B2 Verb Forms 6 min read Difficile

Subjunctive Usage Review

Use the să particle to express anything that is not a fact, like wishes, needs, or possibilities.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The subjunctive is Romanian's go-to for desires, obligations, and possibilities, almost always signaled by the tiny but mighty particle 'să'.

  • Always use the particle 'să' before the verb: 'să mănânc' (to eat).
  • Only the 3rd person (singular/plural) usually changes from the indicative: 'el cântă' vs 'el să cânte'.
  • Negative forms place 'nu' between 'să' and the verb: 'să nu uiți' (don't forget).
👤 + (ca) + să + (nu) + Verb (Subjunctive Form)

Overview

Welcome to the heart of Romanian conversation. If you want to express a wish, a doubt, or a command, you need the subjunctive. In Romanian, we call this the conjunctiv.
It is easily recognized by the tiny but mighty word să. Think of să as the glue of your sentences. It connects what you feel to what you want to happen.
Most languages use the infinitive for this. Romanian chooses the subjunctive instead. It makes the language sound rhythmic and expressive.
You will hear it in every cafe and office in Bucharest. Mastering it is your ticket to sounding like a local. It is not just a rule.
It is the way Romanians dream and plan. Let’s dive into this essential mood together.

How This Grammar Works

The subjunctive usually follows another verb. It acts like a bridge between two actions. For example, in
I want to eat,
the to eat part becomes să mănânc.
The first verb sets the mood. The second verb, in the subjunctive, carries the action. It is much more common than the infinitive in Romanian.
You will use it for intentions and possibilities. It is like a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener that the action hasn't happened yet.
It is still in your head or in your plans. Even native speakers sometimes hesitate with the endings. So, do not worry if you trip up at first.
It is a very flexible and forgiving mood once you get the basics.

Formation Pattern

1
Start with the magic particle să. This always stays the same.
2
For most persons (I, you, we, you all), use the present indicative form.
3
Look closely at the 3rd person (he/she/they). This is where the magic happens.
4
If the indicative ends in -ă, the subjunctive usually ends in -e. For example, el cântă becomes el să cânte.
5
If the indicative ends in -e, the subjunctive often ends in -ă. For example, ea vede becomes ea să vadă.
6
For the verb a fi (to be), the forms are unique: să fiu, să fii, să fie, să fim, să fiți, să fie.
7
Remember that the 3rd person singular and plural are always identical in the subjunctive. This is a huge relief for your memory!
8
Negative forms are easy. Just put nu between să and the verb, like să nu mergi.

When To Use It

Use it when you want something. Verbs like a vrea (to want) or a dori (to wish) always trigger it. Use it for necessity.
The phrase trebuie să (must/have to) is your best friend. It is perfect for emotions. If you are happy or sad about something, use să.
For example,
I am glad that you came
uses the subjunctive. Use it for purpose.
I study to learn
becomes învăț să învăț.
It is also vital for giving polite commands or suggestions. "Let's go" is simply să mergem. In a job interview, use it to show your goals.
I want to contribute to the team
sounds professional with să. It’s the mood of the unrealized. If it hasn't happened yet, să is likely there.

When Not To Use It

Do not use it for cold, hard facts. If something is definitely happening, use the indicative. For example,
I know that he is here
uses că, not să.
Avoid it after verbs of certainty like a ști (to know) or a vedea (to see) when stating a fact. Do not use it when the action is completed and certain. It is not for the past unless you use the specific past subjunctive.
Think of it this way: if there is no doubt or desire involved, stay away. If you say văd să pleacă, it sounds like you are trying to cast a spell. Stick to văd că pleacă for simple observation.
Facts are boring; they use the indicative. Dreams and orders are exciting; they use the subjunctive.

