H5rH

ir-i
l-v*ir|

*:*f-

.^'.

^...^.,

RSITY

OF

CALIFORNIA

LIBRARY

OF

THE

UNIVERSITY OF

CALIFORNIA

RSITY

OF

CALIFORNIA

LIBRARY

OF

THE

UNIVERSITY OF

CALIFORNIA

^^^

OF

THE

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

LIBRARY

OF

THE

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

OF

THE

UNIVERSITY

^^O-^^^l

OF

THE

UNIVERSITY OF CUIFORNU

1
W

C3
CD

CO

^gO-^^^RI

TRUBNER'S COLLECTION
OF

SIMPLIFIED

GRAMMARS

OF THE PRINCIPAL

ASIATIC

AND EUROPEAN LANGUAGES.

EDITED BY

REINHOLD ROST,

LL.D., Ph.D.

VI.

ROUMANIAN.
BY

R.

TORGEANU.

"SE

LONDON
PRINTED BY GILBERT AND EIVINGTON, LIMITKD,
:

ST.

John's square.

CONTENTS.

Phonetic Remarks

NoTJNS

Masculine Terminations

Nouns

Plural of Masculine

Feminine Terminations

The

The Accent,

The Aeticle

Nouns

or Intonation

...
.

Plural of Feminine

Neuter Nouns

.'^

......

The

'

'''

.......

Alphabet and Pronunciation

9-

.10

10
11

The Masculine Article

The Feminine Article

13

Cases of Nouns

14

Adjectives

12

........

Formation of the Feminine from the Masculine

........

Relation of Substantive and Adjective

Comparison
Numerals
Ordinal

16
17
18

'

Numbers

Proportional

Numbers

167151

18

20
21

contents.

vi

Peonotjns

PAGE

The Abbreviated Forms

Singular

of the Genitive and Dative

Plural

The

21

Singular
Plural

.21

..........22

Personal Pronouns

22

22

...

23

Eeflexive Pronouns

Masculine

Feminine

........
......
.

Possessive Pronouns

-.

Demonstrative Pronouns

Interrogative and Eelative Pronouns

Indeterminate Pronouns

Veebs

Auxiliary Verbs

Terminations of Verbs

The Accent

of Verbs

...

...
......
.... ...
.

Advebbs

........
.........
.

24
25
25

26
33

49

Conjunctions and Inteejecqions

51
54
57

57
59

Peepositions

Syntax

24

.50

Irregular Verbs

Impersonal Verbs

23

.26

The Passive Voice

The Reflexive Forms

23

60

61

PREFACE.

There

hardly a language, or even a dialect, to be found

is

unworthy of the

philologist's

The Jloumanian

attention.

tongue can claim that attention on more grounds than one.

It

is

the language of an European country as independent as

England
eight

and

itself,

of

millions

lloumania

souls,

itself into

the Austrian

spoken by a population numbering

is

province of the

Roumanian

Bukovina,

allied dialect

proper,

and the llussian

Grammar

language whose

the

the Northern

known

bounds of

These are the people who speak

treated of in the following pages, called

of distinction,

the

Bulgaria, Servia, Transylvania, Hungary,

province of Bessarabia.
the

extending beyond

or

also,

for

Daco-Rouman.

the sake

closely

Southern or Macedo-Rouman

as the

is

is

spoken by a scattered population of about half a million, in

Macedonia, Thessaly, and the adjoining highlands of Albania.

The popular element

rich treasure

by

it

contains

philologists

Roumanian Language owes

is

rightly

and students of

its

considered

folk-lore.

The

origin and distinctive character

to the influx of heterogeneous words and expressions into " the

PREFACE.

Vlll

Latin

rustic

"

spoken by

Pontus and Adria.

Roman

the

between

provincials

These provincials became barbarized in

consequence of the protracted miseries induced by the repeated

The western portion

invasions of the northern barbarians.

Roman Empire was

the

invaders.
of the

by

The

conquered once for

by the Teutonic

all

lands north and south of the eastern course

Danube were repeatedly

laid

successive waves of barbarians

Bulgars.

of

waste for

many

centuries

Goths and Huns, Slavs and

This unsettled state of things, though disastrous for

the political and social development of the

Roumanian

people,

rendered possible the growth of an original language differing

in a

marked'manner from the other Romance languages of the

West.

I have endeavoured in this

short

Grammar

to give the

student a clear notion of the framework of the

Roumanian

Language, and to help him in becoming acquainted with

without unnecessary consumption of his time.
tory details which

may

Any

it

elucida-

be considered not absolutely indis-

pensable in a strictly philological handbook will nevertheless,

it is

some

hoped, prove useful to those

who

learn the language for

practical purpose.

R.

London,
September J 1883.

TORCEANU.

ROUMANIAN GRAMMAR. Vql, ,""

r
I

Alphabet and Pronunciation.

Thb Roumanian Alphabet

a

consists of the following letters

A,

a,

as

B,

b,

as in English.

C,

c,

before

and

i
:

as ch in cheese, softer than in

otherwise as

k.

D,

d,

as in English.

'D,

d,

like

z,

E,

e,

as

in French,

F,

f,

as in English.

G,

g,

hard, as in gum, but before e and

H,

h,

guttural, as ch in loch,

e'

sometimes as ye in yet

as in police.

I,

i,

J,

j,

as in

K,

k,

as in English.

L,

1,

French yowr.

M, m,
N,

n,

O,

o,

P.

P,

R,

r,

a rolling

S,

s,

as in English.

"""'^S,

3.

as sh in s^/w.

t,

softer than in English.

as

Vy

u,

as 00 in ^ooZ.

V,

V,

as V in English,

.>^.,

Am

as

u7

Y,

y,

as

Z,

z,

as in English.

T,

^,

in father.

English

}>

91

tSj

r.

or like the

,,

German

z in

a,

in the English

word

king.

zett,

like

j in

jok4,

'

ROUMANIAN GRAMMAR.

and o are pronounced like the Russian w, or nearly like

the English u in murder.
The vowels in this case make no
a, e

difference in the pronunciation, but represent only the deriva-

tion of the word.

blanduSf a

Thus, in bland, which

is

from the Latin

used in preference to any of the other vowels.

Similar reasons govern the orthography of words from Slavonic
is

and other sources.

M,

when

a silent

w,

it

occurs at the end of a word,

which

is

is

pronounced

like

u short.

called

6 and e are pronounced as

if

followed by a

mortey pro-

pronounced pe&trd. But at the end of

words these diphthongs are to be written ea, oa.

nounced

at the

I,
t,

jno&rte ; petrd,

which
t

is

end of a word,
called

pronounced generally as a

is

silent

short.

this is generally

confounded in writing with

e,

but has

a very different sound, approaching the French nasal vowel un.

e is

pronounced

like

the French e in ferme ; but at the

beginning of words, except in the case of neologisms, and

occasionally in the middle, e is pronounced like ye in yet
This peculiarity is of Slavonic origin.
e.g., el ersi, *he was.'

s.

When

occurs between two vowels

in English z.
casa, but

Sometimes

it

it is

pronounced as

retains its original sound, as in

some modern writers

spell

such words with a double

s.

Phonetic Remarks.

One

of the

greatest

difficulties

which

the Roumanian

language presents to foreigners is the difficulty of learning

and remembering the nice moclifications of sound to which
certain letters (both vowels

and consonants) are

subject.

It

PHONETIC BEMAEKS.
is

impossible, however, in the present space to specify all such

modifications,
hints,

1.

which

a,

syllable

eu

i &CVi

in

and we must content ourselves with the following

will be of service to the student.

an accented

syllable,

becomes through
'

ta.Cf

^^ ^^^^>

'

'

h&rbay

am

is

beard

silent

inflection

a,

silence

'

(noun),

man.'

bdrb&t,

;'

I was silent/

tacere,

;'

so soon as that

unaccented

eii tacvLiy

;'

silent

becomes

etc.

2.

a becomes a in the plural of

the accentuation

is

unchanged
*

csLrtSf

book

many

words, even though

carfiy

;*

books.*

part

psLrte,

pdrtz,

;'

ogra.ddy
*

s&bie,

yard ;*
sword ;'

ogradiy
saftu,

etc.

e.

e is

often modified into e in the singular of nouns and in

the conjugation of verbs

*

per,
*

reu,

mer,

hair

bad

peri,

;*

ret.

;'

apple

mere,

;*

a vede,

to see ;'

eu ved,

eu veduiy

'

I saw;*

ved^nl^

I see.

etc.

seeing.*

ROUMANIAN GRAMMAR.

4
Note.

There

the verb a ^eni,

accent

is

eu

upon
*

v'ln,

it

one case in which

is

where

to come,'

changes into t, viz. in

becomes t whenever the
e

come ;'

el vine,

he comes

'

vinaf

;'

come.*

1.

long in the singulars of some nouns, and in the

root syllable of certain persons of the verbs

becomes

'

moimimty

gi"ave
*

sfinty
'

ciivmt,

saint

mormmte,

;'

sf'mtt,

;'

word

cuvinte,

;'

CM vind,

saints.*

words.*

youth
*

graves.*
*

tiner,

'

I sell

youths.*

tinertj

;'

tu v'mdi, el vinde, etc.

