Learn Romanian: Nu pot dormi.

Nu pot dormi.

I can't sleep.

Breakdown of Nu pot dormi.

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Questions & Answers about Nu pot dormi.

Why isn't there a word for "I" in this sentence?

In Romanian, the verb itself tells you who is doing the action. Pot specifically means "I can" (from the verb a putea), so you don't need to add the pronoun eu (I) unless you want to emphasize it.

Why is the word "nu" placed before the verb?

To make a sentence negative in Romanian, you simply put nu directly in front of the main verb. So "I can" is pot, and "I cannot" is nu pot.

I learned that linking two verbs usually requires "să". Why is it "dormi" instead of "să dorm"?

The verb a putea (can / to be able to) is special. You can follow it directly with the short dictionary form of the second verb (the infinitive without a), which is dormi here. However, you can also say Nu pot să dorm and it means exactly the same thing!

If I want to say "You can't sleep", does the word dormi change?

No, dormi stays exactly the same! When you use this short dictionary form after the verb a putea (can), only the "can" part changes to match the person. "You can't sleep" would be Nu poți dormi.