Romanian Prepositions: Basic Usage and Cases Explained for English Speakers

Introduction to Romanian Prepositions and Cases

Romanian prepositions are essential words that link nouns, pronouns, or phrases to other words within a sentence. Unlike English, Romanian prepositions often require the noun that follows to be in a specific grammatical case. Understanding these cases is crucial for mastering Romanian sentence structure.

The Four Romanian Cases Used with Prepositions

Romanian has five grammatical cases, but prepositions primarily govern four of them: the accusative, dative, genitive, and ablative (often merged with the dative). Each preposition dictates which case the following noun or pronoun should take.

Here is a brief overview of these cases in relation to prepositions:

• Accusative: Often used to indicate direction or movement towards something.
• Dative: Used to indicate the indirect object or the beneficiary of an action.
• Genitive: Expresses possession or relation.
• Ablative: Indicates movement away from something or the source.

Common Romanian Prepositions and Their Cases

Below are some frequently used Romanian prepositions along with the cases they require and examples to illustrate their usage.

• Pe (on, upon) - requires Accusative. Example: Pe masă (On the table).
• Cu (with) - requires Instrumental/Dative. Example: Cu prietenul (With the friend).
• De (of, from) - requires Genitive. Example: Cartea de Maria (Maria's book).
• La (at, to) - requires Dative. Example: La școală (At school).
• Din (from, out of) - requires Genitive. Example: Din oraș (From the city).

How to Identify the Correct Case After a Preposition

To use Romanian prepositions correctly, you need to know which case each preposition governs. This often depends on the meaning and function of the preposition in the sentence. Here are some tips:

1. Memorize common prepositions and their associated cases.
2. Understand the role of the noun in the sentence (direction, possession, accompaniment).
3. Practice with example sentences to see case usage in context.
4. Use Romanian grammar resources to reinforce learning.

Examples of Romanian Prepositions in Sentences