What is a modal verb?

A modal verb expresses mood or intent, like 'can', 'must', or 'want'. In Romanian, the main one for this rule is `a putea` (can).

What does 'short infinitive' mean?

It is just the infinitive form of a verb without the `a` particle. For example, `a merge` becomes `merge`.

Can I use 'a vrea' with an infinitive?

Technically yes, but it sounds very poetic or old-fashioned. Usually, we say `vreau să` + subjunctive instead.

Why do I drop the 'a'?

It's just the rule of the language to keep things concise. `Pot a cânta` sounds redundant to a Romanian ear.

Is 'pot să' the same as 'pot' + infinitive?

Mostly, yes. `Pot merge` and `Pot să merg` mean the same thing, but the second one is more common in modern speech.

Does the infinitive change for 'he' or 'she'?

No, the infinitive is a 'frozen' form. You say `el poate cânta` and `ea poate cânta`.

How do I say 'I can't'?

Just add `nu` before the modal verb. For example, `Nu pot veni` (I cannot come).

Is this rule used in formal writing?

Yes, the modal + infinitive construction is very common in literature and formal documents.

Can I use two infinitives in a row?

No, that would be confusing. You generally have one modal and one main action verb in this pattern.

What about 'a trebui'?

In modern Romanian, `a trebui` almost always uses the `să` form. `Trebuie să plec` is the way to go.

1 Modal 'a putea' 2 Modal 'a trebui' 3 Modal 'a vrea' 4 Modal + Infinitive

Retour au chapitre

A2 Modal Verbs 6 min read Facile

Modal + Infinitive

Combine a conjugated modal with a short infinitive to express ability or possibility quickly and clearly without 'să'.

Marquer comme appris

Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Modal verbs express possibility, necessity, or ability and are always followed by the infinitive form of the main verb.

Conjugate the modal verb: 'Eu pot' (I can).
Add the main verb in the infinitive: 'citi' (to read).
Result: 'Eu pot citi' (I can read).

Subject + Modal (conjugated) + Verb (infinitive)

Overview

Ever felt like you need to express what you *can* do, what you *want* to do, or what you *must* do? In Romanian, we use modal verbs for this. These are the engines of your sentences.

They give context to your actions. This specific pattern pairs a modal verb with an infinitive. It sounds fancy, but it is actually quite simple.

It is like adding a spice to a dish. The main verb tells us the action. The modal verb tells us the attitude toward that action.

In English, we say I can swim. In Romanian, we do something very similar. We take the verb for can and add the verb for swim. No extra words are needed in between. It is a direct and powerful way to speak.

You will use this when ordering coffee, asking for help, or talking about your skills. Think of it as a shortcut to sounding more natural. Let’s dive into how you can master this pattern today.

How This Grammar Works

This grammar pattern works like a team of two. The first verb is the Modal Verb. This verb changes based on who is speaking.

It gets conjugated. The second verb is the Infinitive. This is the dictionary form of the verb.

However, there is a small catch. In Romanian, the full infinitive usually starts with a, like a merge (to go). When we use it with a modal, we drop that a.

We call this the short infinitive. It is like taking off your coat when you enter a house. The verb a putea (can) is the most common partner for this. You conjugate a putea, then just slap the second verb right after it.

No să, no a, no fuss. It is a clean, two-part structure. It works similarly to English I can go rather than

I can to go.

Formation Pattern

Building these sentences follows a simple three-step recipe.

Pick your modal verb. The most common one for this pattern is a putea (can/to be able to).

Conjugate that modal verb to match your subject (I, you, he, etc.). For example, eu pot (I can).

Take your main action verb. Find its infinitive form.

Remove the particle a from the front of that main verb.

Put them together: [Conjugated Modal] + [Short Infinitive].

Let’s look at a cânta (to sing).

I can: Eu pot

To sing: a cânta

Drop the a: cânta

Result: Pot cânta (I can sing).

It is like a grammar Lego set. You just click the two pieces together. If you want to say We can speak, you take noi putem and add vorbi. You get Putem vorbi. Easy, right?

