Breakdown of Cu robinetul de închidere închis, debitul apei este mic.
a fi
to be
mic
small
cu
with
închis
closed
Questions & Answers about Cu robinetul de închidere închis, debitul apei este mic.
Why does Romanian use cu robinetul de închidere închis at the beginning of the sentence?
This is a very common Romanian pattern: cu + noun + adjective/participle.
Here, cu robinetul de închidere închis means something like:
- with the shut-off valve closed
- when the shut-off valve is closed
So cu does not just mean a physical with here. It introduces a circumstance or condition.
A very literal breakdown is:
- cu = with
- robinetul de închidere = the shut-off valve
- închis = closed
So the whole opening phrase sets the condition under which the statement is true.
What is the difference between închidere and închis? They look similar.
They come from the same verb family, but they are different parts of speech.
- a închide = to close
- închidere = closing / closure / shut-off (a noun)
- închis = closed (an adjective or past participle)
In this sentence:
robinetul de închidere = shut-off valve
Here închidere is a noun used after de, like valve for closing / shut-off valve.robinetul ... închis = the valve ... closed
Here închis describes the valve’s state.
So Romanian uses both forms because they do two different jobs.
Why is it robinetul, not just robinet?