Breakdown of Plec la școală la ora opt, pentru că am timp atunci.
a avea
to have
la
to
a pleca
to leave
școala
the school
la
at
ora
the hour
opt
eight
pentru că
because
timpul
the time
atunci
then
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Questions & Answers about Plec la școală la ora opt, pentru că am timp atunci.
Why is plec used instead of merg for I go?
Plec is the 1st person singular present of a pleca (to leave). Although a merge also means to go, plec emphasizes the departure action. In this sentence, plec la școală literally means I’m leaving for school, which in English corresponds to I go to school.
Why does the preposition la appear twice in la școală la ora opt?
Romanian uses la for both destination and time. In la școală, la marks the destination (to school). In la ora opt, la marks the time (at eight o’clock). It’s common for one preposition to cover both “to” and “at” here.
Shouldn't școală have a definite article like the school?
When referring to attending an institution in general, Romanian drops the article: a merge la școală = to go to school. This is similar to English treating school as uncountable or generic in that context.
What role does ora play in la ora opt, and can I say just la opt?
Ora means the hour and is the standard way to express clock time: la ora opt = at eight o’clock. In casual speech you can shorten it to la opt, but the full form is more precise.
Why is ora in the definite form and not oră (an hour)?
Romanian always uses the definite form ora when telling time. The indefinite oră (an hour) is not used in time expressions.
What is pentru că, and can I replace it with deoarece?
Pentru că means because and introduces a reason. You can replace it with deoarece without changing the meaning:
Plec la școală la ora opt, deoarece am timp atunci.
Why is atunci placed at the end, and could I say pentru că atunci am timp?
Atunci means then (referring back to eight o’clock). Placing it at the end is idiomatic: pentru că am timp atunci = because I have time then. You could also say pentru că atunci am timp, but ending with atunci sounds more colloquial.
Do I have to keep the order main clause + subordinate clause, or can I reverse them?
Both orders are correct. Original:
Plec la școală la ora opt, pentru că am timp atunci.
Reversed:
Pentru că am timp atunci, plec la școală la ora opt.
Both sound natural; the first is more common in speech.
Does timp here mean specifically free time?
Here timp simply means time (available time), not necessarily free time. To emphasize free time, you would say timp liber.
How would I ask What time do you leave for school? in Romanian?
You can say La ce oră pleci la școală?, literally At what hour do you leave for school?