:*

0.

Sometimes o
it

changed into u when the syllable

is

stands becomes unaccented

joe
eu port,
eii

'

rog,

I wear

which

'play;*

in

;*

I pray ;'

jucar\e,

'toy.*

eu purta,m,
eu 7^ugB.m,

I wore.'

I prayed.*

'

rugaciune,

ew

sboTy

prayer.*

ew sburam,

fly.*

I flew.*

etc.

More important than any

sounds are those of
in

which the

stress

of the foregoing modifications of

and o into the diphthongs

falls on the a.
e

e (ea), d (oa),

e.
e

changes into

(ea) generally

when

it

is

accented in a

PHONETIC REMAEKS.

when an

word, and

added

affix containing the

vowel a or a has to be

'

this

acestf

acesta (fem.), acesta.

;'

upright

dreptj

With some of
e the

sound of

dreptUf etc.

the words which have had the

modified into

has subsequently disappeared ; thus

(girls), is

plur. fete

fetd,

drepta

;'

pronounced and written Jkta.

*

messe (tables),

ma.ssd,

vetrd,

vetre (hearths),

vatrd,

vera,

vere

vara.

messd,

(cousins),
etc.

It is only

singular

is

by the plural that we discover that the a of the

a modification of

e.

0.

changes into o (oa) when we affix to the word, in which it

occurs accented, a syllable containing one of the vowels a,
a or e

'

eu port,

porte

{el),

I wear /
let

el porta,

him wear

he wears.'

'

(imperat).

'

handsome,*

frumos,

frumossd, frumossa.

etc.

,^\/^

Note.

This

modification

or in neologisms

is

not made in imported words,

'

onest,

honest

onestd.

;'

chinesa,

chineSf
'

engles,

eu onor,
It is impossible,

englesd,
*

I honour f

el

'

onord,

he honours.'

however, to attempt to alter those cases in

ROUMANIAN GRAMMAR.

which the passage from

honoured.

and from o

e to e

to

6 are time

d, t, s.

D,

s,

affixed,

and

end of words to which an

at the

t,

change respectively into

*

eu

cred,
*

brad,
*

ew

cos,

eu

socot,

If the word ends in

'

onest,

this
eii

I believe
fir-tree

I sew

tu credi,

;'

hra.dt.

tu cost

;*

tu socoti, etc.

;*

this

;*

honest

acesti,

these.*

onest'i

{plural).

;*

change occurs sometimes before

*

I see

ved,

eii

;*

vedend,

Euphony

;*

I think

has been

the s alone undergoes modification

st,

acQst,

With verbs

s, t

c?,

seeing

;*

vedm,

u, e, i

I saw.*

etc.

occasionally requires that certain letters should be

(1) omitted from, (2) interpolated in, or (3) affixed to a

*

(1) c&le,
*

vHqI,
*

eii vin,

tu saz,

'

road
calf

I come

thou leapest
*

;'

thou comest

;'

for tu v'lnu

for tu s&rt, etc.

to the
*

veni-u-ar^

{plural for caZe).

vitQi (jplur. f, viteli).

;*

tu v\i,

;'

(2) om-u-lut,

csli

;*

man

;*

omluu

for

should he come

;'

for veni'ar.

etc
(3) imi vine reu,

word

I feel

ill ;*

for

mi

vine rew.

Kouns (Nume).
MiLSCULiNE Teeminations.

The determination
difficulties of

must

Roumanian language.

noun

The

is

one of the

student, however,

observe that masculine nouns generally end in a

first

consonant

the

of the gender of the

Ronidin^

EOUMANIAN GEAMMAE.

changed into

made
pom,

t.

When

the singular ends in

t,

no change

is

1^

FEMII^TNE TEEMINATIONS.

There are feminine nouns also which end with the vowels
*

e short

car^<3,
*

a long

hasma,

e long

The

psbUe,

;'

handkerchief

star

ste,

book

bread

'

cur^e,

;*

cowrt.'

para,

;*

farthing.*

hehy

;'

grievance.*

I^lural of Feminine I^ouns.

There are several ways in which the feminine plural is formed.

Nouns ending in a make their plural by changing a into e
:

'

wama,

mother

mamCf

;*

domna,

lady

domne,

;*

mothers.'

ladies.'

copila,

girls.'

copile,

*girl;'

queen

reg'ina,

Those ending in

regmCy

;'

e short, take

in the plural

bread;'

pa,ney

cnrfey

'court;'

Those ending in a long, add the

'handkerchief;'

lasmsLf

car/e,

books.'

pmtj

'breads.*

curtt,

'courts.'

particle le to the singular

'

Those ending

'

*on;

money

or farthings.'

in e long (pronounced ea, e in the singular),

sfe,

I^ote.

parale,

word ending

zi (the only

star

in

'

'bitch;'

catele,

'bitches.'

nue,

'rod;'

nuele,

'rods.'

2?i,

*day;'

zile,

'days.'

If ^aca,

caZe,

'cow,' has for plural

'way,' caz, this

is

stars.'

cate,

and

long), add also le for the plural

stele,

;'

'handkerchiefs.'

hasmsLUf

'farthing;'

parsij

'book;'

csLTte,

queens.'

vsicz ;

sora, 'sister,*

done for the sake of euphony.

10

eotjmanian geammae.

Neftee Nouns.
But

we

there are greater difficulties than these with which

have to

deal.

plural.

This plural ends in e or uri

There are in the Roumanian language nouns

which though masculine in the singular become feminine in the
:

pal2d;y

palace;'

palsite,

bridge

jpoduri^

'palaces.'

'

^od,

'

;'

bridges.'

advantage

JbloSf

Many

nouns belong to this

by long

advantages.'

folosse,

;'

and thej can be learnt only

class,

practice.

To sum up what has

already been said

generally end with a consonant

which end in

e,

m,

?,

and

a.

Masculine nouns

there are a few exceptions

All masculine nouns end in

in

the plural.

Feminine nouns end

most part in a, which in the

few end in e short, which in the

for the

changed to e, A
Those nouns which end in a long, e long, and
plural becomes i.
t long, form their plural by the addition of le to the final letter.
plural

is

There are

also

nouns masculine

in the singular,

and feminine

in the plural, this plural ending in e or uru

The Accent or Intonation.

Having treated of the terminations of masculine and feminine

nouns, we come next to speak of the different particles affixed
to nouns, which vary according to the gender

and the ending of

the nouns.

But

before showing systematically these variations of the

particles,

we most

euphony a vowel

apprise the student that for the sake of

will

sometimes be placed between the noun

THE AETICLE.
and the

particle, so that

11

the noun will receive the addition of

The foreigner will often be surprised

one or more syllables.
to find a noun thus changed from a monosyllable to a word of
three, four, or five syllables,

and

will find it difficult to discover

the accented syllable of such a word.

To make

his task easier, let

him remember that the intonation

of the word remains unchanged, that the accented syllable of

the word keeps its accent by whatever number of syllables the

word has been lengthened.

I^ote.

The only exception

is

when we

affix

diminutives or

augmentatives to the nouns, in which case the accent

those particles

Mom^nului,
JRomknilor,

Roumanian.'

to the

to the Roumanians.'

Roumanian.'

rationament,

reasoning.'
*

ration amentelor.

of the reasonings.'

'extremity.'

C'dpdt,

capetelor,

of the extremity.'

capdtuluij

*to the extremities.'

The
The word answering
it

upon

Itoma.nf

according as

lalls

is

Article.

'
English article the varies
used for the singular or the plural, for

to the

'

masculine or feminine nouns, and even for masculine nouns of

one form being used for a noun ending

with a consonant, another for that whose final letter is a vowel,
different terminations

the differences between vowel and vowel even necessitating a

different form of the article.

EOrMANIAN GEAMMAE.

12

The Masculine Aeticle.

The masculine nouns ending with
article I preceded by u
thus
;

om.

a consonant take the

THE FEMININE AETICLE.

We
in

have seen that in the plural

The

t.

second

?,

all

13

masculine nouns end

shown by adding a

plural bearing the article will be

whereby the former

Roumanians

JRoma^mf
*

fruit-trees

pomtf

becomes long

kings
*

gods

;'

priests

Hhe

lil'ote.

horses
*

Coj)\l,

the priests.'

the parvenus.'

the horses.'

ciocorij

;'

csiii.

;'

boy,* has the plural copu,

gods.*

;'

parvenus

cat,

the kings.*

dumnezeity

ciocoi,

trees.'

'fathers-in-law.*

po^ij

the fruit

socriij

;'

'

dumnezez,

'

reg II,

;'

father-in-law

socj'ty

the Roumanians.*

pomiif

;'

regt,

Moma,nii,

;'

by the omission of

the articled noun will be of course copiii

*
*
sons,' f\iiy the sons.*
yii,

thus,

fm^

'

son,'

The Feminine Aeticlb.

