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Cheia aceasta este a mea, iar cea de acolo este a ta.

Cheia aceasta este a mea, iar cea de acolo este a ta.
This key is mine, and the one over there is yours.
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Questions & Answers about Cheia aceasta este a mea, iar cea de acolo este a ta.

Why is the definite article attached to cheie, forming cheia?

In Romanian the definite article is enclitic (it “sticks” to the end of the noun). So:

  • cheie = “a key” (indefinite)
  • cheie + a = cheia = “the key” (definite)
Why is the demonstrative aceasta placed after cheia instead of before it as această cheie?

Romanian allows two placements for demonstratives:

  • Prenominal (before the noun): această cheie (“this key”)
  • Postnominal (after the noun): cheia aceasta (“this very key,” with slight emphasis or colloquial tone)

Both are correct and interchangeable; postnominal often feels more “pointing at” something right in front of you.

What does cea de acolo literally mean, and why is it used instead of repeating cheia?
  • cea = the feminine singular demonstrative pronoun “the one”
  • de acolo = “from there” / “over there”

Put together, cea de acolo = “that one over there.” It’s a shorthand way to avoid repeating cheia, so you’re literally saying “the one (key) from over there.”

What is the function of iar in the sentence?

iar is a conjunction meaning “and” or “while” in a contrastive sense. It links two clauses with a slight idea of “on the one hand… on the other hand.”
Here it connects:
“Cheia aceasta este a mea”
and
“cea de acolo este a ta.”

Why do we say a mea and a ta instead of just mea or ta?

Romanian possessive pronouns require a genitive marker plus the possessive adjective:

  • a (fem. sg. genitive marker) + mea = a mea (“mine” for a feminine noun)
  • a
    • ta = a ta (“yours” for a feminine noun)

Just mea or ta by themselves can’t stand alone as “mine” or “yours.”

Why is the possessive pronoun mea feminine, and how would it change for a masculine noun?

Possessive pronouns agree in gender and number with the noun they modify (the thing possessed):

  • cheia (feminine singular) → a mea, a ta
  • If the noun were masculine singular (e.g. frate “brother”), you’d use al meu, al tău
  • If it were plural (any gender), you’d use ai mei/ale mele, ai tăi/ale tale depending on gender
Could we omit aceasta and simply say Cheia este a mea, cea de acolo este a ta? Is that correct?

Yes. Omitting aceasta is perfectly fine because cheia + este a mea already makes it clear:
“Cheia este a mea, cea de acolo este a ta.”
Adding aceasta only adds a bit more emphasis on “this key here.”

How would you say the same sentence in the plural (“These keys are mine, and those over there are yours”)?

You need plural forms for the nouns, demonstratives and possessives:
Option 1 (postnominal demonstrative):
“Cheile acestea sunt ale mele, iar cele de acolo sunt ale tale.”

Option 2 (prenominal demonstrative):
“Aceste chei sunt ale mele, iar acelea de acolo sunt ale tale.”