Common Mistakes

Many learners forget the vowel swap in the 3rd person. They say el vrea să cântă instead of să cânte. This is the most common toddler mistake in Romanian. Another slip-up is using că instead of să after vreau. Vreau că... is a classic error. Always pair vreau with să. Some people forget the double i in să fii. One i is for the subjunctive of a fi, the other is the ending. It looks weird, but it is correct! Also, watch out for the placement of pronouns. They go between să and the verb. Say să-l văd (to see him), not să văd îl. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired. Just keep the să close to the verb.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

The biggest rival is the Indicative. The Indicative is for reality: You are eating. The Subjunctive is for the potential:
I want you to eat.
In English, we often use the Infinitive (to eat). Romanian hates the infinitive like a cat hates a bath.
Where English says I can go, Romanian says pot să merg. Another contrast is with the Imperative. The Imperative is a sharp command: Du-te! (Go!).
The Subjunctive is a softer suggestion: Să te duci (You should go). It’s like the difference between a drill sergeant and a helpful friend. Choose your mood based on how much you want to annoy people.

Quick FAQ

Q

Can I ever drop the să?

Almost never. It is the backbone of the phrase.

Q

Is there a past tense?

Yes, să fi + past participle. It’s for regrets.

Q

Why is the 3rd person so weird?

It’s a historical quirk. Just remember the vowel flip.

Q

Does trebuie always need să?

Yes, if a verb follows it, să is mandatory.

Q

Is it used after if?

No, use the conditional or indicative for if clauses.

Q

Can I use it to start a sentence?

Yes! Să începem! means "Let's begin!"

Meanings

The subjunctive mood (conjunctivul) is used to express subjective attitudes such as desire, necessity, doubt, purpose, or hypothetical actions. Unlike English, which often uses the infinitive, Romanian almost always prefers the subjunctive in these contexts.

1

Volition and Desire

Expressing what someone wants, hopes, or intends to happen.

“Doresc să plecăm mai devreme.”

“Sper să reușești la examen.”

2

Obligation and Necessity

Used after impersonal expressions like 'it is necessary' or 'it is good'.

“Trebuie să mergem la magazin.”

“E bine să știi adevărul.”

3

Purpose and Intention

Explaining why an action is performed, often using 'ca să'.

“Învăț ca să iau o notă mare.”

“Am venit aici să te văd.”

4

Uncertainty and Doubt

Expressing actions that are not certain or are being questioned.

“Nu cred să vină la timp.”

“Mă îndoiesc să fi înțeles totul.”

Subjunctive Present: The Vowel Flip (3rd Person)

Person 1st (-a) 'a cânta' 2nd (-ea) 'a vedea' 3rd (-e) 'a merge' 4th (-i) 'a dormi'
eu să cânt să văd să merg să dorm
tu să cânți să vezi să mergi să dormi
el/ea să cânte (ă -> e) să vadă (e -> ă) să meargă (e -> ă) să doarmă (i -> ă)
noi să cântăm să vedem să mergem să dormim
voi să cântați să vedeți să mergeți să dormiți
ei/ele să cânte (ă -> e) să vadă (e -> ă) să meargă (e -> ă) să doarmă (i -> ă)

Pronoun Contractions with 'Să'

Full Form Contracted Form Example
să îl să-l Vreau să-l văd.
să o s-o Vreau s-o ajut.
să îi să-i Trebuie să-i spun.
să le să-le (rarely contracted) Vreau să le dau.
să îmi să-mi Poți să-mi dai asta?

Reference Table

Reference table for Subjunctive Usage Review
Verb (Infinitive) Indicative (3rd Pers.) Subjunctive (3rd Pers.) English Translation
a lucra lucrează să lucreze to work
a vedea vede să vadă to see
a merge merge să meargă to go
a veni vine să vină to come
a mânca mănâncă să mănânce to eat
a fi este să fie to be

Spectre de formalité

Formel
Doresc ca dumneavoastră să fiți precaut.

Doresc ca dumneavoastră să fiți precaut. (Giving advice/warning)

Neutre
Vreau să fii atent.

Vreau să fii atent. (Giving advice/warning)

Informel
Vezi să fii atent.

Vezi să fii atent. (Giving advice/warning)

Argot
Ai grijă să nu o sfeclești.

Ai grijă să nu o sfeclești. (Giving advice/warning)

Triggers for the Subjunctive

Conjunctivul

Desire

  • a vrea to want
  • a dori to wish

Obligation

  • trebuie must
  • e necesar it is necessary

Emotion

  • mă bucur I am glad
  • îmi pare rău I am sorry

Indicative vs. Subjunctive

Indicative (Facts)
Știu că vine. I know he is coming.
Ea mănâncă. She is eating.
Subjunctive (Wishes/Needs)
Vreau să vină. I want him to come.
Trebuie să mănânce. She must eat.

