinde)
o 1st, 2nd persons singular & 3rd person plural – verb root changes from oa to o. (a scoate / scot, scoţi,
scoate, scoatem, scoateţi, scot, să scoată)

Abţine (se) abstain / refrain from [de la] Dezbate debate

Abate (se) turn away / divert [de la] Discerne discern [între]
Admite admit Distinge discern / distinguish
Aduce bring [imp. adu] Distrage distract from [de la]
Ajunge arrive / suffice / reach [la] Duce (se) & take / (go / lead) / carry
Alege choose Exclude # exclude / shut out
Aprinde # switch on / light Expune expose / exhibit / display
Apune (3rd) set (sun) Extinde extend
Arde burn Extrage extract
Ascunde # hide Face do / make [fă]
Aşterne lay out / spread Fierbe (se) boil
Atinge (se) touch Frânge break / smash
Atrage attract / draw Frige grill / scorch
Bate hit Geme moan / groan
Cere ask for / require Impune @ impose / inforce
Cerne sift Interzice & forbid / prohibit
Coace (se) bake / (ripen) Introduce & introduce [imp: introdu]
Coace sew / stitch Împinge push
Compune @ compose Începe begin / start
Conduce conduct / guide [imp. condu] Închide # close / shut
Constrânge constrain [pe / de la] Înfrânge defeat / vanquish
Convinge convince / talk in to Întinde stretch / extend
Corupe corrupt Întoarce (se) turn / (return to)
Creşte grow / raise / [ends w/ esc] Întrece (se) race / (compete)
Crede believe Întreţine @ upkeep / support / maintain
Culege collect / gather Întrerupe interrupt / discontinue
Cunoaşte o know (someone) Înţelege understand / comprehend
Cuprinde comprise / contain Învinge defeat / overcome
Curge flow / leak / run Linge lick
Decide decide Menţine @ maintain / keep / preserve
Depinde # depend [de] Merge go / function / work
Depune @ put forth / lay / set down Mulge milk (cow)
Deschide # open Naşte (se) (be born) / give birth
Desface undo [imp. defă] Obţine obtain / get
Omite omit Reţine (se) hold back / (refrain) [de la]
Opune (se) put in opposition / oppose Roade erode / gnaw / wear / rub off
Parcurge cross / travel through Rupe (se) tear / rend
Paşte graze / browse / Satisface satisfy
Pătrunde # penetrate [în / la] Scoate pull out / take off / produce
Percepe perceive / discern / levy Scurge drain / flow / let out
Permite & allow Sinucide (se) commit suicide
Petrece pass-time /party / enjoy Sparge break / crack / smash
Pierde (se) lose / miss / waste / (be lost) Spune speak / say
Plânge (se) (complain) [la] / cry [de / după] Stinge (se) extinguish / put out / turn off
Preface (se) fake / change / pretend Stoarce squeeze / press
Presupune presume / presuppose Străbate cross / wander / roam
Pretinde # lay claim / pretend Strânge gather / press / squeeze
Pricepe (se) (be skilled / proficient at) [la] Străpunge pass through / pierce
Prinde catch / take Surprinde # surprise / overtake
Produce produce / create [imp: produ] Supune (se) submit / (subject / obey)
Promite & promise / pledge Sustrage (se) take away / suspend [de la]
Propune @& propose / suggest Susţine (se) @ sustain / support / affirm
Pune (se) @& put / lay / place / set Şterge erase / wipe / dust
Rade # shave / scrape Teme (se) make afraid / fear [de]
Râde # laugh / at-[de] Toarce o turn / spin / purr
Rămâne @ remain / stay Traduce translate [imp. tradu]
Răspunde # answer [la ] / respond / reply Trage pull / draw / shoot (sports)
Readuce bring back [imp: readu] Trece pass pass by / surpass [pe la]
Reculege (a-şi) recollect (thoughts) Trimite (se) & send / dispatch
Recunoaşte o recognize / admit Tunde (se) # (get a haircut) / cut / clip / trim
Recurge resort to / (come back / return) Ţese weave / braid
Reduce reduce / decrease [imp: redu] Ţine (se) @ support [cu]/ hold / stop / [la]
Reface (se) remake / restore [imp: refă] Ucide # kill / destroy
Reîntoarce (se) o return to / (come back / return) Unge anoint
Remite deliver / hand over Vinde #& sell
Respinge push back / repel Zbate (se) struggle / kick about
Retrage (se) withdraw [de la / din] Zice & tell / say [imp. zi]
 EA Verb List
Basic Conjugation: A Vedea
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (vorbi)
văd | vedem
vezi | vedeţi
vede | văd

