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Public notices, manuals, and labels often use an impersonal construction based on the infinitive instead of the standard imperative.

### Affirmative Instructions: "A se..."

To give a general instruction, Romanian uses the preposition **a** followed by the reflexive pronoun **se** and the short infinitive of the verb.

**Pattern:** **a** + **se** + [short infinitive]

While this translates literally to a passive phrase like "to be shaken," it functions as a direct command.

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### Formal Prohibitions: "A nu se..."

To express that an action is forbidden, insert the negative word **nu** directly between **a** and **se**. You will see this structure everywhere on public signs.

**Pattern:** **a** + **nu** + **se** + [short infinitive]

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Because these function as standardized rules, you will sometimes hear or read them quoted directly inside normal sentences:

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### Common Warnings

There are a few fixed phrases using this impersonal structure that frequently appear on packaging or in public spaces like airports.

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Impersonal commands on signs (a nu se...)

adjective

adverb

adverbial phrase

auxiliary

auxiliary verb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

The verb to be and definite articles (a fi, -ul, -le)

Feminine definite articles (-a, -ua)

Indefinite articles (un, o)

Negative sentences (nu)

Question words (ce, unde, cine)

The verb to have (a avea)

Masculine plural nouns (-i, -ii)

Feminine plural nouns (-e, -i, -le)

Neuter plural nouns (-uri, -e, -le)

Adjectives and agreement

Present tense of regular -a verbs

Present tense of -a verbs with suffix (-ez)

Present tense of regular -i and -î verbs

Present tense of -i and -î verbs with suffix (-esc / -ăsc)

Present tense of -ea and -e verbs

Reflexive pronouns (mă, te, se, ne, vă)

Accusative prepositions (în, la, pe, din, cu)

Likes and dislikes (îmi place)

Possessive adjectives (meu, tău, său)

Third-person possessives (lui, ei, lor)

Possessive articles (al, a, ai, ale)

Formal politeness (dumneavoastră)

Demonstrative adjectives (acest, acel)

Numbers 1 to 10

The number two (doi, două)

Numbers 11 to 20

Counting by tens to 100

Quantifying large numbers (de)

The subjunctive (să)

Third-person subjunctive (să)

Direct object pronouns (îl, o, îi, le)

Personal direct objects (pe)

Days of the week

Telling time (e ora...)

Months of the Year (January to June)

Months of the Year (July to December)

The Four Seasons

Weather Conditions

Rooms in a House

Basic Body Parts: Upper Body

Basic Body Parts: Limbs

Everyday Clothing

Basic Foods: Groceries

Fruits and Vegetables

Around Town

Getting Around

Setting the Table

A Colorful World

Common Animals

In the Wild

Jobs and Careers

Everyday Tech

Describing people (tânăr, bătrân, înalt)

Asking when and why (când, de ce, care)

Hello and goodbye (bună ziua, la revedere)

Coming and going (intra, sta, trece)

Where is it? (sub, lângă, între)

Knowing and thinking (știu că, cred că)

Sorry, welcome, congratulations (îmi pare rău, la mulți ani)

Introducing yourself (mă numesc, sunt din România)

How much and how many (puțin, prea, doar)

Can and may (pot merge, pot să merg)

If and whether (dacă)

At school and university

Irregular verbs in the present (vrea, lua, da, bea, sta)

Free time and sport

How much is it? (cât costă, câți, câte)

Before and after (înainte, după, până)

At the doctor (mă doare)

Meals of the day (micul dejun, prânzul, cina)

At the restaurant

Ability and permission (a putea să)

Obligation and necessity (trebuie să)

Desires and intentions (a vrea să)

Impersonal statements (se)

Adverbs of frequency (adesea, uneori)

Conjunctions for reasons and links (pentru că, deci)

Stressed accusative pronouns (pe mine, pe tine)

Indefinite pronouns (cineva, ceva)

Negative pronouns and double negation (nimeni, nimic)

The past tense auxiliary (am, ai, a)

The past tense (am, ai, a)

Regular past participles (-at, -it)

Regular past participles (-ut, -s, -t)

Negative past tense (nu am)

Question	Answer
the lawn	gazonul
Do not throw trash on the lawn!	A nu se arunca gunoiul pe gazon!
We would want to sit on the lawn, but it is forbidden.	Am vrea să ne așezăm pe gazon, dar este interzis.
to shake	se agita
Shake well!	A se agita bine!
Do not shake the bottle!	A nu se agita sticla!
the use	utilizarea
To be shaken before use.	A se agita înainte de utilizare.
Its use would be forbidden because of the risk.	Utilizarea sa ar fi interzisă din cauza riscului.
to dilute	se dilua
To be diluted with cold water.	A se dilua cu apă rece.
The instruction says: do not dilute.	Instrucțiunea spune: a nu se dilua.
the moisture	umezeala
Protect from moisture.	A se proteja de umezeală.
The cardboard would be destroyed because of the moisture.	Cartonul ar fi distrus din cauza umezelii.
to keep away	se feri
Keep away from moisture and heat.	A se feri de umezeală și căldură.
Would he protect himself from the storm?	El s-ar feri de furtună?
the reach	îndemâna
Do not leave within the reach of children.	A nu se lăsa la îndemâna copiilor.
The cup is out of her reach.	Ceașca nu este la îndemâna ei.
unattended	nesupravegheat
Do not leave the luggage unattended.	A nu se lăsa bagajul nesupravegheat.
Except for Maria, no one left the child unattended.	Cu excepția Mariei, nimeni nu a lăsat copilul nesupravegheat.
to wait (vehicles, to be stationed)	staționa
No parking or waiting!	A nu se parca sau staționa!
We would wait here, but there is a sign.	Am staționa aici, dar este un indicator.
the interior	interiorul
No smoking inside the building.	A nu se fuma în interiorul clădirii.
I would want to visit the interior of the castle.	Aș vrea să vizitez interiorul castelului.