The

how

article is

this is

expressed in the feminine by an aflSxed

done depends upon the

final letter of

a,

but

the noun

itself.

A noun ending in
'

Momdindj
*

nepCtUy

will

change a into a

Roumanian
niece

;'

Romknay

teacher;'
*

cassa.

mires sd,

Those ending
to

it

thus

'

csLvtey
*

p^nCf
'

cnrte,

house
bride

;*

;*

in e do not

book
bread
court

;*

j*

the niece.'

the teacher.*

the house.*

professora,
csLSsa,
*

miressa.

change this

ca,rtea,

the book.*

the bread.*

the court.'

^awea,
ciirtea,

the bride.*

but add the letter a

;'

the Rouman.*

nepota,

;'

projessord,

KOUMANIAN GEAMMAE.

14

Those whicli end with

the

final

or

a, e

long, add the particle a to

vowel, inserting u for the sake of euphony:

*

handkerchief

hasm^ij
*

star

ste,

;*

grievance

day

the

the grievance.'

the day.'

heleua,

;'

zi,

the handkerchief.'

steua,

;'

'

helQf

'

hasmsL-u-a,

z\ua,

;'

star.'

Feminine nouns, as we have seen, form their plurals in

nouns which end in a changing the a into e in
several ways

the plural, those ending in

into

z,

those ending

adding the particle le in the plural. In

cases the plural definite article is formed by the addition

with
all

and

changing the

a, e

long

all

oi le:
*

houses

cassCy
*

books

car/?,
*

stars

stQle,

the houses.'

the books.'

the handkerchiefs.*

'

the stars.'

cs^rtile,

;'

handkerchiefs

basmsile,

cassele,

;'

;'

hasniddele,
stelele,

j'

Cases op Nouns.

Roumanian grammarians

usually arrange the cases as follows:

Nominative.

Dative.

Vocative.

Accusative.

Genitive.

Ablative.

We

have already seen the nominative

noun with or without the article.

The vocative
and

case, this

being the

case for the masculine ends in e for the singular,

lor for the plural

lor for the plural

to the feminine o for the singular,

om,

man

;'

omule, 6meniIor.

copUa,

girl

;'

copilo, cop'ilelor.

and

CASES OP NOIJNS.

The

15

genitives of masculine nouns are formed

of the particle

in the singular

liii

a before the nouns

a omuhii,

man

of the

of the lion

leulut,

and

lor in the plural, placing

a omenilor,
a leilor,

;'

;'

For feminine nouns we change the

singular, and add lor to the plural

by the addition

of the men.*

'

of the lions.*

vowel into

final

et in

the

a copUeiy
a Reg'mei,

The

'

of the girl
of the

dative, singular

;*

Queen ;'
and

leuhii,
*

copilety
'

Eeg'mety

The

to the

man

to the men.*

to the lions.*

'

to the

leilor ,

to the girl

;*

copilelor,

is like

'

Heg'melor,

;*

girls.*

to the Queens.*

the nominative, but with the addition

of the preposition pe placed before the

animate beings

of the Queens.*

omenilor,

;*

accusative

girls.*

;*

Queen

of the

formed in the same way,

to the lion

to the

a Reg'melor,

plural, are

but without the addition of a

ormdui,

copilelor,

noun in the case of

pe om or pe omul, pe 6meni or pe omenit,

pe regind or pe

The

reg'ma, jpe reg'ine or

ablative is expressed

pe regmele.

by the nominative, preceded by one

of the following prepositions

in, la, din,

de

la, etc.

The

masculine nouns ending with a in their cases

follow the analogy of feminine nouns.
Note.

Masculine proper nouns do not take generally the definite

article, and the particles marking the genitive and dative are
placed before

them

Gheorghe,

Zu2

l\xi

George.*
'

of George.*

to George.'

Gheorghe,

Gheorghe,

EOUMANIAN GEAMMAE.

16

Feminine proper nouns follow the same rule as feminine

common

nouns.

Adjectives (Agective).

it

After what has been previously said concerning the nouns,

will be found easy to understand the declination of adjectives,

whose modifications of gender, number and

by the same rules as apply to nouns.
Formation of the Feminine from

case are regulated

the Masculine.

Before proceeding to explain the use of adjectives in relation

to nouns substantive, a few words must be said concerning the
derivation of the feminine gender from the masculine.

The masculine gender, when

ends with a consonant,

it

turned into the feminine by the addition of a

*

good

JuTi,

'

nddta.

high ;

frumoSj

as

h\xna.

;'

nsiltf

beautiful

;'

frumossa,

etc.

Those ending with w or w change that vowel into a

'

negrUy

black

negrd.

;'

'

rough

SiSjpru,
*

now,
'

ehreUf

Sisprd.

;'

new ;'
Hebrew

nod.
;'

ebred.

A. few of those ending in u preceded by

a long

in the feminine

'

greUy
*

rew,

heavy
bad ;'

;*

grea,.

rea.

e,

change that u into

ADJECTIVES.

Those ending with u preceded by

17

change that u into

living

viii,

Those ending in

vie.

;'

visinm,

cherry-coloured

;*

etc.

visiniey

remain unchanged in the feminine.

Relation of Substantive and Adjective.

In general use the adjectives follow the nouns

ziua buna,

*(the) good day.'

*

sera bund,

(the)

good evening.'

good

night.'

nopte bund,

In this case the substantive alone

takes no modification except the

om

man

good

bun,

a omulut bun,

'

omulut bun,

declined, while the adjective

mark

of

number

omem bum,

;*

a omenilor bunt,

of the good

man

is

good men.'

of the good

men.'

;'

to the good

omenilor bum,

to the

good

men.'

man.'
etc.

The only exception

is

in the case of feminine adjectives,

[form in the genitive and dative singular depart a

Ithat of the nominative

little

When

C2issei

bune,

esisset

bune,

good house

the noun takes the

;'

csisse

from
^

cassd bund,

whose

bune.

a c&sselor bune.
csisselor bune.

article,

the adjective can be

preceded by the demonstrative eel (feminine cea), Hhis,' *that.'

This takes all the modifications of gender, number and case,

but should be omitted in translation into English

omul

c&ssa cea bund.

eel bun,

a omului celui bun,

csissei celet

bune, etc.

E0UMA2?^IAN GEAMMAE.

18

But the

may

adjective

When

stand also before the noun.

it

then the adjective that

takes all the modifications, whereas the noun remains unchanged, save in the feminine genitive and dative singular, and
does so the rules are inverted

in the plural

it

is

hunul

hnnn omeni.
a hunilor omenu

orrij

^ hxmulwt om,

omenu

hunilor

hnnului om,
etc.

hnna
a

hunele

csissa,

hvLTiet csLSSCy

hnnet

cetsse.

a hxmelor

ca^se,

bunelor

csutse.

csLSse^

etc.

Note.

The use of the

adjective

determinative eel and

precedes the substantive

is

cea,

when the

more common in verse

than prose.
Comparison,

The comparison is formed by placing before the adjective

the particle maX (magis) for the comparative, and eel maX for
the superlative

omul dun,

eel

ma.1 hun,

mdX bun.

NUMEEALS.
The
1.

following

is

un (masc), una

2. dot

list

of the

or o (fern.)

dod (fem.)

names of numerals
5. e'mct.
6. sesse.

3. tret.

7. septe.

4. patru.

8,

opt

EOUMANIAN GBAMMAB.

20
the

feminine

form

U?i, \xnay is declinable,

Vnn omem,
The

but rarely

(tret),

and serves as the

Te-% cdut&t un domn,

(2.)

so also has

indefinite article

gentleman

Some

called

on jou.*

people (men).'

following numerals have a second, abbreviated, form.

11

unsprece

17

soptsprece,

12

doisprece.

18

optsprece.

13

ineisprece,

19

nouasprece.

14

psiisprece.

50

c'mzeci,

15

cinsprece,

60

soizeci.

16

seisprece.

affix

\me

Fractions are expressed by the

(3.)

trele.

tre'ime^

third

patAme,

;'

quarter

;'

etc.

Ordinal Numbers.

The Ordinal Number

Numbers
and a

are formed

in feminine,

al in the first,

by

for

uw

is

intsii.

The other Ordinal

affixing the particle le in masculine,

and placing before the numbers the

and a

in the second case

particle

intsu or al \inule,

a nna.

al doilCf

doa.

al treile,

treia,

al psLtrule,

al c'mcilej

a paira.
a c'mcea.

12

? dotsprezecile,

20

Z doazecile,

a doasprezecea.
a dodzecea.

21

oZ doazeci si unule,

a doazeci

si

una.

etc.

PERSONAL PRONOUNS.

21

Proportional Numhers.

For these numbers two forms

Tlie other

prefixing to

are used, one of Latin origin

2. duplUf

1.

simplUf

is

formed by affixing
the particle in

it

3. triplu, etc.

it

number and

to the cardinal

s'lmplu,

indo'itf

tndoitd.