**Note 1st person singular and 3rd person plural are always the same conjugation
***Note conjugations are the same as those of the E drop verbs
****Note accent the final vowels of 2nd and 3rd plural, unlike the drop E conjugations
Subjunctive: Vadă (i.e. replace e with ă)
*Subjunctives change only in 3rd person singular and plural and are the same for both.
Past Participle: Văzut (cases with DEA change to ZUT)
(others drop the EA add UT)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (văzut / apărut)
Imperative: This depends on whether it is transitive (with dir. object) or intransitive (w/o dir. object)
Examples: transitive –Încape-l (3rd person singular.)
intransitive – Taci (2nd person singular)
Negativ sing. – Nu tăcea (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Tăceţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)
# 2nd person sing. Drop dea add zi (a cădea / cad, cazi, cade...)
Past Participle – drop dea add zut (căzut)

Apărea & appear / seem /be visible Plăcea (a-i) & please / (be pleasing to) (să placă)
Cădea # fall/collapse/break down Prevedea # foresee / gauge / forecast
Decădea # decay/ruin/deteriorate Revedea # meet again / revise
Dispărea disappear / vanish Scădea # reduce / lessen / subtract (math)
Durea (3rd) pain / distress / make suffer Şedea # sit / stay / remain
Încăpea find room / accomodate / fit Tăcea keep silent / stop / cease
Întrevedea # visualize / glimpse / catch sight Vedea (se) # see / behold (se vede – be obvious)
Părea & seem / appear to be (să pară) Zăcea lie / be found

I Verb List (drop I add Ă)

Basic Conjugation: A Referi
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (referi)
 refer | referim
referi | referiţi
referă | referă

**Note 3rd person singular and plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Refere (i.e. replace ă with e)
Past Participle: Referit (add T to the infinitive)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (vorbit)
Imperative: singular – Referă-te (all i (ă) verbs use 3rd person conj.)
Negativ sing. – Nu te referi (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Referiţi-vă (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)

@ 1st person conjugation changes the last e to ă (acoperi / acopăr...)

Acoperi cover / shelter / hide Reacoperi recover

Descoperi uncover / discover Referi (se) refer to [la]
Diferi differ / vary [de] Sprijini support / aid [pe]
Înnăbuşi (se) smother / suffocate Suferi suffer / permit [de]
Oferi offer

A Verb (U-I-A conjugations)

Basic Conjugation: A Intra
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (intra)
intru | intrăm
intri | intraţi
intră | intră

**Note 3rd person singular and plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Intre (i.e. replace ă with e)
*Subjunctives change only in 3rd person singular and plural and are the same for both.
Past Participle: Intrat (add T to the infinitive)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (vorbit)
Imperative: singular – Intră (all a verbs use 3rd person conj.)
Negativ sing. – Nu Vorbi (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Vorbiţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)

Afla (se) find out / learn (find oneself / Sufla blow / whisper
be present) Umbla walk / wander [după]
Bosumfla (se) pout / sulk Umfla swell
Intra enter / join [în] Urla roar / scream / howl [la]
Mustra reprimand / scold [pe]

ĂSC Verb List

Basic Conjugation: A Hotărî
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (hotărî)
hotărăsc | hotărâm
hotărăşti | hotărâţi
hotărăşte | hotărăsc

