Romanian Lessons A2: Mastering the Romanian Imperative
As language learners advance in their Romanian lessons, they encounter more expressive and practical structures—like the imperative mood. The imperative is essential for daily communication: giving advice, issuing instructions, or encouraging action. In Romanian, this grammatical form is dynamic and vital for fluency. Through targeted lessons at the A2 level, learners build confidence in using imperative verbs correctly and naturally in both formal and informal contexts.
What is the Romanian Imperative?
The imperative mood is used to express commands, requests, or suggestions. In Romanian, this is formed differently for second person singular (tu) and second person plural (voi). Here are a few examples of how verbs transform in the imperative:
asculta → Ascultă! (listen!) / Ascultați! (you all listen!)
mânca → Mănâncă! / Mâncați!
vorbi → Vorbește! / Vorbiți!
învăța → Învață! / Învățați!
fi (to be) is irregular: Fii! / Fiți!
Learners also practice applying these forms in real-life instructions, such as health advice (Mâncați mai sănătos!), encouragements (Învață mai mult!), or social reminders (Fiți mai toleranți!).
Forming the Romanian Imperative: A Practical Approach
Unlike English, where the base form of the verb is often used directly for commands, Romanian requires careful attention to verb endings. Here’s a breakdown:
Second-person singular (tu): often ends in -ă, -ește, or -e
Second-person plural (voi): ends in -ați, -eți, -iți
For example:
Ajută! (help!) / Ajutați!
Explică! (explain!) / Explicați!
Fă curat! (clean up!) / Faceți curat!
In class, learners are invited to write and share advice using these verbs, reinforcing their understanding through repetition and context-based practice.
Expanding the Range: Imperative with More Verbs
The second lesson builds on this by introducing new verbs in imperative form—especially those less intuitive. This includes actions like:
a citi → Citește! / Citiți!
a urca → Urcă! / Urcați!
a răspunde → Răspunde! / Răspundeți!
a consola → Consolează! / Consoleați!
a deschide → Deschide! / Deschideți!
Through structured drills, students create their own examples using these verbs, developing both spontaneity and grammatical accuracy.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
A frequent mistake among learners is confusing the infinitive with the imperative, especially with irregular verbs. Another is overusing the singular form in formal contexts. Teachers emphasize when and how to use voi instead of tu, especially in polite conversation or when addressing groups.
Additionally, learners practice commands in negative form using the subjunctive, such as:
Nu vorbi! (don’t speak!)
Nu mânca ciocolată! (don’t eat chocolate!)
Practice Makes Perfect: Classroom Applications
These lessons are interactive by nature. Students are encouraged to:
Write lists of personal advice (e.g., Învață româna în fiecare zi!),
Role-play scenarios at school, work, or with friends,
Use flashcards with verbs and pair them with correct imperative forms.
Activities such as giving health tips, suggesting daily routines, or expressing polite instructions make grammar functional and fun.
Join Our Romanian Classes and Speak with Confidence!
When you’re ready to take your Romanian to the next level, especially at A2, mastering the imperative is a powerful tool for communication. Our Romanian lessons go beyond memorization—they integrate grammar into real conversations, empowering you to speak clearly, confidently, and correctly. If you’re excited to learn Romanian and want to speak with purpose and precision, our structured yet lively classes are just what you need.
For additional grammar explanations, check out our recommended grammar resources.
How this was written: We sometimes use AI tools to help organize and expand on our teaching ideas — but every article is reviewed, edited, and polished by a human.
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