When making a request, stating "I want" directly can sometimes sound a bit abrupt or demanding. Just like in English, Romanian softens requests by shifting the verb "to want" (a vrea) into the past tense. Saying "I wanted to..." sounds much more polite, hesitant, and approachable.
The Imperfect of "a vrea"
To create this softening effect, we use the imperfect tense of a vrea. The imperfect tense typically describes ongoing or continuous actions in the past (like "was wanting").
Here are the forms of a vrea in the imperfect:
| Pronoun | Verb |
|---|
| Eu | voiam |
| Tu | voiai |
| El / Ea | voia |
| Noi | voiam |
| Voi | voiați |
| Ei / Ele | voiau |
Note: The form for *eu (I) and noi (we) is exactly the same: voiam.*
Softening Your Requests
To make a polite request, simply start with the imperfect of a vrea and follow it with the subjunctive action you wish to perform (să + verb).
Because voiam also means "we wanted", it works perfectly for polite requests made on behalf of a group.
Talking About Others' Requests
You can also use this structure to gently introduce what someone else wanted to ask or do.
Being Considerate
This phrasing is especially useful when checking that you are not being a bother (a incomoda), asking for a moment of someone's time (un răgaz), or being discreet.
