Breakdown of Strada aglomerată pe care o traversăm este dificil de trecut cu câinele.
a fi
to be
cu
with
pe
on
câinele
the dog
strada
the street
care
that
aglomerat
crowded
o
it
a traversa
to cross
dificil de trecut
difficult to pass
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Questions & Answers about Strada aglomerată pe care o traversăm este dificil de trecut cu câinele.
What is the function of pe care in this sentence?
Pe is the preposition required for a definite direct‐object in a relative clause, and care is the relative pronoun “that” or “which.” Together pe care means that (or which) and introduces the clause modifying strada aglomerată (“the crowded street”).
Why is there an o before traversăm?
The o is the 3rd person feminine singular direct‐object clitic pronoun, replacing strada. In Romanian, clitics agree in gender and number with the noun they replace. Since strada is feminine singular, its pronoun is o, and in affirmative main clauses clitics come before the verb ( o traversăm ).
What does dificil de trecut literally mean, and how is it formed?
This is an impersonal, semi-passive construction: dificil (“difficult”) + de + infinitive ( trecut). Literally it means “difficult to be crossed.” It focuses on the action’s difficulty rather than on who does it.
Why not say este dificil să traversăm strada cu câinele instead?
Both convey the same idea. Este dificil să traversăm… uses a subjunctive clause (“it’s difficult for us to cross…”). The dificil de trecut form is shorter, a bit more formal or objective, and makes strada the topic.
How does the adjective aglomerată agree with strada?
In Romanian, adjectives must match their nouns in gender and number. Strada is feminine singular, so aglomerată is the feminine singular form of aglomerat (“crowded”).
Why is câinele definite here? Shouldn’t it be un câine?
The use of the definite article (“-le”) on câine implies a specific dog known to speaker and listener (e.g. “our dog” or “the dog we have”). Saying un câine would mean “some/any dog” rather than “the dog.”
What are the clitic-placement rules illustrated by pe care o traversăm?
In affirmative indicative clauses, direct-object clitics (mă, te, îl, o, ne, vă, îi, le) precede the verb:
- O traversăm (“we cross it”).
In negative clauses you insert nu before the clitic: nu o traversăm. In affirmative imperatives they attach after: Traversați-o!
Could the relative clause be placed elsewhere, and why does the sentence start with Strada aglomerată pe care o traversăm?
Romanian usually follows “noun + relative clause” order when you want to specify which noun you mean, especially if the clause is long. Starting with Strada aglomerată pe care o traversăm keeps the description together, then states the main comment: este dificil de trecut cu câinele. Reordering it would sound awkward or change the emphasis.