Language/Romanian/Grammar/Adjectives-and-Adverbs
As a Romanian language teacher with 20 years of experience, I'm excited to introduce you to the next step in mastering the basics of Romanian grammar: adjectives and adverbs. In this lesson, we will explore how to form and use these essential parts of speech in Romanian sentences.
Adjectives
What are adjectives?
In simple terms, adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns or pronouns. They provide more information about the qualities, characteristics, or states of the subject. In Romanian, adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the noun or pronoun they modify.
How to form adjectives in Romanian
In Romanian, most adjectives are formed by adding suffixes to the root of the noun they modify. The suffixes depend on the gender, number, and case of the noun. Here are some examples:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| fata frumoasă | [ˈfata fruˈmoasə] | beautiful girl |
| băiat bun | [bəˈjat bun] | good boy |
| masă mare | [ˈmasə ˈmare] | big table |
| flori frumoase | [ˈflori fruˈmoase] | beautiful flowers |
As you can see, the suffix -a is added for feminine singular adjectives, -i for masculine singular adjectives, and -e for plural adjectives, regardless of the gender. When the adjective modifies a noun in a different case, the suffixes change accordingly.
Adjective agreement in Romanian
As mentioned earlier, adjectives in Romanian agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. Here are some examples:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| băiat bun | [bəˈjat bun] | good boy |
| fată bună | [ˈfata ˈbunə] | good girl |
| băieți buni | [bəˈje̯tsi ˈbuni] | good boys |
| fete bune | [ˈfete ˈbune] | good girls |
As shown in the examples above, the adjective bun (good) changes its form depending on the gender and number of the noun it modifies. This rule applies to all adjectives in Romanian.
Position of adjectives in Romanian sentences
In Romanian, adjectives usually come after the noun or pronoun they modify. Here's an example:
Masa mare este albastră. (The big table is blue.)
In some cases, however, the adjective can come before the noun for emphasis or poetic effect. For instance:
Frumoasa primăvară. (The beautiful spring.)
Adverbs
What are adverbs?
Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They describe how an action is performed, the extent or degree of a quality, or the time, place, or frequency of an event. In Romanian, adverbs are usually formed by adding suffixes to adjectives, but there are also many irregular adverbs with their own forms.
How to form adverbs in Romanian
Most adverbs in Romanian are formed by adding the suffix -mente to the feminine singular form of the adjective. Here are some examples:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| frumos | [ˈfrumos] | beautiful | frumoasă + -mente = frumosamente | [frumozaˈmente] | beautifully |
| clar | [klar] | clear | clară + -mente = claramente | [klaraˈmente] | clearly |
| natural | [naˈturəl] | natural | naturală + -mente = naturalmente | [natuˈralmente] | naturally |
As you can see, the suffix -mente is added to the feminine singular form of the adjective, regardless of the gender of the subject. Some adverbs have irregular forms, such as bine (well) or deja (already).
Adverb position in Romanian sentences
Adverbs in Romanian usually come before the verb they modify. Here's an example:
El mă ascultă atent. (He listens to me attentively.)
However, some adverbs can also come after the verb or at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis or rhetorical effect. For example:
Niciodată nu voi renunța la visurile mele. (I will never give up on my dreams.)
Tips
- Remember that adjectives and adverbs in Romanian agree in gender, number, and case with the subject they modify or describe. - Practice forming and using adjectives and adverbs in simple sentences until you feel confident to use them in more complex sentences.
Sources
- Romanian Adjectives: Endings, Comparisons, and Expressions
- Romanian grammar - Wikipedia
- Romanian Adverbs: A Quick Reference
Videos
The Romanian Adjective (Adjectivul) | Learn Romanian Grammar ...
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