The definite article (postposed)
Postposed definite article: băiat→băiatul, fată→fata, carte→cartea
Can form postposed definite articles
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Băiatul vorbește cu fata.
The boy is talking to the girl.
Cartea este pe masă și câinele doarme sub masă.
The book is on the table and the dog sleeps under the table.
Copiii merg la școală dimineața.
The children go to school in the morning.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
UNIQUE: Romanian attaches definite article as a SUFFIX: băiat→băiatul, fată→fata.
Postposed article surprises all learners. SUFFIX, not prefix!
Common Error Patterns
Putting article before noun like English/German
Romanian definite article is a SUFFIX: băiat → băiatul, NOT *'the băiat'.
Using wrong article suffix for gender
Masc: -ul/-le. Fem: -a. Masc pl: -i. Fem/neuter pl: -le.
Băiatul vorbește cu fata.
The boy is talking to the girl.
'Băiatul' = băiat + ul (the boy). 'Fata' = fată with -ă→-a (the girl). Article is a SUFFIX!
Cartea este pe masă și câinele doarme sub masă.
The book is on the table and the dog sleeps under the table.
'Cartea' = carte + a. 'Câinele' = câine + le. 'Masă' stays without article after prepositions sometimes.
Copiii merg la școală dimineața.
The children go to school in the morning.
'Copiii' = copii + i (the children — masc. pl. article). 'Dimineața' = in the morning (also with article!).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises