Log inSign up

Noi cumpărăm patruzeci de scaune.

Noi cumpărăm patruzeci de scaune.
We are buying forty chairs.
From Lesson 36:Counting by tens to 100·Romanian

Questions & Answers about Noi cumpărăm patruzeci de scaune.

How is the number patruzeci (forty) formed?
It is made by combining patru (four) and zeci (tens). Most Romanian multiples of ten follow this pattern, like treizeci (thirty) or cincizeci (fifty).
Why is the word de used between patruzeci and scaune?
In Romanian, when you use a number of 20 or higher, you must place the linking word de between the number and the noun. You can think of it as saying 'forty of chairs'. For numbers 1 through 19, the de is not used.
Does cumpărăm mean 'we buy' or 'we are buying'?
It means both! Romanian does not have a separate continuous tense like English does. Depending on the situation, Noi cumpărăm can translate to 'We buy' as a general habit, or 'We are buying' right this moment.
Could we drop the word noi from this sentence?
Yes! Because the verb cumpărăm already has an ending that specifically means 'we', the pronoun noi is optional. You will very often hear just Cumpărăm patruzeci de scaune.

Learn Noi cumpărăm patruzeci de scaune and more in Romanian

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Romanian →