Language/Romanian/Grammar/Participles-and-Gerunds
Welcome to the "Complete 0 to A1 Romanian Course"! I've been teaching Romanian for over 20 years, and I'm excited to be your guide on this language journey. In this lesson, we will cover advanced Romanian grammar, specifically focusing on participles and gerunds. These linguistic features are useful in expressing complex ideas and adding depth to your sentences.
What are Participles
Participles are a type of verb that are formed from the infinitive of the verb. In Romanian, there are two types of participles: the active and the passive participle.
The active participle is formed by adding "-ant" to the infinitive of the verb. For example, the verb "a citi" (to read) in the active participle form becomes "citind" (reading).
The passive participle is formed by adding "-at" to the infinitive of the verb. For example, the verb "a citi" (to read) in the passive participle form becomes "citit" (read).
Participles can be used to describe actions being done at the same time as another verb or while something else is happening. Let's take a look at some examples:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Fata care citeste | Fata care chee-tess-te | The girl who is reading |
| Cartea citita | Carteya chee-teetah | The read book |
| El vine citind | El vee-neh chee-tind | He comes reading |
In the first example, we see how the active participle is used to describe the girl who is currently reading. In the second example, we see the passive participle being used to describe the book that has already been read. In the third example, the active participle is used to describe the man who is reading while coming.
What are Gerunds
Gerunds are also a type of verb that function as a noun in a sentence. In Romanian, gerunds are formed by adding "-ând" to the infinitive of the verb. For example, the verb "a citi" (to read) the gerund form becomes "citind" (reading).
Gerunds can be used in a variety of ways. They often act as the subject or object of a sentence or clause. Here are some examples:
- Cititul este o activitate buna. (Reading is a good activity.)
- Prezenta mea la lectii ne îmbunătățeste notele. (My attendance in classes improves our grades.)
Differences Between Participles and Gerunds
Participles and gerunds can be easily confused. However, there are some differences between the two.
Participles are used to describe the particulars of an action, while gerunds function more like a noun, describing an activity or situation in general. Participles also often function like adjectives, while gerunds function more like nouns in a sentence.
Let's take a look at some examples to illustrate the differences:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Fata citind carte este frumoasa | Fata chee-tind car-te esté froo-moasa | The girl reading a book is beautiful |
| Fata a citi cartea este frumoasa | Fata a chee-tee carte-ya esté froo-moasa | The girl who read the book is beautiful |
| Ma distrez pictand | Ma dis-trez pick-tannd | I have fun painting |
| Am ajuns acasa obosit de muncă | Am ajoonss akas-a obosiht day moon-kah | I arrived home tired from work |
In the first example, we see the active participle being used to describe the girl in the moment of reading a book. In the second example, we see the gerund being used to describe the girl who read a book.
In the third example, the gerund is used to describe the activity of painting. In the last example, the passive participle is used to describe the state of being tired as a result of work.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you've learned another important aspect of Romanian grammar! By mastering participles and gerunds, you'll be able to take your language skills to the next level by adding nuances and complexity to your writing and speaking. Keep practicing, and you'll become a confident and competent Romanian speaker in no time!
Sources
Related Lessons
- How to use ¨to speak¨ in Romanian
- Nouns and Pronouns
- Plural in Romanian
- Negation
- Nouns
- Dative Case in Romanian
- Instrumental Case in Romanian
- How to use the verb there to be in Romanian
- Prepositions
- How to use ¨can¨ in Romanian