Fronting direct objects (crema am amestecat-o)

In Romanian, you can emphasize a specific object by bringing it to the very front of the sentence. This is incredibly common in cooking instructions, where the focus is naturally on the ingredient or tool you are currently handling: "The parsley, you chop it."

The Resumption Rule

When you move a definite direct object to the beginning of the sentence, Romanian grammar requires you to "resume" it. This means adding a matching unstressed accusative pronoun (a clitic) right next to the verb to refer back to the fronted object.

Masculine and Neuter Objects

If the fronted noun is masculine or neuter singular, use the pronoun îl (which becomes l- before a vowel or a past tense auxiliary verb).

The parsley, the cook chopped it.
Pătrunjelul l-a tocat bucătarul.
The parsley, we will add it at the end.
Pătrunjelul îl vom adăuga la sfârșit.
The lid, you will lift it in an hour.
Capacul îl vei ridica peste o oră.

Feminine Objects

If the fronted noun is feminine singular, use the pronoun o.

Remember the special placement rule for o: before present and future tense verbs, it sits in front of the verb. However, in the past tense (perfect compus), o attaches to the end of the past participle with a hyphen.

The saucepan, I will put it on the stove.
Cratița o voi pune pe aragaz.
The cinnamon, grandmother put it in the dough.
Scorțișoara a pus-o bunica în aluat.
The water, you will drain it through the colander.
Apa o vei scurge prin strecurătoare.

Plural and Multiple Objects

If the fronted noun is feminine or neuter plural, use the pronoun le. You also use le when fronting a list of mixed ingredients, as long as there is no masculine noun in the group.

The vegetables, you will chop them on the chopping board.
Legumele le vei toca pe tocător.
The sugar and the cinnamon, we will mix them well.
Zahărul și scorțișoara le vom amesteca bine.
Practice this lesson