How to Conjugate Regular Verbs in Romanian: A Guide for English Speakers

Understanding Regular Verbs in Romanian

In Romanian, regular verbs follow predictable conjugation patterns based on their infinitive endings. This makes learning to conjugate them easier for English speakers once you understand the basic rules. The three main conjugation groups are verbs ending in -a, -ea, and -i/-î.

The Three Conjugation Groups

Romanian regular verbs are divided into three conjugations according to their infinitive endings:

• First conjugation: verbs ending in -a (e.g., a lucra - to work)
• Second conjugation: verbs ending in -ea (e.g., a vedea - to see)
• Third conjugation: verbs ending in -i or -î (e.g., a dormi - to sleep)

Conjugation Patterns for the Present Tense

Let's explore how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense for each conjugation group. Romanian verbs change their endings depending on the subject pronoun.

First Conjugation (-a verbs)

Example verb: a lucra (to work)

• Eu lucrez (I work)
• Tu lucrezi (You work)
• El/Ea lucrează (He/She works)
• Noi lucrăm (We work)
• Voi lucrați (You all work)
• Ei/Ele lucrează (They work)

Second Conjugation (-ea verbs)

Example verb: a vedea (to see)

• Eu văd (I see)
• Tu vezi (You see)
• El/Ea vede (He/She sees)
• Noi vedem (We see)
• Voi vedeți (You all see)
• Ei/Ele văd (They see)

Third Conjugation (-i/-î verbs)

Example verb: a dormi (to sleep)

• Eu dorm (I sleep)
• Tu dormi (You sleep)
• El/Ea doarme (He/She sleeps)
• Noi dormim (We sleep)
• Voi dormiți (You all sleep)
• Ei/Ele dorm (They sleep)

Tips for English Speakers Learning Romanian Verbs

Romanian verb conjugation may seem complex at first, but regular verbs follow consistent patterns. Here are some tips to help you:

• Focus on learning the endings for each conjugation group.
• Practice conjugating verbs with different subject pronouns.
• Listen to native speakers to get familiar with pronunciation.
• Use flashcards to memorize common regular verbs.
• Remember that irregular verbs will require separate study.

Common Regular Verbs to Practice