Choosing the Right Mood

1

Is the action a definite fact?

YES ↓
NO
Use Subjunctive (să)
2

Are you using 'a ști' or 'a vedea'?

YES ↓
NO
Use Indicative (că)

Common Subjunctive Phrases

☕

Daily Life

  • • Vreau să comand
  • • Pot să plătesc?
💡

Giving Advice

  • • Ar fi bine să...
  • • Să nu uiți să...
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Examples by Level

1

Vreau să mănânc.

I want to eat.

2

Trebuie să plec.

I have to leave.

3

Poți să mă ajuți?

Can you help me?

4

Vreau să beau apă.

I want to drink water.

1

Ea vrea să învețe româna.

She wants to learn Romanian.

2

Să nu uiți cheile!

Don't forget the keys!

3

Îmi place să citesc.

I like to read.

4

Vrem să mergem la munte.

We want to go to the mountains.

1

Am venit ca să te văd.

I came in order to see you.

2

E posibil să fi uitat.

It's possible that I/he/she forgot.

3

Mă bucur să te cunosc.

I am glad to meet you.

4

Îți cer să fii atent.

I am asking you to be attentive.

1

Caut un coleg care să vorbească engleza.

I am looking for a colleague who speaks English.

2

Înainte să pleci, închide geamul.

Before you leave, close the window.

3

Mă tem să nu fi făcut o greșeală.

I'm afraid I might have made a mistake.

4

Vreau ca el să îmi spună adevărul.

I want him to tell me the truth.

1

Să fi știut eu asta, nu mai veneam.

Had I known that, I wouldn't have come anymore.

2

Nu e chip să-l convingi.

There's no way to convince him.

3

Să tot stai la soare și să nu faci nimic!

To just keep staying in the sun and doing nothing!

4

Oricât de mult să încerce, tot nu reușește.

No matter how much he tries, he still doesn't succeed.

1

Să-mi fie cu iertare, dar greșiți.

May I be forgiven, but you are wrong.

2

Părea să fi fost o neînțelegere la mijloc.

There seemed to have been a misunderstanding involved.

3

Să fi fost oare doar un vis?

Could it have been just a dream?

4

Fie ce-o fi, eu tot mă duc.

Be what it may, I'm still going.

Easily Confused

Subjunctive Usage Review vs Subjunctive vs. Infinitive

Learners often use the infinitive 'a' because it's the dictionary form.

Subjunctive Usage Review vs Subjunctive vs. Future

Both can refer to future actions.

Subjunctive Usage Review vs Să vs. Ca să

Learners use them interchangeably.

Erreurs courantes

✗

Vreau a merge.

✓

Vreau să merg.

Learners often use the infinitive 'a' instead of the subjunctive 'să' because of English 'to'.
✗

Eu să mănâncă.

✓

Eu să mănânc.

Using the 3rd person indicative form for the 1st person subjunctive.
✗

Nu să pleci.

✓

Să nu pleci.

The negative 'nu' must come after the particle 'să'.
✗

Vreau să mănânc pizza.

✓

Vreau să mănânc pizza.

Correct, but learners often forget the 'să' entirely.
✗

El vrea să cântă.

✓

El vrea să cânte.

Forgetting the vowel flip (ă -> e) in the 3rd person singular.
✗

Ea poate să merge.

✓

Ea poate să meargă.

Forgetting the vowel flip (e -> ă) in the 3rd person singular.
✗

Trebuie să mergi tu.

✓

Trebuie să mergi.

Overusing subject pronouns; 'tu' is usually implied by the verb ending.
✗

Am venit să te văd ca.

✓

Am venit ca să te văd.

Misplacing 'ca' in the purpose construction.
✗

Sper că el să vină.

✓

Sper să vină / Sper că va veni.

Mixing 'că' (indicative) with 'să' (subjunctive).
✗

E posibil să a mers.

✓

E posibil să fi mers.

Using the indicative past instead of the past subjunctive.
✗

Vreau ca să vii.

✓

Vreau să vii.

Using 'ca să' (purpose) when only 'să' (object clause) is needed. 'Ca să' is redundant here.
✗

Mă tem să vină.