**Note 1st person singular and 3rd person plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Hotărască (i.e. replace ăşte or ăsc with ască)
*Subjunctives change only in 3rd person singular and plural and are the same for both.
Past Participle: Hotărât (add T to the infinitive and î changes to â)
Amărî (se)*Accentuation
embitter
is always
/ (sadden)
on the last vowel. (hotărât)
Posomorî (se) become gloomy / cloud /darken
Imperative:
Hotărî (se) singular
decide
– Hotărăşte-te
/ (make up (all
one’s
ăscmind
verbs use 3rd person
Târî (se)
conj.) grovel / crawl / (drag oneself)
Izvori (3rd) Negativ/ gush
spring sing. /–flow
Nu te hotărî (nu plus infinitive)
Urî hate / hold grudge / abhor [pe]
Ocărî upbraid
Plural – /Hotărâţi-vă
reproach / blame
(2nd person
[pe] plural for both positive and negative)
Pârî tattle / unveil / accuse /
 Drop Î Verb List
Basic Conjugation: A Coborî
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (coborî)
cobor | coborâm
cobori | coborâţi
coboară | coboară

**Note 1st person singular and 3rd person plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Coboare (replace ă with e)
*Subjunctives change only in 3rd person singular and plural and are the same for both.
Past Participle: Coborât (add T to the infinitive and î changes to â)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (coborât)
Imperative: This depends on whether it is transitive (with dir. object) or intransitive (w/o dir. object)
Examples: transitive – Omoară-l (3rd person singular.)
intransitive – Ogori (2nd person singular)
Negativ sing. – Nu omorî (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Omorâţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)

Coborî (se) get down / descend [la] Omorî Murder / kill / slay [pe]
Doborî knock/throw down Tăbărî accost / prey on / dash at
Ogorî Plough / till (land only) Vârî (se) push / shove /embed / thrust

IA Verb List
Basic Conjugation: A Apropia
 *When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (apropia)
apropii | apropiem
apropii | apropiaţi
apropie | apropie

**Note 1st person singular and 2nd person singular are always the same conjugation
***Note 3rd person singular and plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Apropie (doesn’t change)
Past Participle: Apropiat (add T to the infinitive)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (apropiat)
Imperative: This depends on whether it is transitive (with dir. object) or intransitive (w/o dir. object)
Examples: transitive – Mângâie-l (3rd person singular.)
intransitive – Sfâşii (2nd person singular)
Negativ sing. – Nu zgudui (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Zguduiţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)

Apropia (se) approach/(get close)[de] Mângâia comfort / pet (animal)

Împrăştia scatter / send / spread Peria (se) brush / clean
Înfuria (se) anger / upset [pe] Sfâşia tear up / break up
Întârzia (se) make late / be late [la] Speria (se) frighten / scare [de]
Mânia (se) infuriate Zgâria (se) scratch / scrape
 UI Verb List
Basic Conjugation: A Închipui
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (închipui)
închipui | închipuim
închipui | închipuiţi
închipuie | închipuie

**Note 3rd person singular and plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Închipuie (doesn’t change)
Past Participle: Închipuit (add T to the infinitive)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (închipuit)
Imperative: This depends on whether it is transitive (with dir. object) or intransitive (w/o dir. object)
Examples: transitive – Zguduie-l (3rd person singular.)
intransitive – Zgudui (2nd person singular)
Negativ sing. – Nu zgudui (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Zguduiţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)

Atribui & attribute / credit / confer Institui institute / found / start

Bâigui stutter Închipui (a-şi) imagine
Bântui haunt / strike repeatedly Îngădui & permit/allow/tolerate
Birui defeat / overcome Înghesui (se) squeeze / gather [în]
Bizui (se) depend on [pe] Substitui (se) substitute
Constitui (se) constitute / consist of Sui (se) board / ascend [pe/în/la]
Dezlănţui (se) unleash / turn loose Ţiui screech / whine / ping...
Dezvălui (se) & divulge / make known Zgudui shake/tremble /convulse
Distribui distribute

ĂI Verb List
Basic Conjugation: A Pipăi
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (pipăi)
pipăi | pipăim
pipăi | pipăiţi
pipăie | pipăie

**Note 3rd person singular and plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Pipăie (doesn’t change)
Past Participle: Pipăit (add T to the infinitive)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (pipăit)
Imperative: This depends on whether it is transitive (with dir. object) or intransitive (w/o dir. object)
Examples: transitive – Râcâie-l (3rd person singular.)
intransitive – Râcâi (2nd person singular)
Negativ sing. – Nu râcâi (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Râcâiţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)

