The Adverbial "și"
You already know și as the standard conjunction for "and". However, when placed immediately before a verb, it transforms into an emphatic adverb meaning "already", "actually", or "even".
| already / actually (emphatic adverb) | și |
Surprising Speed or Actions
Use this adverbial și to emphasize that an action happened remarkably quickly, or that something surprising actually took place.
In compound tenses like the perfect compus (compound past), și sits directly between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.
| It is a surprising coincidence that the secretary actually approved the funding. | Este o coincidență surprinzătoare că secretara a și aprobat finanțarea. |
| It is a miracle that the mechanic has already finished the repair. | Este o minune că mecanicul a și terminat reparația. |
| I have the impression that this coincidence actually saved the project. | Am impresia că această coincidență a și salvat proiectul. |
Inevitable Outcomes
This structure is especially common in cause-and-effect sentences. It highlights that a result was immediate or inevitable given the circumstances.
| Since they received the funding, they have already started the repair. | Din moment ce au primit finanțarea, au și început reparația. |
| It was inevitable; the army was more and more tired, so they actually surrendered. | A fost inevitabil; armata era din ce în ce mai obosită, așa că a și capitulat. |
Questions and Exclamations
You will frequently hear adverbial și in questions or exclamations to express disbelief or to confirm something that happened faster than expected.
Notice how it slots into reflexive verbs, appearing right after the combined pronoun and auxiliary (like s-a):
| Isn't it a miracle that it actually collapsed instantly? Oh yes, it is! | Nu este o minune că s-a și prăbușit instantaneu? Ba da, este! |
| Hasn't the enemy already surrendered to our army? Oh yes, they have! | Nu a și capitulat dușmanul în fața armatei noastre? Ba da, a capitulat! |
