Word order
SVO word order, flexible but SVO default
Can construct SVO sentences and questions
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Maria citește o carte interesantă.
Maria reads an interesting book.
Unde locuiești?
Where do you live?
Eu vorbesc românește și el vorbește englezește.
I speak Romanian and he speaks English.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
SVO default word order. Flexible for emphasis, but requires clitic doubling.
SVO is default. Clitic doubling needed when fronting objects.
Common Error Patterns
Using non-SVO order without clitic doubling
If you move the object before the verb, add a clitic pronoun: 'Cartea O citesc'.
Placing adjective before noun as in English/German
Romanian adjectives mostly go AFTER the noun: 'o carte interesantă', not *'o interesantă carte'.
Maria citește o carte interesantă.
Maria reads an interesting book.
Standard SVO order. Adjective 'interesantă' after noun (Romanian default position).
Unde locuiești?
Where do you live?
Question word 'unde' starts the sentence. Verb follows. No auxiliary needed!
Eu vorbesc românește și el vorbește englezește.
I speak Romanian and he speaks English.
SVO in both clauses. Adverbs of language: românește, englezește (with -ește suffix).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises