Language/Romanian/Grammar/Present-Tense-of-Verbs
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In this lesson, we will delve into the present tense of verbs in Romanian. Understanding how to conjugate verbs in the present tense is essential for building a strong foundation in the Romanian language. We will explore the conjugation patterns for regular verbs, as well as some irregular verbs. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently use and understand verbs in the present tense.
The Present Tense[edit | edit source]
The present tense is used to talk about actions that are currently happening or habitual actions. In Romanian, the present tense is formed by adding different endings to the verb stem. The verb stem is obtained by removing the "-a" ending from the infinitive form of the verb.
Let's take a look at the conjugation patterns for regular verbs in the present tense:
Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
eu cânt | [jeu kɨnt] | I sing |
tu cânti | [tu kɨnt͡sʲ] | you sing (informal) |
el/ea cântă | [el/ea kɨnˈtə] | he/she sings |
noi cântăm | [noj kɨnˈtəm] | we sing |
voi cântați | [voj kɨnˈtat͡sʲ] | you sing (formal/plural) |
ei/ele cântă | [ej/ele kɨnˈtə] | they sing |
As you can see, the endings vary depending on the subject pronoun. It's important to note that the subject pronouns can often be dropped in Romanian because the verb endings already indicate the subject.
Now, let's explore the conjugation of some common regular verbs in the present tense:
Conjugation of "a cânta" (to sing)[edit | edit source]
Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
eu cânt | [jeu kɨnt] | I sing |
tu cânti | [tu kɨnt͡sʲ] | you sing (informal) |
el/ea cântă | [el/ea kɨnˈtə] | he/she sings |
noi cântăm | [noj kɨnˈtəm] | we sing |
voi cântați | [voj kɨnˈtat͡sʲ] | you sing (formal/plural) |
ei/ele cântă | [ej/ele kɨnˈtə] | they sing |
Conjugation of "a mânca" (to eat)[edit | edit source]
Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
eu mănânc | [jeu məˈnɨŋk] | I eat |
tu mănânci | [tu məˈnɨŋkʲ] | you eat (informal) |
el/ea mănâncă | [el/ea məˈnɨŋkə] | he/she eats |
noi mâncăm | [noj mənˈkəm] | we eat |
voi mâncați | [voj mənˈkat͡sʲ] | you eat (formal/plural) |
ei/ele mănâncă | [ej/ele məˈnɨŋkə] | they eat |
Conjugation of "a dormi" (to sleep)[edit | edit source]
Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
eu dorm | [jeu dorm] | I sleep |
tu dormi | [tu ˈdormʲ] | you sleep (informal) |
el/ea doarme | [el/ea ˈdo̯ar͡me] | he/she sleeps |
noi dormim | [noj dorˈmim] | we sleep |
voi dormiți | [voj dorˈmit͡sʲ] | you sleep (formal/plural) |
ei/ele dorm | [ej/ele dorm] | they sleep |
Regional Variations[edit | edit source]
While the present tense conjugation patterns remain fairly consistent across the regions of Romania, there are some variations in the usage of certain verbs. For example, in some regions, the verb "a merge" (to go) is conjugated as "eu merg" instead of "eu merg" in the present tense. Similarly, the verb "a face" (to do/make) is sometimes conjugated as "eu fac" instead of "eu fac" in certain regions.
These regional variations add color and diversity to the Romanian language, reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the country.
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
Romanian culture is deeply rooted in history and tradition. The language itself reflects this cultural heritage, with many words and phrases carrying historical significance. For example, Romanian has borrowed words from Latin, as well as from neighboring languages such as Turkish, Greek, and Slavic languages.
Romania is known for its picturesque landscapes, including the Carpathian Mountains and the Danube Delta. The country is also famous for its folklore, which is often showcased through traditional music and dance. Romanian cuisine is diverse and influenced by various cultures, with dishes like sarmale (cabbage rolls) and mămăligă (polenta) being popular staples.
Practice Exercises[edit | edit source]
Now it's time to put your knowledge into practice! Complete the following exercises to reinforce what you've learned:
Exercise 1: Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense:
1. a vorbi (to speak) 2. a citi (to read) 3. a lucra (to work) 4. a iubi (to love) 5. a vedea (to see)
Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into Romanian:
1. I eat breakfast every day. 2. They sing beautifully. 3. Do you speak Romanian? 4. We love this city. 5. She works in a hospital.
Exercise 1 Solution:
1. eu vorbesc
tu vorbești el/ea vorbește noi vorbim voi vorbiți ei/ele vorbesc
2. eu citesc
tu citești el/ea citește noi citim voi citiți ei/ele citesc
3. eu lucrez
tu lucrezi el/ea lucrează noi lucrăm voi lucrați ei/ele lucrează
4. eu iubesc
tu iubești el/ea iubește noi iubim voi iubiți ei/ele iubesc
5. eu văd
tu vezi el/ea vede noi vedem voi vedeți ei/ele văd
Exercise 2 Solution:
1. Mănânc micul dejun în fiecare zi. 2. Ei cântă frumos. 3. Vorbești românește? 4. Iubim acest oraș. 5. Ea lucrează într-un spital.
Congratulations! You have completed the practice exercises!
Videos[edit | edit source]
Learn Romanian with Nico - Present Tense (1st Conj. without infix ...[edit | edit source]
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Romanian language lesson: The Present Indicative of the verbs in -a ...
- Romanian verbs in present tense – Fast Language Mastery
- A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Romanian Verb Conjugation
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Verb to be with names and places
- Participles and Gerunds
- Past and Future Tenses
- Imperative Form
- How to use ¨can¨ in Romanian
- Conditional Mood
- Give your Opinion
- Polite Requests
- Prepositions
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