100

intreit, intre\ta.

1000

4j

tmpdtrit, tmpdti-lta.
tnsut'itf

msutltd,

inmiit, imniitd.

etc.

Prononiis (Pronume).
Personal Pronouns.
The

personal pronouns are

*

Ew,
Note.

They

tu,

j'

Em,

thou

eZ, ea,

el

;'

(masc),

ea,

'

(fern.),

he,'

she.'

are pronounced as if written yew, yel,

yea

are declined as follows

Singular.

Norn. Em, 'I;'

Dat.

wie,

Ace.

jpe

tu,

Home;'
*

mine,

*thou;'
*

?ie,

me ;' pe

el, ea,

'he,'

to thee;'
*

tine,

thee

she*

lut, ei,

;'

pe

el,

'to him,' 'to her.'

pe

ea,

'

him,'

her.'

EOUMANIAN GEAMMAE.

22

Flural.

Nom. ^o*, 'we;*

t'o^,

Dat.

owa, 'tous;'

tJowa,

Ace.

pe

pe

The

noif

genitive

is

replaced

ei, ele^

*you;'
to

you

Zor,

;*

pe

t>oi,

by the

For the Vocative and Ablative

jections or prepositions, followed

*they.'

them.*

ei,

pe

'

ele.

possessive pronouns.
cases

we

use different inter-

by the Dative or Accusative.

(See Syntax.)

For the third person, instead of

eZ, ca,

the pronouns, dinsul,

dmsa, are often used.

The Alhreviated Forms

oftlie Genitive

We

and Dative.

have an abbreviated form of the personal pronouns the

right use of which is very diflBcult for foreigners to acquire.
Singular,

EEFLEXIVE PBONOTJNS.

23

Plural,

DATIVE.
Instead of noue

instead of voue

ne or nL

ve or

vi.

instead of lor
le or

Zi.

ACCTJSATITE.

Instead oipe noi

instead of ^e vot: instead o^ pe et or ele

ve.

ne.

t-i

or

Ze,

\i.

Both forms of the personal pronouns are often used

and the same sentence
:

Imi trobue mie,

in one

24

EOUMANIAN GEAMMAB.
Femi

PRONOUNS.

25

Dumneatsi, Dumneavostra.

In conversation

it is

usual, instead of using the direct personal

'

pronoun

thou,* voi,

^u,

compound words

you,' to use the

dumneata, dumneavostrd, derived from domn\a

ta,

thy

lordship,*

'

domnia vostra,

your

lordship.'

These words have thus become a sort of personal pronoun.

Dumneavostrd is also used for the singular as well as for the
plural

Ce

Dumneavostra dovmule,

f'Aceti

How

are you, sir ?

'

Demonsteatiye Peonouns.
There are two demonstrative pronouns
*

acest, acesta,

this

'

(for objects

'that' (for objects

acely aceRy

which

are near).

which are further

off).

follow the rule of adjectives in agreeing with the nouns

They

they indicate, in gender, number, and case. It is to be observed

that a is the definite article for the masculine acest, acel.

We

frequently use the abbreviated forms of these demon-

stratives

2ista

Sisty

")

^ ^ lor acest,
tsf, tastttj ^
.

dl,

aia

eel,

ceea

for acel.

Inteeeogative and IIelative Peonouns.

We put them
in form

under the same head because they are identical

:
'

care,

Care alone
a cm, cm.

which

is

;'

declinable.

ce,

what

'

;'

cine,

who.'

Cine has only genitive and dative,

26

EOXTMAIflAN GEAMMAB.

IlO)ETEBMn7ATE PeONOUKS.
Their

list

very long, but

is

may

it

be sufficient to indicate

the principle of their formation, which

is

to

prefix to the

interrogative pronouns one of the particles orj, ven, f\e

or% cine,

ori

vert cine,

vert care,

ori ce,

CB^re,

fie

Or, by affixing the particle va to

*

cineva, careva,

To

these

we add

some one

some one

nimeni or nime,
*

ce,

them

j
:

ceva,

;'

something/

unf vre nn,

niste,

veri ce, L
whoever, whatever.

fie care,

fie cine,

some

nict xxn,

no one

;'

nobody
*

alt,

;'

;*

;'

other.'

Verbs (Verbe).
In order to render the study of the verbs easier, we will class
them under three heads, according to the termination of the
infinitive present in a,

e,

or

Before considering these inflec-

i.

tions let us look at the three verbs

be

;'

will

and a
'

voi,

to will

;*

which serve

being a regular verb,

we

'

ave,

to have

;*

as auxiliary verbs.

to have.*

Indicative Present {JPresentul Indioativului) ,

eu am,

I have.*

'

to

To

insert it here only in the present

indicative.

A ave,

afi,

noi avem,

iu ai,

vot avett,

el are,

ei ail.

VERBS.

When

27

used as an auxiliary, an abbreviated form

the third person singular, and to the

Thus

plural.

eu

am

I have ploughed.'

'

aro-t,

not

am

ars^t

(not

avem

vol at I arat (not avett

tu ai arat,
el

first

given to
and second persons
is

or ea a ara,t (not

a.re arsit).

ar^i).
arsLi).

et 2LU arsit.

Imperfect {Trnperfoct),

eu avem,

had

'

not avem,

(^f avals),

tu avet,

vot avetij

el avea.

ei

aveu.

Simple Perfect (Perjectul S'lmplu).

eu avnif

'

had

(feus),

not avnram,

tu avusZy

vol avurdti.

el

et

avu,

avura.

Simple Pluperfect (Plusquam Perfectul Simplu),

eu avussem, '1 had had.'

not avussem,

tu avussest,

vol avussett,

el avusse.

et avusse.

Perfect (Perfect).

eu

am

'

avnt,

I have had.'

tu at avutf
el

a avuty

not

am

voi

ati avut,

et

avnt,

au avnt.

Pluperfect (Plusquam Perfect),

eu amfost avuty

I had had.'

noi amfost avut,

tu aifost avuty

vot attfost avuty

el

ei

afost avuty

au fast avut.

ROUMANIAN GRAMMAR.

28
I.

eii

'

voiu ave,

Future {Yiitorul

not vom avCy

I shall have.'

tu vei ave^
el

vol veil ave,

va ave,

ei vor ave.

II.

Future

'

ew vom^i a viU, I shall have had.

Viitorul al doilea/.
'

not

tu vet Ji avnt,
el

va

inta.i).

vom

ji avut^

vol veil ji avutf

ei vor Ji avut,

ji avut,

Imperative (Imperativ).
Sitbi

'

(tu)f

Have.'

aveti (vol),

aibe (el) J

&ibe (ei).

Subjunctive Present (Conjunctivul Present).

eu sa am,
tu sa
el

may

have.'

not sa avem.
vol sa avettf

2ii,

sa aibd,

et

sa mbd.

Subjunctive Past (Conjunctivul Trecxxt),

eu saji avutj 'I

may have had.'

not saji avut,

tu saji avut,

vot saji avut,

el

et

saji avut,

subjunctive form of the future

of the indicative future

sa am,

is

saji avut.

frequently used instead

I shall have.'

sa avem,

sa

at,

sd aveti,

sa

B.ibd,

sd

Siibd.

20

VERBS.

Conditional Present (^Conditional JPresent).

eu &si ave,

'

noi

I should have.'

ar avQ,

et

Conditional Fast (^Conditiondkl

eu asi fi
tu
el

2^.1

ave,

vol ati ave,

tu 2U avBf
el

am

av\xtj *I

should have

fi avMty

ar ave.

7'recu.t).

not amfi avuty

vol atifi avnty

[had.*

ar fi avut.

ei

arfi avut.

Infinitive (^Infinitiv^.

Past

Present.
*

a ave,

to

(
*

have/

afi

avvLty

Trecut).
to

have had.'

Participle (Particip).

Past (Trecut),

Present,
*

avend,

avut, *had.'

having.'

Afi, 'to

be.'

Indicative Present,

eu sunt,

I am.'

not suntem,

tu esti,
el este

vo* sunteti,

or

et sunt.

e.

Imperfect,

eu

era,m,

I was

'

(f^tais),

noi eram,

tu eraty

vol erati,

el era,

ei erau.

30

EOUMANIAN GEAMMAB.

Simple Perfect,
'

eufnif

I was

'

noi fnram,

(j'efus),

tu f\isif

voifwrdti,
Qijxxra.

Simple Pluperfect,

eufassem or fussessentj *I had

not fussessem,

tufvLSsesi orftissessestf

vol fussQsseti,

[been.'

elfusse or fussesseJ

62 fussesse.

Ferject

ou amfosty

I have been.*

not amfosty

tu 2dfOSty

vol atifost,

el afostj

ei Siufost.

Pluperfect,

eu amfostfostf
tu
el

Sit

'

I had been.'

not amfostfost,
vot atX

it

ei

I.

eH voiufly

'

au

Future,

not vomfi,

I shall be.'

tu veifl,

vo\ veil ft,

el vafi,

et vor a.

