Table Of ContentRomanian
Now in its second edition, Romanian: An Essential Grammar is a concise, user-
friendly guide to modern Romanian. It takes the student through the essentials of
the language, explaining each concept clearly and providing many examples of
contemporary Romanian usage.
This fully revised second edition contains:
• a chapter of each of the most common grammatical areas with Romanian
and English examples
• extensive examples of the more difficult areas of the grammar
• a section with exercises to consolidate the learning and the answer key
• a list of useful verbs
• an appendix listing useful websites for further information
• a glossary of grammatical terms used in the book
• a useful bibliographical list
Suitable for both classroom use and independent study, this book is ideal for
beginner to intermediate students.
Ramona Gönczöl is a lecturer in Romanian language at the School of Slavonic
and East European Studies, University College London. She is co-author,
with Dennis Deletant, of Colloquial Romanian, 4th edition, Routledge, 2012.
Ramona’s research interests include language acquisition, learner experience,
online learning, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, cultural identities and
language contact.
Routledge Essential Grammars
Essential Grammars describe clearly and succinctly the core rules of each
language and are up-to-date and practical reference guides to the most important
aspects of languages used by contemporary native speakers. They are designed
for elementary to intermediate learners and present an accessible description of
the language, focusing on the real patterns of use today.
Essential Grammars are a reference source for the learner and user of the
language, irrespective of level, setting out the complexities of the language in
short, readable sections that are clear and free from jargon.
Essential Grammars are ideal either for independent study or for students in
schools, colleges, universities and adult classes of all types.
Essential Grammars are available for the following languages:
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For more information about this series, please visit: www.routledge.com/
Routledge-Essential-Grammars/book-series/SE0549
Romanian
An Essential Grammar
Second edition
Ramona Gönczöl
Second edition published 2021
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2021 Ramona Gönczöl
The right of Ramona Gönczöl to be identifed as author of this work
has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identifcation and
explanation without intent to infringe.
First edition published by Routledge 2007
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Gönczöl-Davies, Ramona, 1973- author.
Title: Romanian : an essential grammar / Ramona Gönczöl.
Description: Second edition. | Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY :
Routledge, 2021. | Series: Routledge essential grammars | “First
edition published by Routledge 2007” | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifers: LCCN 2020037822 (print) | LCCN 2020037823 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781138230552 (hardback) | ISBN 9781138230569
(paperback) | ISBN 9781315363776 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Romanian language—Textbooks for foreign
speakers—English. | Romanian language—Grammar.
Classifcation: LCC PC639.5.E5 G675 2021 (print) | LCC PC639.5.E5
(ebook) | DDC 459/.5—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020037822
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020037823
ISBN: 978-1-138-23055-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-23056-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-36377-6 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
To my Sebastian and Tommaso
Contents
Preface xiv
Acknowledgements xv
List of abbreviations xvi
Concise glossary of grammatical terms xvii
Part 1 An essential grammar 1
Chapter 1 Sounds and letters 3
1.1 The Romanian alphabet 3
1.2 Vowels 4
1.3 Consonants 6
1.4 Diphthongs and triphthongs 9
1.4.1 Diphthongs 9
1.4.2 Vowels in hiatus 11
1.4.3 Triphthongs 12
1.5 Stress and intonation 13
1.5.1 Stress 13
1.5.2 Intonation 19
1.5.3 Sound changes 21
Chapter 2 Nouns 25
2.1 Gender: masculine, feminine, neuter 25
2.1.1 Masculine nouns 25
2.1.2 Neuter nouns 27
2.1.3 Feminine nouns 29
2.2 Forming the feminine from a masculine noun 32
2.3 Number 35
vii
Contents 2.3.1 Masculine nouns 35
2.3.2 Feminine nouns 37
2.3.3 Neuter nouns 41
2.4 The case 43
2.4.1 Nouns with an indefinite article 44
2.4.2 Nouns with a definite article 44
2.4.3 The vocative case 46
Chapter 3 Articles 48
3.1 Indefinite article 48
3.1.1 Uses of the indefinite article 49
3.2 The definite article 50
3.2.1 Uses of the definite article 51
3.3 The demonstrative or adjectival article 53
3.3.1 Uses of the demonstrative article 53
3.4 The possessive article 54
3.4.1 Uses of the possessive article 55
Chapter 4 Adjectives 56
4.1 Descriptive adjectives 56
4.2 Comparison of adjectives 58
4.3 Agreement 60
4.4 Case 61
4.5 Position of adjectives 63
4.6 Other types of adjectives 64
4.6.1 Possessive adjectives 64
4.6.2 Demonstrative adjectives 66
4.6.3 Relative-interrogative adjectives 67
4.6.4 Negative adjectives 69
4.6.5 Indefinite adjectives 69
Chapter 5 Pronouns 74
5.1 Personal pronouns 74
5.1.1 Forms of the personal pronouns 74
5.1.2 Stressed forms 75
5.1.3 Unstressed dative and acussative forms 76
5.1.4 Dative pronouns expressing possession 77
viii
5.1.5 Dânsul, dânsa, dânşii, dânsele 79 Contents
5.2 Pronouns of politeness 80
5.2.1 Dumneavoastră, dumneata, dumnealui 80
5.3 Possessive pronouns 81
5.4 Demonstrative pronouns 81
5.4.1 Acesta (this) 81
5.4.2 Acela (that) 82
5.4.3 Același (the same one) 82
5.4.4 Celălalt (the other one) 82
5.5. Negative pronouns 82
5.5.1 Nimeni (nobody) 82
5.5.2 Nimic (nothing) 83
5.5.3 Niciunul (no one) 83
5.6 Indefinite pronouns 83
5.6.1 Unul (one) 83
5.6.2 Altul (another one) 84
5.6.3 Tot, toţi (all) 84
5.6.4 Mult, mulţi, puțin, puțini (much, many, little, few) 84
5.6.5 Atât, atâţia (that much, that many) 85
5.6.6 Vreunul (someone/anyone) 86
5.6.7 Oricine, cineva, altcineva (anyone, someone,
someone else) 86
5.6.8 Oricare, careva, altcareva, fiecare (anyone,
someone, someone else, each) 86
5.6.9 Orice, ceva, altceva (anything, something,
something else) 87
5.6.10 Câtva, oricât (some, any) 87
5.7 Interrogative-relative pronouns 88
5.7.1 Cine (who) 88
5.7.2 Care (which) 89
5.7.3 Ce (what) 89
5.7.4 Cât (how much) 89
5.8 Emphatic pronouns 90
5.9 Reflexive pronouns 91
Chapter 6 Numerals 94
6.1 Cardinal numerals 94
6.2 Ordinal numerals 97
ix
