Understanding Romanian Sentence Structure: How to Form Complex Sentences

What Are Complex Sentences in Romanian?

Complex sentences in Romanian are sentences that contain one main clause and at least one subordinate clause. These sentences allow speakers to express more detailed and nuanced ideas by connecting multiple thoughts within a single sentence.

Types of Subordinate Clauses in Romanian

Romanian uses several types of subordinate clauses to form complex sentences, including relative clauses, adverbial clauses, and noun clauses. Each type serves a different function and is introduced by specific conjunctions or relative pronouns.

Relative Clauses

Relative clauses provide additional information about a noun and are introduced by relative pronouns such as care (which/who), ce (that/which), and cui (to whom). For example:
Fata care vorbește este prietena mea. (The girl who is speaking is my friend.)

Adverbial Clauses

Adverbial clauses modify the verb in the main clause and express time, cause, condition, or purpose. Common conjunctions include pentru că (because), dacă (if), când (when), and deși (although). For example:
Voi merge la piață dacă plouă. (I will go to the market if it rains.)

Noun Clauses

Noun clauses function as the subject or object of a sentence and are often introduced by că (that). For example:
Știu că el vine mâine. (I know that he is coming tomorrow.)

Word Order in Romanian Complex Sentences

Romanian generally follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, but word order can be flexible, especially in complex sentences. The subordinate clause usually follows the main clause, but it can also precede it for emphasis or style.

Example:
El a spus că va veni târziu. (He said that he will come late.)
or
Că va veni târziu, el a spus. (That he will come late, he said.)

Common Conjunctions Used to Connect Clauses

Here are some common Romanian conjunctions used to form complex sentences:

• că (that)
• pentru că (because)
• dacă (if)
• când (when)
• deși (although)
• înainte să (before)
• după ce (after)
• ca să (so that)

Tips for English Speakers Learning Romanian Complex Sentences

English speakers may find Romanian complex sentences challenging due to differences in conjunctions and word order. Here are some tips:

• Pay attention to the use of că for noun clauses, which is similar to 'that' in English.
• Practice using relative pronouns like care to connect clauses describing nouns.
• Remember that Romanian allows more flexible word order, so context is important.
• Use conjunctions to clearly indicate the relationship between clauses.

Examples of Complex Sentences in Romanian

Here are some examples to illustrate complex sentence structures:

• Am citit cartea care mi-ai dat-o. (I read the book that you gave me.)
• Nu am venit pentru că eram bolnav. (I didn't come because I was sick.)
• Dacă plouă, vom rămâne acasă. (If it rains, we will stay home.)
• Știu că ai dreptate. (I know that you are right.)
• Deși era târziu, am continuat să lucrăm. (Although it was late, we continued working.)