IL Future,
eil

voiii ft fostj

tu vet
el

va

ti

I shall have
[been.'

not vomftfost^
vol veil
ft
Gi

vor

})

VERBS.

31

Iniperative,
'

fit

{tu),

fie

{el),

Be.'

f\t% {VQl\

fie

(e*).

Subjunctive Present,
eil

sdfiU,

(If)

I were.*

noi safim,

tu sdfity

1)01

el

et

sdfie,

Subjunctive Past,

Gu sd Jifostj *I may have been.*

sajitt,

saj le.

32

ROUMANIAN GRAMMAR.

Infinitive,

Past.

Present,

fi,

'To be/

To have been.'

fi fost,

Participle.

Present,

Past.
*

fimd^

Being.'

The same forms

tion of the

1.

Abbreviations of the indicative present of the verb

eu

am ardd,

tu

2ii

not

I have ploughed.'

am

ar&ty

et Siu ar&t.

The same

eu

to

vot ati ara<,

ar&tf

be,' for

verb *to

a aratf
2.

and intransitive

tenses, both of transitive

compound

have,' for the perfect indicative

el

Been.'

of the auxiliary verbs are used in the forma-

These forms are

verbs.

fost,

am fost

abbreviations with the past participle of the

the pluperfect indicative

*

araf,

I had

ploughed.'

not

am fost amt,

vot ait

91

tu a* fost arsktf
el

3.
first

The

if

ei

present indicative of the verb a voi,

future

it

to will,' for the

eu voiu am, *I shall plough.'

not vom ara,

tu vei ara,

vot veti ara,

el

va ar&f

et vor ara,.

VERBS.
4.

The same present

the verb

indicative, with the infinitive present of

to be,' for the second future

eu voiujl arat,

33

I shall have

ROUMANIAN GRAMMAR.

34
Verbs ending

a long

in

ara,,

to till/

tZa,

to eat.'

Zwa,

a mancsij

Verbs ending in

thong ea

to give.*

to take

etc.

;'

sometimes pronounced as the diph-

e long,

a ave.

a vede,
a tdce,

to have.*
*

a sede,

Verbs ending
a credSf

a merge J

to sit'

to believe.*

a perde,

to go.*

a alegCj

in their inflections,

Verbs ending in
a

vol.

cinst'i,

Verbs ending in

in e long

may
i

long

to

be

silent

;*

etc

and in

to lose.'
to choose, elect

e short, as

to wilh*

lubif

to honour.*

opr'i,

;*

etc.

nearly similar

long (accentuated)

to murder.'

to descend.'

These two kinds

to love.*

to stop, to hinder

may

;'

etc.

a ocarif

we show

to see.*

be classed together.

a omoA,
coborif

in e short

The verbs ending

If

to defame.*

etc.

be classed together.

the inflection of each of these three classes, and

accompany them by such remarks

as

may

student will form a complete idea of the

be profitable, the

Koumanian Verb.

^^'

OF THr.

IVERSITY
o,-

35

VERBS.

i/FORH

FIRST CLASS.

to plough.'

ara,

Indicative Present,
*

eu

ar,

tu

2bri,

not aram,

I plough.'

vot arati,
ei ara.

el SLvdf

It is to be remarked that the third person singular of this

class of verbs
*

he eats

;'

el

can end with a or without

till

;'

et sfdla or ez sp^ly

prefer to add an
first

it

el

'

da,

thus

they wash

when they

he gives

The

etc.

;'

;'

el

manca,

third person plural

ara or

ei

ei ar,

and when without

u (mute) to distinguish

person singular,

nouns

always ends in a
he washes ;'
spsila,

this plural

'

they
a,

we

from the

occur unaccompanied by pro-

I plough

ar^
*

s/?aZ,

wash

arw,

;'

they plough.'
*

spddu,

;'

they wash.'

etc.

But many verbs belonging

to this class

in ez for the three persons singular

onorsL,

eu onorez,

not onorhn,

tu onorQzi,

vol onoratt,

el

01 onoreza.

onorQzdf

rbut there are others

{in

'

and the third plural

These

may

take both forms,

which can take only the form

'

to honour.'

So, too, a respects, a stima, etc.

have a prolonged form

in eZy as

to work,' etc.

This occurs also

the present subjunctive and imperative.

It can be learnt

visssi^

to dream,'

only by practice.

lucr^y

EOTJMANIAN QEAMMAE.

36

Imperfect.
*

eu

ararrif

'

I ploughed

not arsim.

{je

lahourais).
tu

avM,

el

ara,

vcn ar&ti,
ei ai^ii or ara (in poetry).

Simple Perfect,

eu

arai,

I ploughed

'

not ar&ram

(je

labourai),

vo* ara/rdti,

tu arast,

oi ara.ra*

el ara,

Simple Pluperfect.

eu arasbem,

I had ploughed.'

not arassem,

tu arassesi,

vot arassett,

el

et ai^a^se.

wasse,

These perfect and pluperfect tenses are frequently used in

narration, whereas in conversation in speaking of past time
the following compound perfect

is

used

Perfect.

eu am

arat,

I have ploughed/

tu a^ arat,
el

noi

am

vot

a.ti

ei

arat,

au

arat,
arat,

arat.

This perfect is used as frequently as the English imperfect,

for expressing the time past.
Pluperfect,

eu

am

fost

87

VERBS.

Very

little

use

is

made

of tlie pluperfect, or of the imper-

fect, unless in narration,

I.

ew voiu ara^

Future.

I shall plough.'

tu vei ara,
el

vot veil

va ara.

arsL,

et vor ara.

be remarked that voiu^ the auxiliary for the future,

written with u to distinguish it from the personal pronoun
It

is

not vom ara,

may

vol,

you.'
II.

eu voiufi

'

aratj

Future,

I shall have

38

Some use

EOTTMANIAN GEAMMAE.
this subjunctive as follows
eii

sdfm

ar&tj

VERBS.

39

SECOND CLASS.
a

vede, *to see.'

crede, *to believe.*

Indicative Present.

ved, 'I see.'

tu crQdX,

el vede,

el

e^

ved or vede.

et cred or crede.

see here that the third person singular of the verbs of

The

ends in a.
e

crede.

voi credett,

the second class ends in

with

I believe.'

not credent,

vot vedett,

it

cred,

tu vedt,

7101 vedentf

We

eu

third person plural

but this plural

whereas in the case of the

e,

is

is

vede, crede,

often without

in

it,

distinguish this third person plural from the

first class

ending thus

which

first

case, to

singular,

we

add an u:
*

ved,
'

credj

I see

redu,

;'

I believe

they
*

credit,

;'

they

see.'

believe.*

etc.

regard to the accent, we remark that in this tense and

also in the subjunctive present, the verbs ending in e long have
the accent on their final em, eft, of the first and second persons

With

plural,

whereas those ending in

previous syllable
*

vedevcx,
*

credem,

short have the accent on the

we
we

see

'

vedett,

;*

believe

you

see

you

believe

;*

credeti,

this being the only difference in their conjugation.

;'

;'

40

ROUMANIAN GBAMMAB.

Imperfect.
*

eu vedem,

We

I saw.'

eil

credem,

tu vedeiy

tu credetf

el vedea.f

el crede&f

noi ved&n,

noi credem,

vol vedetiy

vot credettj

ei vedeit.

et credeu.

know

that e with the accent

but as e for

thong

ea,

word,

we have

ea.

I believed.*

equivalent to the diph-

cannot be written at the end of a

credea (not credo).

el

is

el vedesi

(not vede).

Simple Perfect,

eu vedm,

credm,

tu vedwsi.

tu credusi^

el

el

veda,

creda,

not vedardm,

noi credardm,

voi vedurdtt,

voi credxxrdti,

61

et

eil

^je vis.^

vedurd.

ei credard.

There are many verbs ending in e short which instead of ui take

for the simple perfect, and change the last consonant to s
so
;

a merge,

eil

to go,' has not

*

merseif

its

simple perfect

I went.'

eit

mergui, but

noi merseram,

tu mersesi,

voi merserdti,

el

6? merserd.

merse,

Thus
a

scrie,

a duce,

to write

;'

to bring

;*

perfect, eil scrtsset.

eU

dussei.

41

VEEBS.
*

a purcede,
a alege,

culege,

to start

;'

perfect,

eu

purcessez.
alesset.

to choose

;*

qu

to gather

;'

eit culessei,

etc.

It will be shown that the past participle of these verbs

also

from the past participles of other verbs, and

different

therefore

their

all

is

compound

simple pluperfect, as

it is

tenses will differ too, as also the

formed from the simple perfect.

Simple Pluperfect.

eu vedussem^

eu

I had seen.*

had believed.'

tu credussesi,

tu vedvissest,
el

'

credxussem,

vednsse.

el credusse,

noi vednssem,

not credussem,

01 vedussetz,

voi credxxsseti.

ei vednsse,

ei credusse,

scrie will have, of course,

eit scrissessem,

dxxce

eu dussessem.

etc.

