How to Use Romanian Adverbial Clauses in Sentences

What Are Adverbial Clauses in Romanian?

Adverbial clauses in Romanian are subordinate clauses that function as adverbs, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. They provide information about time, cause, condition, manner, purpose, or concession in a sentence.

Common Types of Romanian Adverbial Clauses

Romanian adverbial clauses can express different relationships. The most common types include:

• Time (Timp)
• Cause (Cauză)
• Condition (Condiție)
• Manner (Mod)
• Purpose (Scop)
• Concession (Concesiune)

Forming Time Clauses in Romanian

Time clauses indicate when an action takes place. They often begin with conjunctions like când (when), înainte să (before), după ce (after), or de îndată ce (as soon as). The verb in the adverbial clause is usually in the subjunctive or indicative, depending on the conjunction.

Example:
Voi pleca când vei sosi tu.
(I will leave when you arrive.)

Expressing Cause with Adverbial Clauses

Cause clauses explain why something happens. Common conjunctions include pentru că (because), deoarece (since), and căci (for). The verb is typically in the indicative mood.

Example:
Am întârziat pentru că a fost trafic.
(I was late because there was traffic.)

Using Condition Clauses in Romanian

Condition clauses express a condition that must be met. They often start with dacă (if) or de + subjunctive. The verb in the condition clause can be in the indicative or subjunctive depending on the context.

Example:
Dacă plouă, nu vom merge la plajă.
(If it rains, we will not go to the beach.)

Manner Clauses: How Actions Are Done

Manner clauses describe how an action is performed. They usually begin with cum (how) or așa cum (just as). The verb is in the indicative mood.

Example:
Fă-o cum ți-am spus.
(Do it as I told you.)

Purpose Clauses in Romanian

Purpose clauses explain the reason or goal of an action. They often use ca să or pentru ca să followed by the subjunctive mood.

Example:
Studiez ca să promovez examenul.
(I study so that I pass the exam.)

Concession Clauses: Expressing Contrast

Concession clauses show contrast or unexpected results. Common conjunctions include deși (although), chiar dacă (even if), and cu toate că (even though). The verb is usually in the indicative.

Example:
Deși era obosit, a continuat să lucreze.
(Although he was tired, he continued working.)

Tips for Using Romanian Adverbial Clauses

• Pay attention to the conjunctions to understand the clause type.
• Use the subjunctive mood after certain conjunctions, especially in purpose and some time clauses.
• Practice with examples to get familiar with verb moods and word order.
• Remember that the adverbial clause can come before or after the main clause.
• Listening to native speakers helps internalize natural usage.