Profesoara explică problema din nou.

The (female) teacher explains the problem again.

Breakdown of Profesoara explică problema din nou.

• problema: the problem
• profesoara: the teacher
• a explica: to explain
• din nou: again

Questions & Answers about Profesoara explică problema din nou.

Why is there no separate word for “the” in profesoara or problema?

Romanian usually does not use a separate word for “the”.
Instead, it attaches a definite article to the end of the noun:

• profesoară → profesoara = the (female) teacher
• problemă → problema = the problem

So -a at the end of both profesoara and problema is the equivalent of English “the.”

Why is it profesoara and not profesoară?

Profesoară is the indefinite form: a (female) teacher.
Profesoara is the definite form: the (female) teacher.

In this sentence we’re talking about a specific teacher, so Romanian uses the definite form profesoara.

How would the sentence change if the teacher were male instead of female?

For a male teacher, you change both the noun and its definite article:

• profesor = (a) male teacher
• profesorul = the male teacher

So the sentence becomes:

• Profesorul explică problema din nou.
  = The (male) teacher explains the problem again.

Why is it problema and not problemă?

Same reason as with profesoara:

• problemă = a problem (indefinite)
• problema = the problem (definite)

The sentence refers to a particular problem the teacher and students already know about, so Romanian uses the definite form problema.

What is the infinitive of explică, and how is it conjugated in the present tense?

The infinitive is a explica = to explain.

Present indicative (regular -a verb, modelled on a lucra):

• eu explic – I explain
• tu explici – you (sg.) explain
• el / ea explică – he / she explains
• noi explicăm – we explain
• voi explicați – you (pl.) explain
• ei / ele explică – they explain

In the sentence, explică is 3rd person singular (she explains).

Is there any difference between explică and explica (without the accent)?

Yes, the diacritic changes the form and pronunciation.

• explică (with ă) – present tense, 3rd person singular/plural:

  • el/ea explică = he/she explains
  • ei/ele explică = they explain

• explica (without ă, and properly written with diacritics as explica

  • accent on the i) corresponds to the imperfect (past continuous):
  • el/ea explica = he/she was explaining

Standard Romanian must use diacritics, so in the present tense, this sentence must be explică, not explica.

Does explică mean “explains” or “is explaining”? Can it mean both?

It can mean both. Romanian has only one simple present tense, which covers:

• English simple present: She explains the problem again every week.
• English present continuous: She is explaining the problem again (right now).

Context decides whether you understand explică as explains or is explaining.

Why is there no subject pronoun like ea (she) in the sentence?

Romanian is a “pro-drop” language: subject pronouns are often omitted, because the verb form already shows the person.

• Ea explică problema din nou. – grammatically correct, but usually more emphatic: SHE is explaining the problem again (as opposed to someone else).
• Profesoara explică problema din nou. – natural, the subject is clear from the noun profesoara.

You only add ea when you want to stress she.

Why is there no pe before problema (why not explică pe problema)?

The preposition pe is used before direct objects that are usually animate (people, sometimes animals) when they are definite:

• Explică pe Maria. – He/She explains (things) to Maria.
• Văd pe profesor. – I see the (male) teacher.

For inanimate direct objects like problema (the problem), you normally do not use pe:

• Explică problema. – She explains the problem. ✅
• Explică pe problema. – incorrect ❌

What does din nou literally mean, and are there other ways to say “again”?

Din nou is a fixed expression meaning “again”.

Literally:

• din = from
• nou = new
  → roughly “from new” / “anew”, but it simply functions as “again”.

Other common synonyms:

• iarăși – again
• încă o dată – one more time / once more

All could fit here with slightly different style or emphasis:

• Profesoara explică problema iarăși.
• Profesoara explică problema încă o dată.

Can the word order change, for example to Profesoara explică din nou problema?

Yes, Romanian word order is fairly flexible, especially for adverbs like din nou.

All of these are grammatical:

• Profesoara explică problema din nou. – neutral, very common.
• Profesoara explică din nou problema. – also fine; slight emphasis on the repetition.
• Din nou, profesoara explică problema. – more stylistic / written, highlights again.

You usually keep profesoara (subject) before explică (verb), and problema (object) close to the verb; moving din nou is the most natural type of variation.

How do you pronounce the letter ă in profesoara and problema?

Ă / ă is a special Romanian vowel. It sounds like the “a” in English “sofa” or the “u” in “supply” – a short, unstressed “uh” sound.

• profesoara → pro-fe-soa-ră
• problema → pro-ble-mă

So ă is not like English “a” in “cat”; it’s a relaxed “uh”.