Perfect,

eu am vedwt,

I have seen.'

tu at vedut,
el

am

vednty

vot all vedut.

ei

tu a* crednt,

a vedwt.

wo*

au vedut,

eu am credxxt^

el

a credut.

not

am

credut,

voi ait credut,

ei

au

credut.

I have believed.'

42

EOTJMANIAN GRAMMAR,

Pluperfect,

eu am/ost vedut, I had

'

tu

2d,

el

a,

,f

,,

seen.'

eu amfost
tu ae
el

am

>>

not

vol

B,tl

>

>

v6t att

2i,u

had believed.'

>

noi

e?

credxit, *I

am

As we remarked

before, this tense is very rarely

made use

of.

43

TEEBS.

I,

eu sd ved,

'

may

Subjunctive,

eu sa

see.'

cred, *I

tu sd vedzj

tu sd credtj

el sd veddf

el sd credd,

noi sd vedem,

not sd credem,

vot sd vedetif

voi sd credeti,

e* sd vedd.

ei

We remark

may

believe.'

sd crede.

once more that the third person singular ends in

e in the indicative for the verbs of the second and third classes,

and

in a for the conjunctive

class,

and

for those

ending in

II.

eu sd fi vednt,

whereas for those of the

long, the rule

is

first

inverted.

Subjunctive.

may have

eu sdji credwt,

I may have

EOTJMANIAN GEAMMAE.

44

II.

eit

2^1 fi ved\it,

I should have
seen.

tU

SLl

Conditional,
'

eio

asijl cred\ity

I should have
believed.'

45

TEBBS.

THIKD CLASS.
*

a dorm\,

to sleep

a omori,

;'

to murder.*

Indicative Present,
*

eit

dorm,

I sleep.'

etc

omor,

I murder.'

tu omort,

tu dormtj
'

el

el

dorme,

omora,

noi dorm\m,

not omorim,

vol dormittf

vot omoriti,

e*

or

dormj

et

Qi

Many

dorme^ (in verse,)

\j

omor or omora.

verbs have a prolonged form in esc for the three per-

sons singular and the third plural

a
eil

iuhiy

to love
*

iubesc,

love."*

a piri,

'

to speak

ill.*

EOrMANIAN GEAMMAR.

46

eu dormn,

'

Simple

JPerfect.
*

eil

slept.'

omorit,

I murdered.'

tu dorrmsi,

tu omoAsiy

el dormiy

el

noi dormvrdm,

not omorirdm,

voi dormirdtif

vol omorirdtt,

ei dormirdj

ei omorird.

omor%

Simple Pluperfect,

eu dormissem,

eu omorissemf

I had slept.'

had murdered.'

tu dormissesiy

tu omorissest,

el dormisse,

el omorisse,

not dormissem,

not omorissem,

vot dorm'issettf

voi omorissett,

et dormisse,

ei omorisse.

Perfect.

eu am dorm\t,

I have slept.'

eu

am

omorit, *I have murdered.'

tu a* dormit,
el

a dormit,

not

am

tu

2it

el

a omorit,

not

dormit,

omorit,

am

omorit,

vot att dormit,

voi ati omorit,

et 2kU dormit f

et 2iU omorit.

Pluperfect.

eu amfost dormit,

had

slept.'

eu

am fost

omont,

I had

murdered,'
tu at fost dormit,

tu 2a fost omorit,

el a fost dormit,

el

a fost omorit.

YERBS.
not amfost dormit^

not amfost omorit,

voi atijbst dormit,

vot att fost omorit,

Qt 2iufost dormit,

Qi

We repeat

rarely

make

generally employ the perfect

credut, etc.
perfect),

2Mfost omorXt.

once more, in order to impress upon the student's

mind that we very

more

47

use of this pluperfect, that

qu am

vednt, eu

am

(as in English the

im-

ar2it,

to express the past time

am

we

eit

and that the perfect and pluperfect simple are used

in narration.
I.

eu voiu

Future,

EOTJMANIAN GEAMMAE.

48

Here, as well as in the indicative present and subjunctive

present, the verbs ending in ^ differ a little from those ending
in i in the second person singular, and in the third persons

singular and plural.

Subjunctive Present,

eu sa dorm,

may

sleep.*

eu sd omor,

tu sa dormi,

tu sd omorty

el sa

el sd

dormd,

not sd omorim,

vot sd dormitif

t?ot

dormd

II.
*

ff

Subjunctive.

may have
slept.'

t/Uf

sd omoritt,

et sd omore.

eU sdfi dormit,

murder.'

omore,

not sd dormim,

et sd

may

eU sdji omorit,

Imay

have

murdered.'

49

VERBS.

Conditional,

II.

eu

asi fi dormit,

I should have eu

'

2iSi

fi omorit^

I should have

murdered.'

slept.'

tu 2a fi dor^mt,
el

ar

2li

el ar

not

noi

am

vol

2itl

,,

5J

oi ar

tu

fi omorit,

am

t/'O* 2itl

ar

,,

)}

)>

Infinitive.

Fast.

Present.

a dormi or dormire, to sleep.'

afidormitf 'to have slept.'
a omori or omorire, to murder.' a fi omorit, 'to have murdered.'
'

'

JParticiple.

Present.

Past.

dormmd,

'

dormit,

sleeping.'

slept.'
*

omorind, 'murdering.'

omorit,

murdered.'

The Accent of Veebs.

It

was observed, with regard

to the

that the accented syllable remains

the

number

of

omenilor, etc.

syllables

still

nouns and

accented whatever be

added to them

The only exception

to

adjectives,

it

thus, om,
is

omulm,

when we

affix

diminutive or augmentative suffixes to a noun, in which case

the accent falls upon those suffixes.

EOUMANIAN GBAMMAB.

50

With regard
suffix:-

to the verbs,

eu

the intonation

eu

eu ara.m,

Sir,

upon the

rests

arsii, etc.

If the suffix consists of more than one syllable, the accent

upon the first syllable of the suffix

is

arsLSsem, etc.

arsirdm,

Exceptions are
(1)

The verbs ending

and second

in e short, in the first

persons plural of the indicative present and subjunctive

present, and in the plural of the imperative
:

credem, credeti
(2)

The

sa credem, sd credett

third persons

cmdeti

(voz),

credd

(ei).

singular and plural of the indicative

present, subjunctive present,

el ardj

and imperative of

el vede, el

all

verbs

etc.

dorme,

The Passive Voice.

For the passive voice we use the auxiliary verb a

to be,'

to each tense of this auxiliary the past participle of

by adding
the verb

Ji,

we

require.

In

case the particij)le, being consi-

this

dered more as an adjective than as a verb, will agree with

subject in gender as well as in number.

AJl

iuhit,

Indicative present. Sunt

Imperfect
Perfect.

iubit,

JEram

Am fost

To be

loved.'

suntem

iubitd,

,,

eramil

.,

/v

etc.

its

iubitt, iuhite,

^/

^^

^^

YERBS.

51

The Meflexive Form,

This form belongs to verbs the subject and object of which
are

The pronoun

identical.

indicating the object

is

placed

before the verb in the dative or accusative case, as the verb

maj

require,

and

in its abbreviated

form

With Accusative.
se mirsL,

With Dative,

to be astonished.'

a si propune,

to propose to

oneself.'

Indicative Present.

eu me mir,

am

'I

astonished.'

qu imi propnn^

tu te miri,

tu

el se mirdj

el \st

\ti

'

propm,

noi ne mirsim,

propune,
noi ne propnnem,

vol ve mirati,

vot ve propunetij

mir a,

et se

ei isi

I propose to

[myself

propun.

Imperfect.

eu me miram,
*

was

eU imi propuneW',
'

astonished.'

I proposed to myself.'

Simple Perfect.
eH me
*

eu \mi propusset,

mirsiz,
'

I was astonished.'

I proposed to myself.'

Simple Pluperfect.
w A...U

eu me mir-dssem,
'

I had been astonished.'

B 2

eu \mi propussessem.
I had proposed to myself.'

EOUMANIAN GRAMMAR.

52

Perfect.
eii

m^am

mirsit,

I have been

astonished.'

*
eu mi-am propuSj I have pro-

VERBS.

II.

eu sa mefi
'

may

Subjunctive.

eu sd-mtjl propuSj

mirsit,

have been astonished.'

I.

53

'

may have proposed to myself.'

EOUMANIAN GEAMMAE.

54!

lEREGULAE VERBS.
The study

of the verbs in

fact that there

verbs, as in

is

not a long

German

verbs must be noticed

list

of

what

the easier for the

is

are called anomalous

or in French. Besides the verbs a ave, af\,

we have

the conjugation of which

(1)

Eoumanian

already seen, the following

*to know,' which

stij

class (according

though belonging to the third

final i) is inflected as one of the

to its

second class:

eu
'

I know,'

A voif

eit

eii stinij

stiuj

I knew,'

stiussem.

