Regular Past Participles
In the previous lesson, you learned that the past tense (perfect compus) requires two parts: an auxiliary verb (like am, ai, a) and a past participle. For regular verbs, forming this past participle follows a predictable pattern based on the verb's infinitive ending.
The Two Main Patterns: -at and -it
In Romanian, the ending of a verb's infinitive tells you how to form its past participle:
- Verbs ending in -a: Replace the final -a with -at. For example, a lucra (to work) becomes lucrat.
- Verbs ending in -i: Replace the final -i with -it. For example, a dormi (to sleep) becomes dormit.
Let's look at a sentence that contrasts both patterns:
| I have worked a lot today, and he has slept. | Eu am lucrat mult astăzi, iar el a dormit. |
Practicing -at Verbs
Many common verbs used in professional or academic settings end in -a. Watch how verbs like a completa (to fill out), a prezenta (to present), and a salva (to save) transform into their -at forms.
| We filled out the form for the exam. | Noi am completat formularul pentru examen. |
| The professor presented the report yesterday morning. | Profesorul a prezentat raportul ieri dimineața. |
| Did you save the file on the computer? | Ai salvat fișierul pe calculator? |
Practicing -it Verbs
Similarly, regular verbs ending in -i reliably take the -it ending. For instance, a greși (to make a mistake) becomes greșit.
| Why did the student make a mistake on the test? | De ce a greșit studentul la test? |
Bringing It Together
As you build more complex sentences, you will naturally mix these verb types. Notice how the auxiliary verb shifts depending on who is doing the action, but the past participle itself remains fixed in its -at or -it form.
| I corrected the document because he made a mistake. | Am corectat documentul pentru că el a greșit. |
| The boss read the file and corrected the report. | Șeful a citit fișierul și a corectat raportul. |
