Talking About the Past in Romanian: A Key Step at B1 Level

Learning Romanian becomes significantly more engaging at the B1 level, especially when learners start connecting their real-life experiences to the language. One of the early goals in this intermediate phase is developing the ability to narrate actions, describe past situations, and recount personal memories. That’s why, in the first modules of our Romanian language B1 curriculum, we emphasize the use of the perfect compus—the primary past tense in conversational Romanian.

Romanian Past Tense: The Perfect Compus

The perfect compus tense in Romanian is functionally similar to the present perfect or simple past in English. It’s used in both written and spoken communication to refer to completed actions.

The structure consists of two parts:

• an auxiliary verb (conjugated form of a avea – “to have”)

• the past participle of the main verb

Conjugation Example with “a lucra” (to work):

• Eu am lucrat

• Tu ai lucrat

• El/Ea a lucrat

• Noi am lucrat

• Voi ați lucrat

• Ei/Ele au lucrat

Regular Past Participles:

• Verbs ending in -a, -ea, -e, -i/î form participles like: mâncat (eaten), învățat (learned), lucrat (worked)

Irregular Past Participles:

• văzut (seen), făcut (done), citit (read), cerut (requested)

The lesson also includes connectors like apoi, după, and după aceea, which are used to organize and sequence past events naturally in conversation.

Temporal Connectors and Narrative Flow

When practicing storytelling, learners are encouraged to use chronological markers:

• Mai devreme + verb in the past (e.g., Mai devreme am citit.)

• Mai târziu + verb in the present or future (e.g., Mai târziu citesc. or Mai târziu voi citi.)

This reinforces the ability to alternate between tenses while maintaining clarity and logical flow in their narratives.

Applied Grammar Practice

The unit combines grammar instruction with contextual exercises. Learners are invited to complete sentences using the correct verb forms and organize their own narratives based on a sequence of daily actions:

Mai devreme am făcut curățenie, apoi am gătit, după aceea am mâncat.

This structure provides a real-world framework that helps intermediate learners internalize verb forms while expanding their vocabulary.

Boosting Confidence in Conversation

By learning how to describe past activities, students enhance their fluency and start engaging more confidently in meaningful discussions. Whether recounting weekend plans, memorable travel experiences, or daily routines, mastering this tense is a crucial step in becoming an independent Romanian speaker.

Join Us and Start Mastering the Romanian Past Tense

If you’re ready to expand your skills and speak more fluently, now is the perfect time to take your next step. Our Romanian Lessons at the B1 level are built to help you express your thoughts clearly and confidently. Discover how easy and natural storytelling in Romanian can become with the right guidance and structured learning.

Visit our resource page for grammar guides, dictionaries, and pronunciation support.

Disclaimer: This article was developed with the support of AI tools, based on original ideas created by our team. The content was carefully reviewed, edited, and adapted by a human to ensure accuracy, clarity, and relevance for learners of Romanian.
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