When To Use It

Use this pattern when you want to be direct and efficient.

Ability: Use it to show what you are capable of doing. Pot înota (I can swim).
Possibility: Use it for things that might happen. Poate ploua (It can rain).
Permission: Use it when asking if something is okay. Pot intra? (Can I come in?).
Desire (Specific contexts): Sometimes used with a vrea (to want), though this is less common than the să form. Vreau mânca is very rare now, but you might see it in old books. Stick to a putea for now.

Imagine you are at a job interview. You want to list your skills.

I can use a computer.

In Romanian: Pot folosi un calculator. It sounds professional and clear. Or imagine you are lost.

Can you help me?

becomes Mă puteți ajuta?. It is a lifesaver in real-world scenarios.

When Not To Use It

Romanian loves the subjunctive mood. That is the one with the word să. Most of the time, Romanian speakers prefer să over the infinitive.

Don't use the infinitive with a trebui (must) in modern speech. Instead of Trebuie pleca, we say Trebuie să plec (I must leave).
Avoid using it with a vrea (to want) in daily conversation. Vreau să dorm (I want to sleep) is much more natural than Vreau dormi.
Never keep the a particle. Pot a merge is a big no-no. It sounds like you are reading a 17th-century poem.

Think of the infinitive after a modal as a specialized tool. It works perfectly with a putea. For almost everything else, the să pattern is your best friend.

Common Mistakes

Even people who have lived in Bucharest for years slip up here.

One big mistake is keeping the a. You might want to say Pot a citi because to read is a citi. Don't do it! Just say Pot citi. It’s faster anyway.

Another mistake is forgetting to conjugate the first verb. You cannot say Eu putea merge. You must change putea to pot. The first verb does all the hard work of changing. The second verb just sits there in its short infinitive form.

Lastly, don't mix the two patterns. Don't say Pot să cânta. It is either Pot cânta (Infinitive) or Pot să cânt (Subjunctive). Mixing them is like wearing one sneaker and one flip-flop. It just feels wrong.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

The biggest rival to this rule is the Modal + Subjunctive pattern.

Infinitive: Pot scrie (I can write). This is concise. It is very common with a putea.
Subjunctive: Pot să scriu (I can write). This is also correct! In fact, many Romanians use this more often.

The difference is often just style or regional preference. The infinitive version feels a bit more formal or traditional. The subjunctive version feels more active and modern.

Think of it like this: Pot scrie is a suit and tie. Pot să scriu is a nice pair of jeans and a blazer. Both are fine for a party, but one is a bit more relaxed.

Quick FAQ

Can I use this with any verb?

Mostly with a putea. Other modals prefer the să form.

Is it wrong to use să with a putea?

Not at all! Pot să merg is perfectly fine and very common.

Do I need to learn the short infinitive for every verb?

Good news! The short infinitive is just the dictionary form without the a. No new words to memorize.

Does the second verb ever change?

No. The second verb stays the same regardless of who is speaking. Eu pot cânta, Noi putem cânta. It's very stable!

Meanings

Modal verbs modify the meaning of a main verb by adding nuance like ability, obligation, or permission.

Ability

Expressing physical or mental capacity.

“Pot înota.”

“Ea poate vorbi româna.”

Desire/Will

Expressing what someone wants to do.

“Vreau să plec.”

“Ei vor să cumpere o mașină.”

Necessity

Expressing what must be done.

“Trebuie să învăț.”

“Trebuie să mergem acasă.”

Conjugation of 'A Putea' (To be able to)

Pronoun	Present	Negative
Eu	pot	nu pot
Tu	poți	nu poți
El/Ea	poate	nu poate
Noi	putem	nu putem
Voi	puteți	nu puteți
Ei/Ele	pot	nu pot

Reference Table

Reference table for Modal + Infinitive
Subject	Modal (a putea)	Short Infinitive	English Translation
Eu	pot	lucra	I can work
Tu	poți	veni	You can come
El/Ea	poate	ajuta	He/She can help
Noi	putem	pleca	We can leave
Voi	puteți	vedea	You (pl) can see
Ei/Ele	pot	crede	They can believe

Spectre de formalité

Formel

Doresc să servesc masa.