Behăi bleat (sheep) Plescăi splash / make noise eating

Horcăi snort Sforăi snore
Măcăi quack Şovăi waver / hesitate / wobble
Moţăi snooze / nap / doze Ticăi (3rd) tick (clocks) / dawdle
Orăcăi croak (frogs) Ţopăi hop / skip
Pipăi (se) touch /nudge /feel /feel after Zumzăi hum
 ÂI Verb List
Basic Conjugation: A Râcâi
*When the infinitive is used in a sentence, the accent falls on the last vowel. (râcâi)
râcâi | râcâim
râcâi | râcâiţi
râcâie | râcâie

**Note 3rd person singular plural are always the same conjugation
Subjunctive: Râcâie (doesn’t change)
Past Participle: Râcâit (add T to the infinitive)
*Accentuation is always on the last vowel. (râcâit)
Imperative: This depends on whether it is transitive (with dir. object) or intransitive (w/o dir. object)
Examples: transitive – Râcâie-l (3rd person singular.)
intransitive – Râcâi (2nd person singular)
Negativ sing. – Nu râcâi (nu plus infinitive)
Plural – Râcâiţi (2nd person plural for both positive and negative)

Bâjbâi grope Mormâi grumble / growl / mumble

Bâlbâi (se) stutter Pâlpâi flare / flicker
Bâţâi jerk / shiver Pârâi rack / snap / slap / crackle
Fâsâi fizz / wheeze / whistle Râcâi scratch / scrape
Fâşâi rustle Râgâi burp / belch
Fâlfâi flap (wings) Sâcâi bother
Fornai speak through your nose Sâsâi hiss (snake) / fizz
Gâfâi pant / breathe heavily Scârţâi squeak
Gâgâi gaggle Sfârâi sizzle
Gâlgâi gurgle Ţârâi (3rd) drizzle / chirp / buzz
Hârâi make broken-harsh sounds Zbârnâi buzz (bee)
Hârşâi shoo Zgâlţâi shake / jolt
Mârâi snarl
 Irregular Verb List
Past
Definition Subjunctive Participl
Verb (Present Indicative) Conjugation (să) Imperative e
Fi Be sunt | suntem f iu | f im Fii Fost
eşti | sunteţi fii | fiţi Fiţi
este | sunt fie | fie
Putea Be able to / Can pot | putem ---------- Putut
(infinitives can be used poţi | puteţi Poată
after any form of a putea) poate | pot
Avea Have am | avem Ai Avut
ai | aveţi Aibă Aveţi
are | au
Vrea Want vreau | vrem ---------- Vrut
vrei | vreţi Vrea
vrea | vor
Da Give dau | dăm Dă Dat
dai | daţi Dea Daţi
dă | dau
Preda (same + pre) Predea Predă Predat
Preach / surrender / hand Predaţi
Reda over (same + re) Redea Redă Redat
Redaţi
Sta Give back / teach (same with Stea Stai Stat
st instead of d) Staţi
Stay / stand / reside
(dative. suit / fit)
Bea Drink / sip beau | bem Bea Băut
bei | beţi Bea Beţi
bea | beau
Mânca Eat mănânc | mâncăm Mănânce Mănâncă Mâncat
mănânci | mâncaţi Mâncaţi
mănâncă | mănâncă
Şti Know ştiu | ştim ----------- Ştiut
ştii | ştiţi Ştie
ştie | ştiu
Descrie Describe descriu | descriem Descrie Descris
descrii | descrieţi Descrie Descrieţi
descrie | descriu
Înscrie Enroll / register (same as above with în not Înscrie Înscrie Înscris
Prescribe de) Înscrieţi
Prescrie (same as above with pre Prescrie Prescrie Prescris
Write not de) Prescrieţi
Scrie (same as above without Scrie Scrie Scris
de) Scrieţi
Trebuie Have to / need / be trebuie – only conjugation ----------- Trebuit
(3rd) required trebuiesc ‚ pl. adjectivial
(să) (ele trebuiesc spălate) Trebuiască
Lua Take / „get” iau | luăm Ia Ia Luat
iei | luaţi Luaţi
ia | iau
Prelua Take over (same + pre) Preia Preia Preluat
Preluaţi
Relua Retake / resume (same + re) Reia Reia Reluat
Reluaţi
Tăia Cut / mince / slaughter tai | tăiem Taie Taie Tăiat
tai | tăiaţi Tăiaţi
taie | taie
 Past
Definition Subjunctive Participl
Verb (Present Indicative) Conjugation (să) Imperative e
Încheia Do up / fasten închei | încheiem încheie Încheie Încheiat
închei | încheiaţi Încheiaţi
încheie | încheie
Descheia Unfasten / open (same + des) descheie Descheie Descheiat
Descheiaţi
Descuia Unlock / open descui | descuiem Descuie Descuie Descuiat
descui | descuiaţi Descuiaţi
descuie | descuie
Încuia Lock (up) / close (same with în instead of Încuie Încuie Încuiat
des) Încuiaţi
Muia Dip / soak moi | muiem Moaie Moaie Muiat
moi | muiaţi Muiaţi
moaie| moaie
Continua Continue continui | continuăm Continuă Continuat
continui | continuaţi Continue Continuaţi
continuă | continuă
Dezdoi Straighten / unfold dezdoi | dezdoim Dezdoaie Dezdoaie Dezdoit
dezdoi | dezdoiţi Dezdoiţi
Bend / curve / (bow) dezdoaie | dezdoaie
Îndoi (same with pre instead of Îndoaie Îndoaie Îndoit
(se) de) Îndoiţi
Ploua Rain Plouă Plouă ----------- Plouat
(3rd)
Păsa „care about” / matter îmi pasă, îţi pasă, etc... Pese ----------- Păsat
(3rd / a-
i)
Umple Fill / pour full umplu | umplem Umple Umple Umplut
umpli | umpleţi Umpleţi
umple | umplu
 Proverbs And Idioms

