Ana consultă catalogul.

Because Romanian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun, not before it.

• catalog = catalog
• catalogul = the catalog

So -ul is the masculine singular definite article here.

Because consultă is a conjugated verb form, not the dictionary form.

• Dictionary form: a consulta = to consult
• consultă = he/she consults

In this sentence, it matches Ana, which is third person singular, so consultă means she consults.

Here, -ă is part of the third-person singular present tense form of the verb a consulta.

So:

• eu consult = I consult
• tu consulți = you consult
• el/ea consultă = he/she consults

Because Ana is one person, the verb must also be singular: consultă.

The Romanian letter ă is pronounced like the a in English sofa or about.

So consultă ends with that short neutral vowel sound, not with a strong a like in father.

Also, ă is a separate Romanian letter, not just a decorated a.

Romanian often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed.

The verb form already tells you it is third person singular, and the subject Ana is explicitly there anyway, so adding ea (she) would usually be unnecessary.

• Ana consultă catalogul. = natural
• Ea consultă catalogul. = She consults the catalog
• Ana ea consultă catalogul. = usually unnatural unless for strong emphasis

Yes. catalogul is the direct object — it is the thing Ana is consulting.

So the structure is:

• Ana = subject
• consultă = verb
• catalogul = direct object

This is the normal subject–verb–object order, similar to English.

Because pe is not normally used before an inanimate direct object like catalogul.

In Romanian, pe is often used with personal or animate direct objects, especially definite people:

• Văd profesorul. = I see the teacher
• Îl văd pe profesor. = I see the teacher

But with things, Romanian usually does not use pe:

• consultă catalogul = correct
• consultă pe catalogul = incorrect

Catalog is a masculine noun in Romanian.

That matters because the form of the definite article depends on gender and number:

• masculine singular: often -ul
• feminine singular: often -a

So:

• catalog → catalogul
• not cataloga

Gender also affects how adjectives and some other words agree with the noun.

Yes. Romanian present tense often covers both the English simple present and present progressive, depending on context.

So Ana consultă catalogul can mean:

• Ana consults the catalog (habitually / generally)
• Ana is consulting the catalog (right now)

The surrounding context tells you which meaning is intended.

This order is the most neutral and basic one: subject + verb + object.

Romanian word order is somewhat flexible, but changing it usually adds emphasis or requires other adjustments. For a learner, Ana consultă catalogul is the safest and most natural form to use first.

So yes, word order can change in Romanian, but this sentence is the standard pattern.