Doresc să servesc masa. (Ordering food)

Neutre

Vreau să mănânc.

Vreau să mănânc. (Ordering food)

Informel

Vreau să bag ceva la stomac.

Vreau să bag ceva la stomac. (Ordering food)

Argot

Îmi e foame rău.

Îmi e foame rău. (Ordering food)

The Power of 'A Putea'

a putea

Skills

înota to swim
scrie to write

Permissions

pleca to leave
întreba to ask

Infinitive vs. Subjunctive

Infinitive (Direct)

Pot veni I can come

Pot dormi I can sleep

Subjunctive (Modern)

Pot să vin I can come

Pot să dorm I can sleep

Building Your Sentence

Is the verb 'a putea'?

YES ↓

Use 'să' (Subjunctive) instead.

Did you conjugate it?

YES ↓

Conjugate it (e.g., pot, poți).

Is there an 'a' before the next verb?

YES ↓

Perfect! You're ready.

Remove the 'a'?

YES ↓

Remove it now!

Common Modal Pairs

✈️

Travel

• Pot călători
• Pot zbura

🏠

Daily Life

• Pot găti
• Pot munci

Examples by Level

Eu pot citi.

I can read.

Vreau să mănânc.

I want to eat.

Tu poți veni.

You can come.

Vrei să bei?

Do you want to drink?

Trebuie să plec.

I must leave.

Nu pot vorbi acum.

I cannot speak now.

Ei vor să învețe.

They want to learn.

Trebuie să plătim.

We must pay.

Aș putea să te ajut.

I could help you.

Nu a vrut să asculte.

He did not want to listen.

Ar fi trebuit să știi.

You should have known.

Putem să mergem împreună?

Can we go together?

Dacă aș putea, aș pleca.

If I could, I would leave.

Se poate întâmpla oricui.

It can happen to anyone.

Trebuia să fi fost acolo.

You should have been there.

Vom putea termina la timp.

We will be able to finish on time.

S-ar putea să plouă.

It might rain.

Nu s-a putut face nimic.

Nothing could be done.

Ar fi trebuit să fi terminat deja.

You should have already finished.

Oricât aș vrea, nu pot.

As much as I want to, I can't.

Ar fi fost de dorit să fi putut interveni.

It would have been desirable to have been able to intervene.

Nu se poate să nu fi știut.

It is impossible that you didn't know.

De-ai putea înțelege!

If only you could understand!

Să fi putut eu, aș fi făcut-o.

Had I been able to, I would have done it.

Easily Confused

Modal + Infinitive vs Vrea vs. Trebuie

Learners mix up desire and necessity.

Modal + Infinitive vs Pot vs. Știu

Both can mean 'can' in English.

Modal + Infinitive vs Să + Verb vs. Infinitive

When to use which.

Erreurs courantes

✗

Eu pot mănânc

✓

Eu pot mânca

Don't conjugate the second verb.

✗

Vreau mănânc

✓

Vreau să mănânc

Missing 'să'.

✗

Eu trebuesc să plec

✓

Eu trebuie să plec

Trebuie is invariable.

✗

Pot să citi

✓

Pot citi

Pot usually takes the direct infinitive.

✗

Ei vor citi

✓

Ei vor să citească

Vrea requires 'să'.

✗

Nu trebuie să mergi

✓

Nu e nevoie să mergi

Nu trebuie often means 'you must not'.

✗

Poți să vii?

✓

Poți veni?

Both are okay, but direct is cleaner.

✗

Aș putea să aș merge

✓

Aș putea merge

Double conditional.

✗

Trebuia să am făcut

✓

Trebuia să fi făcut

Wrong past tense.

✗

Vreau că merg

✓

Vreau să merg

Wrong conjunction.