Apa trece, pietrele rămân = Some things last, temporary things pass on

Când n-ajunge la struguri, vulpea spune că sunt acri = One makes excuses for not succeeding

Ce nu te omoară, te întăreşte = That which doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger

Cine sapă groapa altcuiva, cade singur în ea = He who digs someone else’s hole, falls in it himself

Cine se aseamănă se adună = Those who are alike, are friends

Cine se scoală de dimineaţă departe ajunge = The early bird gets the worm

Dumnezeu îţi dă dar nu îţi bagă în traistă = God is willing to give, but you have to earn it

E vreme de caîne = It is bad weather

Fă ce face popa nu ce face = Do what the priest says not what he does

Frecţie la un picior de lemn = To do something useless

Fuga-i ruşinoasă dar e sănătoasă = Running away is shameful, but it is better in the long run

Greu la deal cu boii mici = It is hard to do something when you don’t have the necessary means

Haina face pe om = What a man wears tells you who he is

Laudă de sine nu miroase a bine = Praising yourself isn’t cool

Lupu-şi schimbă părul, dar năravul, ba = A wolf can change his disguise but not its’ character

Mai e mult pâna departe = Some people are very far from being what they pretend they are

Minciuna are picioare scurte = Whoever lies will be caught sooner or later

Nu există pădure fără uscături = There are bad people in every community/There is some bad in all good

Nu mă mai bate la cap cu asta = Stop reminding me of that

Nu mor caii când vor câinii = Good always prevails

Omul se trage din maimuţă = Man comes from the monkey

Până la Dumnezeu te mănâncă sfinţii = It’s hard to reach someone high up when others are in the way

Pentru unii mumă, pentru alţii ciuma = What is good for some is bad for others

Să nu vinzi castraveţi la grădinar! = Don’t do things in vain, or don’t do things without a use

S-a rupt căruţa în drum = It suddenly stopped working when while using it

Sabia nu taie capul, care se pleacă = Wrath doesn’t come upon those who are humble
 Expressions

Aşa mai vii de acasă = Now your talking!

