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### Connecting Verbs with "să"

In English, when we use two verbs together to express an intention or desire, we usually put the second verb in the infinitive: "I want *to leave*".

Romanian does things differently. Instead of the infinitive, it connects verbs using the short word **să**, followed by a conjugated verb. This is known as the subjunctive mood.

For the first and second person (I, you, we, you all), forming this is incredibly simple. The second verb looks exactly like its normal present tense form.

**Structure:** [Main Verb] + **să** + [Present Tense Verb]

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### Expressing Obligation with "trebuie"

The verb **trebuie** means "must" or "to have to". Unlike most other verbs, **trebuie** never changes its form to match the speaker. Instead, you always use **trebuie**, followed by **să**, and then you change the *second* verb to match the person who actually has to do the action.

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### Desires and Abilities

You will use this exact same **să** structure across the board to express what you want to do, what you can do, or what you intend to do, whether you are speaking informally or formally.

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The subjunctive (să)

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)

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)

Past tense with reflexive verbs (m-am, s-a)

Question	Answer
to (subjunctive marker)	să
to leave	pleca
today	astăzi
I want to leave today.	Vreau să plec astăzi.
to have to / to be needed (with a dative: to need)	trebui
tomorrow	mâine
We have to leave tomorrow.	Trebuie să plecăm mâine.
to try	încerca
to learn / to study (attend school)	învăța
Are you trying to learn Romanian?	Încerci să înveți româna?
to stay	rămâne
Do you wish to stay here today?	Dumneavoastră doriți să rămâneți aici astăzi?
to say / to recite	spune
the truth	adevărul
I have to tell the truth.	Trebuie să spun adevărul.
Do you want to tell the truth?	Vrei să spui adevărul?
Can you stay tomorrow?	Puteți să rămâneți mâine?
I am trying to read the book.	Încerc să citesc cartea.
We are learning to speak Romanian.	Învățăm să vorbim româna.
I want to drink the coffee.	Vreau să beau cafeaua.
today	azi
Today I am leaving.	Azi plec.
What are you doing today?	Ce faci azi?
Today I have to study.	Azi trebuie să învăț.

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