✗

S-ar putea să ar ploua

✓

S-ar putea să plouă

Redundant conditional.

✗

Nu s-a putut să fac

✓

Nu s-a putut face

Passive voice error.

✗

Ar fi trebuit să fiu făcut

✓

Ar fi trebuit să fi făcut

Reflexive error.

✗

De-aș putea să știu

✓

De-aș putea ști

Direct infinitive preference.

Sentence Patterns

Eu ___ să ___.

Tu ___ să ___?

Nu ___ să ___.

Dacă aș ___, aș ___.

Real World Usage

Food Delivery App very common

Vreau să comand o pizza.

Texting a friend constant

Poți să vii?

Job Interview common

Pot să aduc valoare echipei.

Travel/Hotel common

Trebuie să fac check-in.

Social Media common

Vreau să împărtășesc asta.

Doctor's Office occasional

Trebuie să iau medicamente.

💡

The 'A' Rule

Think of the particle 'a' as a VIP pass that you leave at the door when you enter the 'Modal Verb Club'.

⚠️

The 'Trebuie' Trap

Don't use the infinitive with 'a trebui'. It sounds like a robot from an old movie. Use 'să' instead!

🎯

Pronunciation Secret

In the short infinitive, the accent usually stays where it was in the long infinitive. 'Cânta' sounds like 'CÂN-ta'.

💬

Politeness Matters

Using 'Puteți' (plural/formal you) with an infinitive is a very polite way to ask favors in shops or restaurants.

Smart Tips

Use 'Aș dori' instead of 'Vreau'.

Vreau o cafea. → Aș dori o cafea.

Use 'Trebuie' because it never changes.

Eu trebuesc să plec. → Eu trebuie să plec.

Use the direct infinitive after 'pot'.

Pot să fac asta. → Pot face asta.

Avoid slang like 'bag' for eating.

Vreau să bag ceva. → Aș dori să servesc masa.

Prononciation

tre-bu-ye

Trebuie

The 'e' at the end is soft.

po-ts

Poți

The 'ț' is a ts sound.

Question

Poți să vii? ↑

Rising intonation at the end.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Modal verbs are the 'Bridge Builders'—they connect you to the action.

Visual Association

Imagine a bridge where the first pillar is the modal verb and the second is the main verb. You cannot cross the river of communication without both.

Rhyme

Modal first, verb stays base, put them in the proper place.

Story

Ion wants to eat. He says 'Vreau să mănânc'. He can cook. He says 'Pot găti'. He must study. He says 'Trebuie să învăț'.

Word Web

potvreautrebuieștievreapoate

Défi

Write 3 sentences using 'pot', 'vreau', and 'trebuie' about your day.

Notes culturelles

People often drop the 'să' in very casual speech.

More formal and polite modal usage.

Uses 'a vrea' very frequently in daily requests.

Romanian modal verbs derive from Latin roots: 'potere' (pot), 'volere' (vrea), 'debere' (trebui).

Conversation Starters

“

Ce vrei să faci azi?

“

Poți să vorbești româna?

“

Ce trebuie să faci mâine?

“

Ai putea să trăiești fără internet?

Journal Prompts

Scrie despre ce vrei să faci în vacanță.

Ce trebuie să faci pentru a învăța româna?

Dacă ai putea schimba ceva, ce ai schimba?

Descrie o zi în care a trebuit să faci multe lucruri.

Test Yourself

Choose the correct form to say 'We can see the mountains.'

Noi ___ vedea munții.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: putem

We use the first person plural conjugation of 'a putea' to match 'Noi'.

Which of these is the correct way to say 'You (singular) can help'?

Tu ___ ajuta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: poți

We drop the 'a' particle and use the second person singular 'poți'.

Complete the sentence: 'They can sing well.'

Ei pot ___ bine.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: cânta

After 'pot', we use the short infinitive form 'cânta'.

Score: /3

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ să mănânc.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b

Vreau takes 'să'.

Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu pot mănânc.