Bagă –ţi minţile în cap! = Think about what you do / Behave yourself
Ce ai? Te-a lovit damblaua? / Ai băut gaz? = Said when somebody does/says something unexpected
Dă-mi pace / Lasă-mă-n pace = Leave me alone
De-aia n-are ursul coadă = An explanation when something bad happens
Gata cu prostiile! = Cut the crap!
Las-o mai moale = Take it easy!
Pe locuri, Fiţi gata, start! = On your marks, get set, go!
Pe unde vei scoate cămaşa? = How will you manage to get away with that?
Plouă cu găleaţa = It’s raining buckets
Să fim sobri = Let’s be serious
Scuteşte-mă = Give me a break!
Te jupoi de viu = I’ll skin you alive
Ţine-te bine! = Hold tight
 Informal verb usages
A avea de gând = To intend

A avea memorie de elefant = To have a good memory

A avea o mână lungă= To be proned to stealing

A avea toane = To be moody

A bate la cap pe cineva = To annoy someone by talking too much

A bate şaua să priceapă iapa = To do something in a way for someone to understand

A bate toba = To make a big fuss

A călca pe bec = To do something wrong

A călca pe cineva pe nervi = To get on someone’s nerves

A da colţul = To die or To turn the corner

A da cu bâta în baltă = To screw something up

A da de lucru cuiva = To give someone something to do

A da din toate inimă = To give with all your heart

A da papucii cuiva = To get rid of someone / To break up with someone

A descoase pe cineva = To interrogate someone

A despica firul în patru = To explain something in detail

A duce pe cineva în cârcă = To give someone a piggy back

A epuiza un subiect = To talk about something too much

A face de râs pe cineva = To make a laughingstock of / To make a fool of

A face după cum îl taie capul = To do as somebody pleases

A face feţe – feţe = To be very emotional

A face pe cineva la portofel = To pick pocket

A face zile negre cuiva = To cause trouble for somebody

A fi cu ochii pe cineva = To watch somebody

A fi dus cu pluta = To be nuts

A fi la înălţime = To make a good impression / To get a good result

A fi mort după ceva/cineva = To like something or someone very much

A fi o mână spartă = To spend money too easily

A fi o pilă = To be someone who has connections

A fi uşa de biserică = To be perfectly clean

A frânge inima cuiva = To break somebody’s heart

A împăca şi capra şi varza = To make peace between enemies

A întoarce pe toate feţele (un subiect, o problemă) = To see it from all sides

A întra cuiva pe sub piele = To get under someone’s skin

A intra la apă = To have trouble

A intra la idei = To doubt

A jupui pe cineva / A lua zece piei de pe cineva = To rip somebody off

A lovi mâna care te hrăneşte = To bite the hand that feeds you

A lua pe cineva la trei păzeşte = To take care of someone

A lucra / săpa pe cineva = To work secretely against somebody

A mânca sufletul cuiva = To annoy someone

A merge ca după mort = To go slowly

A merge ca melcul = To go slow

A o lua la sănătoasă = To run away

A plânge cu lacrimi de crocodil = To fake cry

A prinde pe Dumnezeu de-un picior = To do something amazing

A pune beţe în roate = To try to stop someone from doing something

A pune carul înaintea boilor = To do something backwards

A pune în valoare = To emphasize something

A pune pe cineva în faţa faptului împlinit = What’s done is done, there is nothing you can do about it

A pune pe cineva la colţ = To send someone to the corner

A pune răul înainte = To be prepared for the worst

A scăpa boii pe gheaţă = When the situation gets out of hand

A se arunca să… = To hurry to…

A se crede buricul pământului = To think he is the center of the universe

A se da bătut = To give up

A se da cu capul de pereţi = To be desperate

A se da la cineva = To hit on/flirt with someone

A se da peste cap ca să… = To do everything possible to…

A se da rotund/mare = To pride take pride in oneself

A se lăsa pe mâna cuiva = To rely on somebody

A se scula cu noaptea în cap = To wake up very early

A se ţine după fuste = To be feminine

A se topi în gură = To be very tasty

A se uita cu un ochi la slănină şi cu unul la făină = To be greedy

A simţi alt om = To feel better/different

A ţine pe cineva sub papuc = To be whipped

A trage cuiva o mamă de bătaie = To beat up someone severely

A tromboni pe cineva = To deceive someone

A veni la spartul târgului = To take advantage of the situation

A-i sări muştarul = To suddenly get very angry

A-i se face pielea de găină = To get goosebumps

A-i se rupe inima de ceva/cineva = To feel very sorry for something or someone

A-i trece prin cap =To cross one’s mind

A-şi da sufletul = To die

A-şi face mendrele/damblaua = To do what one wants

A-şi ieşi din fire/minte =To get very angry

A-şi lua tălpăşiţa = To run away

A-şi turna cenuşa în cap = To repent