Language/Romanian/Grammar/Basic-Prepositions
As a Romanian language teacher with over 20 years of experience, I understand the importance of learning prepositions in any language. Prepositions are essential in forming meaningful sentences, conveying location and movement, and describing the relationships between objects, people, and ideas. In this lesson, we will focus on some of the most basic prepositions in Romanian and how to use them in various contexts.
What are Prepositions?
Prepositions are words used to connect nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words in a sentence. They are used to indicate direction, location, separation or attachment, time, and various other concepts. Prepositions typically come before a noun or pronoun and cannot stand alone in a sentence.
There are many prepositions in Romanian, but we will start with the most basic ones which are essential for beginners to learn.
Basic Prepositions in Romanian
Below are some of the most common prepositions used in Romanian:
| Romanian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| în | [ɨn] | in / inside |
| pe | [pe] | on / over / upon |
| sub | [sub] | under / below |
| peste | [pest̪e] | across / beyond |
| deasupra | [deasu'pra] | above / up |
| în fața | [ɨn 'fats̪a] | in front of |
| în spate | [ɨn 'spate] | behind |
| lângă | ['laŋgə] | near / beside |
| printre | ['printre] | among / between |
Note that Romanian prepositions can change their form depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun they are used with. However, in this lesson, we will only focus on the basic form of each preposition.
Using Prepositions in Romanian Sentences
Prepositions can be used in various ways in a sentence, depending on the context and intention of the speaker. Below are some examples of how to use the basic prepositions we learned above:
Using "în"
- Eu sunt în clasă. (I am in class.)
- Cartea este în rucsacul meu. (The book is in my backpack.)
- Mergeți în parc? (Are you going to the park?)
Using "pe"
- O carte e pe masă. (A book is on the table.)
- El merge pe strada principală. (He walks on the main street.)
- Mătasea este pe scaun. (The silk is on the chair.)
Using "sub"
- Telefonul meu este sub pernă. (My phone is under the pillow.)
- Paharul este sub masă. (The glass is under the table.)
- Umbrela este sub scaun. (The umbrella is under the chair.)
Using "peste"
- Am mers peste pod. (We went across the bridge.)
- Vedem muntele peste ape. (We see the mountain beyond the waters.)
- Campusul este peste drum. (The campus is across the street.)
Using "deasupra"
- Soarele este deasupra norilor. (The sun is above the clouds.)
- Păsările zboară deasupra copacilor. (The birds fly above the trees.)
- Aproape deasupra țării noastre este mai mult cer. (Almost above our country, there's more sky.)
Using "în fața"
- Eu stau în fața casei tale. (I'm standing in front of your house.)
- El este în fața noastră. (He is in front of us.)
- Fata ta în fața teatrului așteaptă un taxi. (Your daughter is waiting for a taxi in front of the theater.)
Using "în spate"
- Eu merg în spatele tău. (I'm walking behind you.)
- Cartea este în spatele laptopului meu. (The book is behind my laptop.)
- Fetițele mele se joacă în spatele casei. (My little girls are playing behind the house.)
Using "lângă"
- Eu am parcat lângă castel. (I parked near the castle.)
- Restaurantul este lângă stadionul orașului. (The restaurant is next to the city's stadium.)
- M-am cumpărat haine lângă tine la magazin. (I bought clothes next to you in the store.)
Using "printre"
- Printre nori se poate vedea soarele. (The sun can be seen among the clouds.)
- Văd un pupic printre sânii tăi. (I see a mole among your breasts.)
- Am găsit mere bune printre acelea stricate. (I found good apples among the rotten ones.)
Conclusion
Prepositions are essential in any language and Romanian is no exception. In this lesson, we learned some of the most basic prepositions in Romanian and how to use them in various contexts. By practicing their usage, you can improve your ability to form meaningful sentences and convey your intended meaning more accurately.
Don't hesitate to practice using these prepositions in your Romanian conversations, and try to add more complex ones to your vocabulary over time. With dedication and consistency, you can build a strong foundation in Romanian grammar and become proficient in no time.