Language/Romanian/Grammar/Prepositions-and-Postpositions
As a Romanian language teacher for over 20 years, I have seen many students struggle with prepositions and postpositions. However, mastering these simple components of Romanian can have a great impact on your communication skills. In this lesson, we will explore the role of prepositions and postpositions in Romanian and how to use them correctly.
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Plural in Romanian & Advanced Verb Tenses.
Prepositions and Postpositions
Prepositions and postpositions are words that provide a spatial or temporal relationship between two sentences or sentence elements. In Romanian, prepositions usually come before the noun, while postpositions come after the noun. The main difference is that prepositions can take different forms depending on the context, while postpositions have a fixed form.
Here are some common prepositions and postpositions you need to remember:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| în | oon | in, inside |
| la | lah | at, to |
| spre | spre | towards |
| cu | koo | with |
| fără | fuh-ruh | without |
| peste | pes-teh | over, above |
| sub | soob | below, under |
| deasupra | de-ah-soo-prah | above, on top of |
| deasupra la | de-ah-soo-prah lah | above, to the top of |
| între | een-treh | between |
| după | doo-puh | after |
| înainte | een-yn-teh | before |
| de | deh | of, from, about |
| către | kuht-reh | towards |
| printre | prin-treh | among |
| pentru | pen-troo | for |
Note that the pronunciations are given in Latin script. If you want to learn the IPA or transliteration, please consult the sources at the end of this lesson.
It is important to note that prepositions can introduce different cases in Romanian. For example, the preposition "la" can introduce the accusative case, which marks the direct object, or the dative case, which marks the indirect object. The same preposition can also introduce the Romanian equivalent of the English present progressive tense (e.g. "Merg la cinema" means "I am going to the cinema").
Postpositions, on the other hand, do not change their form depending on the context. They are always followed by a noun or a pronoun. Here are some common postpositions you need to remember:
- timpul - time
- locul - place
- dreptul - right
- stânga - left
For example, in "Așez cartea pe masă", "pe" is a preposition, while in "Așez cartea pe masă dreptul", "dreptul" is a postposition.
It is important to use the correct preposition or postposition in each context to avoid misunderstandings.
Usage and Examples
Prepositions and postpositions are used in many contexts, such as:
Location
To describe the location of an object or a person, Romanian uses prepositions such as "în" (in), "pe" (on), "la" (at), "în fața" (in front of), "în spatele" (behind), and so on.
For example:
- Casa mea este în centrul orașului. (My house is in the city center.)
- Te aștept la teatrul Național. (I'm waiting for you at the National Theater.)
- Am văzut un câine pe stradă. (I saw a dog in the street.)
- Mâncarea este în cuptor. (The food is in the oven.)
Postpositions are used in the same contexts, but they precede the noun or pronoun.
For example:
- Casa mea este centrul orașului locul. (My house is in the city center place.)
- Te aștept teatrul Național dreptul. (I'm waiting for you at the National Theater right.)
- Am văzut un câine stradă pe. (I saw a dog in the street.)
- Mâncarea este cuptor în. (The food is in the oven.)
Time
To describe time, Romanian uses prepositions such as "în" (in), "la" (at), "de la" (from), "până la" (until), and so on.
For example:
- Merg la cinema în seara asta. (I'm going to the cinema tonight.)
- Am lucrat de la 9 dimineața până la 6 seara. (I worked from 9 in the morning until 6 in the evening.)
- Am fost în vacanță două săptămâni în iulie. (I was on vacation for two weeks in July.)
Postpositions are not used to describe time.
Movement
To describe movement, Romanian uses prepositions such as "la" (to), "în" (into), "pe" (onto), "prin" (through), and so on.
For example:
- Merg la birou în fiecare dimineață. (I go to the office every morning.)
- Am aruncat hârtiile în coșul de gunoi. (I threw the papers into the trash can.)
- A pus mâna pe telefon și a sunat la poliție. (He picked up the phone and called the police.)
Postpositions are not used to describe movement.
Agency
To describe the agent or cause of an action, Romanian uses prepositions such as "de" (by) or "prin" (through).
For example:
- Cartea a fost scrisă de un autor român. (The book was written by a Romanian author.)
- Am învățat să cânt la pian prin perseverență și exercițiu. (I learned to play the piano through perseverance and practice.)
Postpositions are not used to describe agency.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to help you master prepositions and postpositions in Romanian:
- Learn the most common prepositions and postpositions by heart, but also pay attention to their context and usage.
- Practice, practice, practice! Use prepositions and postpositions in your speech and writing as much as possible, until you feel confident enough.
- Pay attention to the case or the grammatical function of the word that follows the preposition or the postposition. For example, if "la" introduces the accusative case, the word that follows should be in the accusative case.
- Use online resources or language learning apps to practice prepositions and postpositions, and to get immediate feedback on your performance.
Conclusion
Prepositions and postpositions are essential components of any language, and Romanian is no exception. By mastering them, you can greatly improve your communication skills and express yourself more accurately and concisely. Remember to practice as much as possible, pay attention to the context and the grammar, and use reliable resources to consolidate your knowledge.
Sources:
Excellent job on conquering this lesson! Consider delving into these related pages: Forming Questions & Definite Articles in Romanian.
Other Lessons
- How to use ¨to speak¨ in Romanian
- How to use the Modal Verb “Must” in Romanian
- Relative Pronouns and Clauses
- Prepositions
- Verbs and Conjugation
- Advanced Verb Tenses
- Cases
- Greetings in Romanian
- Possessive Case in Romanian
Sources