I had known.*

which though regularly inflected may

take the following alternative form in all its tenses

(2)

to will,'

Indicative Present.
*

Qu voese,

will.'

qu vreu,

tu voestij

tu vretf

el voeste,

el vre, or i^rea,

not voiMy

not vrem,

vol

vol vrefif

vo'itt,
'

ei voescu.

ei vreu. or vj^eu.

Imperfect,

eu

voianif

I was willing.'

eil

vrem^

eil

vrusset.

Simjple Perfect,

Qu von,

was

willing.'

Simple Pluperfect,

eu voissemy

I had been willing.'

eu vrussem.

55

VERBS.

Perfect,
eil

am

I have been willing.*

voitf

eil

am

vrut.

Pluperfect,

eu

am fost

'

voit,

I had been willing.*

I.

eu voiu

voif

am fost

vrut.

Future.

eu voiu vre.

I shall be willing.*
II.

au voiufi voitf

eu

Future

I shall have been willing.'

eu voiu fi vrut.

Imperative.
*

voeste (tu),

voescd

be willing.'

vree

{el),

vreti {vol),

voescd

wee

{ei),

eu sd voesc,

may
II.

eu sdji

voit,

2iSi vo\,

eu sd vreu.

be willing.*
Subjunctive,

eu sdji vrut,

I may have been willing.'

Conditional,

eu

I should be willing.'

asi vre,

Conditional,

II.
'

{ei).

Subjunctive,

I.

eu

{el),

voiti (iJoz),

I.

eu

vresL (tu),

2^1 fi voit, I should

have been

willing.'

eil as*

fi vrut.

Infinitive.

Present.

voi,

to be willing,' a vre.

Perfect.
*
\

afi

voit,

to have been willing,'

afi vrut.

Both forms

are correct, but the first

is

more acceptable.

EOrMANIAN GEAMMAE.

56
(3)

lua,f

has

to take,'

a regular conjugation, but in

the singular, and the third person plural of the indicative

and imperative,

present, subjunctive present,

the root lu to

it

changes

i.

Indicative Present.
*

eu

iau,

tu

m,

noi luam,

I take.*

voi

el ia,

lusiti.

ei iau.

Imperative,
ia {tu)j

'

take.'

luatt (vot)^

ia (el),

ia (et).

Subjunctive Present.
'

eu sa iau,
tu sd

noi sd luam,

may take.'

vot sd luatt,

iaif

el sd ia,

(4)

Many

verbs

ei

derived from

reduplicate their root

Roumanian

for

sd

ia.

those Latin verbs which

the

do

perfect

the same in

a da, * to give ;' eH ddduz;

a sta, to stay ;' qu statm-,

participle dat.

In the same way, a

QU

(5)

The

la,

wash (the

to

stat.

head),' has its perfect:

la.m, past participle Idut or lat.

verbs, a zice,

to say

;'

a face,

second person singular of the imperative

to do,' have the

zi,

fa.

ADVEEBS.

57

IMPEESONAL YEEBS.
The impersonal
a dure,

'

verbs, aplousLj

to rain

;'

a nmge,

'

to snow;'

to feel pain/ are conjugated regularly.

Adverbs TAdverbe).
(1.)

Some

adjectives in the masculine gender serve as adverbs

cdLutd

'

he (or she) sings beautifully.'

frumos,

In some of the adverbs we can trace the principle of their

For instance, adjectives ending in esc, change this
formation.
termination to este to form adverbs

domnesc,

'princely;'

domneste,

princely.'

manly

hdrhdtesc,

hdrhatQste,

;'

anger esc,

manly.'
'

angelical

;'

anger este,

angelically.'

These adverbs, like the adjectives from which they are derived,
But there
express for the most part manner or qualification.
are other adverbs indicating quantity, time, place, affirmation,

negation, doubt, of which

limited,

we

give a

list,

as their

number

and they are very frequently used.

(2.)
msLi,

Adverbs of Quantity,

more.

incd, (encore), further,

numat,

still,

more.

solely, only.

(3.)

Adverbs of Place,

unde, where.

d'mcolo, the other side.

acif here.

dincoce, this side.

acolOf there.

afsLrd,

without, except, out.

is

EOUMANIAN GEAMMAE.

58
mxmtru,

in.

nowhere.

nicairiy

d^assuprttf above.

undeva,,

de desuhtf below.

ore wnde, somewhere.

dindarsbff behind.

aiure, elsewhere.

dinainte, before.

aprope, near.

d^aWiuri, near, by.

dep&rtef far.

somewhere.

d'a drepta, on the right.

fdkta, present.

d^a stinga, on the

pretutindenif everywhere.

left.

ori unde, everywhere.

(4.)

Cindy

Adverbs of Time,

une

when.

sometimes.

orif

ocum, now.

ori Cindy whenever.

acusij presently.

ore Cindy once.

indsitdf instantly.

timpuriUy early.

azi,

tdrziUy late.

to-day,

mint, to-morrow.

adessCy often.

eri (e read as ye in

yes

yesterday.
deanazi, the other day.

daJcif

nici

dsita,

pe urmdy

never.

then, next to.

curmd, shortly.
atxxnciy then.

demultf long ago.

cite

'),

sometimes.

(5.)

dvipd

cCy after.

Adverbs of Affirmation.

da, yes.

sigury certainly.

assL, so.

ZQu,

by God (abbreviated from

Dumnezeuy God').
'

adevar&ty verily, truly.

fdivd indoisildy doubtless.

negresity of course.

iatdy lo

behold.

PEEPOSITIONS.

59

Negative Adverbs.

(6.)

wu, no.

n\ei cum, not at all.

nu

la,

asa, not so.

nhnic, nothing.

(7)

Adverbs expressing a doubt.

cam

dor,
'pote,

no.

la nUf

a pen pres),

nearly,

about.

perhaps.

6re,

Prepositions.

These are particles the origin of which is very difficult to

find out, and it will be sufficient to give a list of them
:

, at,

de

fd^ra, without.

(a).

m,

a,

from.

de

in.

pentru, for.
spre, towards.

la,

la, at.

pe, upon.

psLud,

till.

de, by.

dupd, after, according to.

din, from.

contra, against.

These are independent

particles,

but there are some which

are prefixed to words,

modifying their meaning, or giving

more

force

des,

Examples
*

uncle

es,

e,

con,

strdmos,

pre,

stre.

mystery

ancestor,' etc.

'

tsLind,
'

;'

them

destdinuesc,

divulge

mos,

EOrMANIAK GEA.MMAB.

60

Conjunctions.

These particles are of

as follows

different kinds.

usual are

and.

si,

The most

ca.ci.

because.
iar,

peniru cd

but.

Sidecd, to wit.

precrnn, as.

"'''

de,

if.

ciy

fotusif still.

decif then, (done).

csLf

but.

nwmdi, but.
de vreme ce,

that.

dar, but.

since.

de ore
jprin urmsiref consequently.

ce,

Interjections,

These are the most usual interjections

a!
vdX

ah.
!

woe

2deu, alas

Ae*,

ho.

hre,

(admiration).

61

SYNTAX.
We

propose to show here very briefly

and

particles

Roumanian

sentence.

different parts

correct

of

how

speech, in

to combine the

make a

order to

THE NOUNS.
Nominative.

The
its

subject of the verb

place

is

put in the nominative

is

at the beginning of the sentence

flower

'

este o fiore

Trandafirul

frumossa,

case,

and

The

rose

is

a pretty

;'

Dumnezeil a

zidit lu.mea,

God

has created the world.'

Genitive.

The dependence
the genitive case

We

of one

noun upon another

indicated

by

Florea cimpului^

(hrtea copilulm,

The flower of the

The book

particle a is

when the genitive

omitted.
But when the

subject, as it

often does in verse, the

In such case the subject

a cimpului Jlore^
a cojpUului carte,

field

;'

of the child.'

see here that

omitted.

is

the

is

follows the subject, the

precedes

particle

a cannot be

without the article

field's

the

genitive

flower;'

the child's book.'

62

eoumanian geammae.
Dative.

The

case,

governed indirectly by the verb, follows the case

governed directly

Am

dot C2irtea copilulut,

I gave the book to the child.'

We

have however already seen that the genitive, when it

follows a noun, loses its particle a.
When in such a sentence
as the above

it

would not

at first sight be obvious whether

by

the expression cartea copilulut was meant *the book of the

'
*
the book to the child,' the confusion which might
child
or

then

arise is

avoided by placing the dative next to the verb

am

dat copilulut

csirtea.

Accusative.

When

the direct object of a transitive verb

is

a person,

takes the accusative case preceded by the preposition

all

other cases the accusative without that preposition

Copilul hun stimeza

pe

parinti,

The good

pe ;

is

it

in

used

child honours

the parents/
A771

When

vedut pal&tul Regdd,

have seen the Royal

a noun in the accusative case

or a possessive pronoun,

Copilul

it

is

followed

takes the article

hun stimeza pe pdrmtii

by an

palace.'

adjective

s^tj

*The good

child

honours his parents.'

