Question 1

Why do we need the word "al" here? Can't we just say "un laptop lui"?

Accepted Answer

In Romanian, when the owned noun is indefinite (like un laptop, meaning "a laptop"), you must use a linking article before the possessive word. You can't just put them side-by-side. Think of al lui as meaning "of his". If the noun were definite (laptopul - the laptop), you wouldn't need al and could just say laptopul lui.

Question 2

How do I know whether to use "al", "a", "ai", or "ale" in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The linking article has to match the gender and number of the object being owned (the laptop), not the owner! The word laptop is a neuter noun. In the singular, neuter nouns behave like masculine nouns. Since it is singular and acts masculine, we use al.

Question 3

What does "lui" mean, and does it change if the laptop belongs to a female student?

Accepted Answer

Lui means "his". If the laptop belonged to a female student (studenta), we would use ei ("hers"). The phrase would then become un laptop al ei (a laptop of hers).

Question 4

Why does "Studentul" end in "-ul"?

Accepted Answer

In Romanian, the word for "the" is attached directly to the end of the noun. Student means "student", and adding the suffix -ul makes it Studentul ("the student").

Studentul are un laptop al lui.

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