Tu ești un prieten bun.

to be

Breakdown of Tu ești un prieten bun.

• bun: good
• tu: you
• un: a

Questions & Answers about Tu ești un prieten bun.

Why is Tu used even though ești already indicates “you”?

Romanian is a pro-drop language, which means the verb ending (here -ești) already shows the subject is second-person singular. You can simply say Ești un prieten bun in most contexts. Including Tu adds emphasis or contrast—similar to English “You are a good friend (and not someone else).”

What is ești and how is it formed?

Ești is the second-person singular present tense of the irregular verb a fi (to be). The full present-tense conjugation of a fi is:

• eu sunt
• tu ești
• el/ea este
• noi suntem
• voi sunteți
• ei/ele sunt

What does the article un do in un prieten bun?

Un is the indefinite article for masculine singular nouns in the nominative/accusative case. It corresponds to English “a” or “an.” It tells us we’re talking about one (unspecified) friend.

Why does the adjective bun come after prieten, unlike in English?

In Romanian the default word order for nouns and adjectives is noun–adjective (prieten bun). Placing the adjective before the noun (un bun prieten) is also correct but adds a stylistic or emphatic nuance—much like shifting from “a friend who is good” to the more English-style “a good friend.”