Vocative.

We have

already seen that the vocative singular of masculine

nouns ends in e, and that of feminine nouns in 0, the plural of

both

beingr in lor.

SYNTAX.

G3

For the masculine singular the nouns generally preserve

their article in the vocative

Omule !

The

article,

O
O
O

man

'

however,

is

DumnezQule !

!'

very often suppressed

domne^
'

imparditef

Emperor,'

friend,'

'

amice,

!'

O domnule,
O tmparsitule.
O amicule,

instead of

Lord,'

God

etc.

But when the noun

other words,

we

with the article

O
O

in the vocative case is connected with

use, instead of the vocative, the

sometimes,

nominative

but not always, preceded by

amicul meuy

'

sora mesi,

'

my
my

O:

friend.'
sister.'

etc.

Ablative.

The

ablative case

is

preceded by one of the particles,

tn,

de, la, etc.

The dependence of one noun upon

by a

Jflore de cimp,
is

necessary

The flower

of the

field.'

when the

attribute expresses the substance or

the purpose of the noun to which

it refers

M'mte de copU,

'

Fal2it de cryst'd,

JPicior de lemn,

CdiVte de cetiL.

ablative with de

")
'

-CT,.

This

by an

genitive, can also be indicated

Florea cwwului,

another, usually expressed

Childish mind.'

Crystal palace.'

Wooden
Book

leg.'

to be read.'

EOUMANIAN GEAMMAE.

64

In the case of verbs governing two objects, the ablative case

with de may be nsed, instead of the accusative, to indicate one
of those objects
Stsitul

Va
*

ales president^ or Statul

The State

him

elected

Va

ales de president,

as President.*

ADJECTIVES.

We have

already seen in studying the etymology that these

can either precede or follow the nouns to which they refer,

while always agreeing with them in gender and number.

PEONOUNS.
The

order of the words in a sentence

subject, verb, object

A7n

But when the

verb

is

generally as follows

vedxit

pe

Neculsii,

I saw Nicholas.'

object is a personal pronoun

it

precedes the

L^am

*I have seen him.*

vedut,

I ask her.*

He

tntrehf

Mi-a. spus,

(or she) spoke to me.

wished to emphasize the assertion, the pronoun in

unabbreviated form must be repeated after the verb

If

it is

its

L*am

Am
Note.

vedxxt

pe

el,

vedafo pe

ca,

In such a case

as

am

I have seen him.*

I have seen her.*

vedxxt

the verb, for the sake of euphony.

*o,

the pronoun follows

65

SYNTAX.

Pronoun

Tlie Relative

The

care, ce.

pronoun care^ ce, occurs more frequently in

Roumanian than in English, where it is avoided by a simpler
relative

construction

We

thus

Omul de care .^i-am

The man I told you

cannot translate

'

vorhit a venit iar,

come

of has

The man I

saw,'

without the insertion of the relative

again.*

The time I

came,* etc.,

pronoun between the

subject and the verb.

VERBS.

We

be used without the subject

being expressed by a personal pronoun, though the use of the
latter is not incorrect

have seen that verbs

may

ar or eu ar,

'

I plough.*

cred or ew cred^

'

I believe,* etc.

In compound tenses the auxiliary usually precedes the verb

sometimes, however, when it is a single and not a compound
;

auxiliary,

it

follows the verb

am

arat-am.

arat,

arat-aiy etc.

a^ arat,

When

the auxiliary

asi,' a?,

ar, etc., follows the verb,

the second form of the infinitive

asi ave,

avere-ast.

at

avere-ai,

ave,

precede the verb

auxiliary

avere-ar, etc.
is

compound

one,

it

must always

Voiu

use

ar ave,

But when the

we

fi arat,

or fi-voiu arat.

Vet

fi arat,

,,

Va

fi arat,

fi-va

fi-vei

,,

etc.

i^u/

c/c/~a

SYNTAX.
the

practice can teach

Only

different verbs

cases

cases

governed by

")
*

-v

When

different

some govern two

Me vinuesfi,
TV,.
imi vinuestt.

67

you accuse me.*

'

one verb follows another we can use either the con-

junctive or the infinitive form

Fot sd ajirm cd
Pot qfirma cda
.

.")
.")

'
'

I can aflBrm that

The use of

Tenses.

In narrative we frequently substitute the present for the

past, and the imperfect is very often used instead of the conditional.

The simple

perfect and the simple pluperfect are

used only

in narrative.

In conversation we use the compound perfect when speaking

of the past

^.y.

M^am

Am

I took a walk.*

I told the truth.'

preumhldit,

spus adeveruly
etc.

The past

participle remains

unchanged

in all

compound

tenses

In the passive voice only does it conform

to the number and gender of its subject, being then of course
of the active voice.

only an adjective.

BOUMANIAN GRAMMAB.

68

ADVERBS.
The

place of an adverb in a sentence

ing the verb which

A lexdjndru

it qualifies

is

immediately follow-

se sfla hme^

Alexander

I*2iSserea cvintafrumoSy

The

is well.'

bird sings beautifully.*

But when we speak with enthusiasm the adverb precedes

the verb

Frumos

msii csinta psissej^ea

How

beautifully the bird sings

!'

When

*
the sentence contains negatives, as nimeni, nobody,'
nicairi, nowhere,' etc., the verb must always be preceded by
*

the negative

nu

ATwieni nu

a cassa,

Nobody

is

at home.'

PEEPOSITIONS.
The

preposition

a precedes the

infinitive

stands alone, or as subject of a sentence

is

the latter

ara^ a crede, etc.

a mintx e rusinos,
It

when

also used before the

'

It

is

shameful to lie*

genitive

singular,

expressions which can only be learned

Sunt a ca^suj

Se pregateste a ploe^

Pres'imt a nenorocire,

by

practice

am

at home,'

trandaf'ir,
etc.

in

many

going to rain.'
I have a presentiment of

It

is

coming
Mirossa a

and

sorrow.'

It smells like a rose.'

69

SYNTAX.

The

It

preposition

la,

indicates direction or place whither

to,'

Plec

la Paris,

'

I set out for Paris.'

Merg

la sc6ldj

I go to school.*

also

indicate

may

place wJiere^ without

the

necessarily implying place in

however

am at church.'
am at the park.'

Sunt

la lissericdy

*I

Sunt

la gradina,

Please come to dinner.*

I^oftim la msissd,
etc.

It

also

is

used in phrases only to be learned by practice

Arsitd hine la fsitdf

Cistigd la

He
He

'

par ale,

looks well in (the) face.'

gains money.*

etc.

In has the same meaning

as in English in or into

Sunt ingrddindy
Pe,

Come into the garden.'

I am in the garden.'

Vino in grdd'md,

upon,' often precedes the object governed

that object

is

a person

it,

when

Praise God.*

*He

cop'iiy

It always precedes the object

ed pe

by

Sldveste^e DumnezeU,
Inv2itdpe

teaches the children.'

which indicates place where

'

scdiun,

sit

upon the

chair.'

etc.

It

is also

used in

many

other expressions in which

valent to different English prepositions

Fe
Pe

romanQste,

Fsisserea pe llmha qi pere,

is

equi-

In Roumanian.'

*In English,'

englesQstey

it

The bird dies

etc.
(

i.e.

meets her death)

in (through) her song.'

M^am preumbht pe

Am

Zu/ja,

cdldtorit pe sore,

I walked in the moonlight.'

*I travelled in the sunshine.'

BOUMAIJIAN GRAMMAB.

70

*
DCf of,* indicates the dependence of one noun on another,
more especially when we wish to indicate the substance of a

thing, or its purpose or reason

de a^,

Cid^s

We

JPend de

scrisj

More

sete,

de

a gold watch.'

pen for writing.*

he dies of thirst.'

number

also use de before adverbs of

De
De

doa

twice.*

orz,

m\e de

'

thousand times.*

ori,

etc.

De

'

la,

la differs

from,' differs from din,

from

from,' in the

same way

as

in.

CONJUNCTIONS.
Sd

is
*

Cd,

mood and

used in the conjunctive

that,' is

used in giving explanation

Zi-i cd nu-s

This sentence

in the imperative.

csissd,

tell

him I am not

could not be rendered in

at home.'

Eoumanian with-

out ed.

Cd and

ca must be carefully distinguished, the latter sug-

gests likeness or approximation

Ca mini vom
Aufost ca

la

mur'i,

cmct swte de omeni,

We may die by to-morrow.'

There

were

about

hundred men.'

five

SYNTAX.

71

INTEEJECTIONS.
The

Interjections

Sileu ! vsLleit !' alas

are used alone,

and

have no connection with the words which follow them.

*

Vai,

woe,'

am&r (conveying

a feeling of bitterness), ferice

(implying joy or happiness), serac (implying pity), require the

noun which follows them to be in the ablative with de :
*

Vai de mine,
Serac de mine,

But
amar

vai and
tie.

amar can

also

Woe

to me.'

Poor me,'

ete.

be used with a dative

vai mie,

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