Table of Contents
For an order/instruction or invitation.
Ask a Romanian to explain the Imperative without laughing about how you suddenly use the third person for the second person.
Subjunctive
This isn't the subjunctive (Implies imperative, for all but second person). But there are similarities.
Sa mergemWe go
Trebuie sa mergem!We must go!
Imperative Forms
There are 4 forms for the second person (you), there is no easy rule for which form to use for which verbs. You just have to know/guess.
Form 1
Use the second person, with an exclamation mark.
e.g. with a mânca (to eat)
mânănca.He eats.
mânănci.you eat.
mânănca!(you) eat! (imperative)
a vorbi (to speak)
Vorbește mai tare!(you) Speak louder!
Vorbește în româna!(you) Speak in romanian!
Form 2
Just use the second person, with an exclamation mark.
e.g. a tăcea (to be quiet)
taci(you) are quiet
taci!(you) be quiet!
taci din gură!(you) be quiet your mouth! (shut up)
Form 3
These are just irregular.
- (to be) a fi → fii!
- (to do) a face → fă!
- (to go/take) a duce → da!
- (to say) a zice → zi!
- (to come) a veni → vino!
(Tu) faci ceva.(You) do something.
Fă ceva!Do something!
Second Person Plural
Always takes the form of second person (single).
e.g.
Fiți atenți!(you, plural) pay attention!
Fiți draguță!(you, plural) be (so) kind!
Negative
Singular
Nu + infinitive + …
Nu fi… prost!(you, single) Don't be… stupid!
Nu fuma!(you, single) Don't smoke!
Nu bea!(you, single) Don't drink!
Nu dormi!(you, single) Don't sleep!
Plural
Same as normal (+ imperative) plural, but negate… + nu
Veniți!(you, plural) come!
Nu veniți!(you, plural) Don't come!
Nu spune ceva!(you, plural) Don't say anything!
Just remember that a fi (to be) is different in plural.
Fiți!(you, plural) are!
Nu fiți!(you, plural) aren't!
Dative in the Imperative
- Reference: The Dative
Quick recap on dative
| Romanian | English |
|---|---|
| dai | you give |
| îi dai | you give him |
| îi dai mai mult timp | you give him more time |
| dă-i mai mult timp | he gives him more time |
Forming The Imperative
For the imperative, third person becomes second person.
Example: a da (to give)
Working with a da (to give).
Singular Dative:
îi dai mai mult timp.you give hime more time.
Singular Imperative Dative:
dă-i mai mult timp!(you) Give hime more time!
Plural Dative:
Îi-dați mai mult timp.You (plural/polite) give him more time.
Plural Imperative Dative:
Dați-i mai mult timp!You (plural/polite) give him more time!
Example: a spune (to say)
Working with:
- Verb: a spune (to say/tell)
- adevăr (truth)… adevărul (the truth)
This won't make sense in all cases, but shows all possible forms. Using You tell in the imperative (which is the same as he tells in the indicative):
| Person | You tell - To who | English |
|---|---|---|
| Eu | spune-mi | Tell me |
| Tu | spune-ți | Tell yourself |
| El/Ea | spune-i | Tell him/her |
| Noi | spune-ne | Tell us |
| Voi/Dvs | spune-vă | Tell yourself (plural) - Logical fallacy |
| Ei/Ele | spune-le | Tell them |
Spuneți adevărul.You (plural/polite) are telling the truth.
îi Spuneți adevărul.You (plural/polite) tell him the truth.
Spuneți-i adevărul!You (plural/polite) tell him the truth! (imperative)
Imperative Dative in Negative
Nu mi dă!Don't give me!
Nu-i dă!Don't give him!
Nu ne dă!Don't give us!
Nu vă dă!Don't give yourself (plural)!