✓

Mă tem să nu vină.

Missing the 'expletive negative' which actually means 'I'm afraid he WILL come'.
✗

Să fi știut, veneam.

✓

Să fi știut, aș fi venit.

Mixing mood registers in conditional sentences.

Sentence Patterns

Vreau să ___.

Trebuie ca el să ___.

Am venit aici ca să ___.

Mă tem să nu ___.

Real World Usage

Texting a friend constant

Să-mi zici când pleci.

Job Interview very common

Aș vrea să aflu mai multe despre echipă.

Ordering Food very common

Vreau să comand o ciorbă.

Doctor's Appointment common

Trebuie să luați aceste pastile.

Social Media Caption occasional

Să fie vară mereu!

Travel/Directions common

Puteți să-mi spuneți unde e gara?

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💡

The 3rd Person Secret

If you are stuck, remember that the 3rd person singular and plural are always the same in the subjunctive. It saves half the work!
⚠️

The 'Că' vs 'Să' Trap

Never say 'Vreau că'. It's the linguistic equivalent of wearing socks with sandals. Always use 'Vreau să'.
🎯

Polite Commands

Use the subjunctive to sound less bossy. 'Să închizi ușa, te rog' is much nicer than 'Închide ușa!'
💬

The 'Să fie' Philosophy

Romanians often say 'Să fie!' as a toast or a way to say 'Let it be'. It reflects a hopeful, accepting mindset.

Smart Tips

Automatically reach for 'să' for the second verb.

Vreau a merge. → Vreau să merg.

Check if the verb ends in -a; if so, change the final 'ă' to 'e'.

El vrea să cântă. → El vrea să cânte.

Use 'ca să' to clearly mark 'in order to'.

Merg la piață să iau mere. → Merg la piață ca să iau mere.

Add 'nu' before the verb to sound more idiomatic, even if you don't mean 'not'.

Mă tem să pierd trenul. → Mă tem să nu pierd trenul.

Prononciation

/sə/

The 'să' particle

The 'ă' in 'să' is a mid-central vowel. It should be short and unstressed.

să + îl = /səl/

Liaison with pronouns

When 'să' is followed by a pronoun starting with a vowel, they often merge.

Polite Request

Să-mi dai sarea? ↗

Rising intonation at the end makes it a question/request.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember the 'Să-Switch': If the indicative ends in 'ă', the subjunctive ends in 'e'. If the indicative ends in 'e', the subjunctive ends in 'ă'.

Visual Association

Imagine a seesaw. On one side is the 'ă' and on the other is the 'e'. When you move from a fact (Indicative) to a wish (Subjunctive), the seesaw flips the vowels for the 3rd person.

Rhyme

Când dorința vrei să-ți spui, / 'Să' în față tu să-l pui!

Story

A king named 'Să' rules the land of Wishes. Every time he wants something to happen, he stands before his knights (verbs) and waves his wand. The knights in the 3rd row (3rd person) have to flip their helmets (vowels) to show they are now in the world of dreams.

Word Web

săca săfără sătrebuievreapoatesă fi

Défi

Try to write 5 sentences starting with 'Vreau să...' about your plans for tomorrow. Make sure at least two of them use 'el' or 'ea' as the subject!

Notes culturelles

The subjunctive is used for many common greetings and well-wishes, reflecting a culture that values social harmony and expressed goodwill.

Many traditional blessings and curses use the subjunctive mood.

In some regions, the 'să' might be shortened or the vowel flip might follow local phonetic rules, but the structure remains the same.

The Romanian subjunctive particle 'să' derives from the Latin 'si' (if), which shifted its function over time to mark the subjunctive mood.

Conversation Starters

“

Ce vrei să faci în weekend?

“

Ce trebuie să facă un turist în orașul tău?

“

Dacă ai avea un milion de euro, ce ai vrea să cumperi mai întâi?

“

Ce calități ar trebui să aibă un prieten adevărat?

Journal Prompts

Write about your dream job. What do you want to do every day?
Describe a project you are working on and what needs to happen for it to be successful.
Write a letter to your younger self. What advice would you give?
Argue for or against a specific social change. What would you want the government to do?
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Test Yourself

Choose the correct subjunctive form for the 3rd person.

Ea vrea ca el ___ (a veni) la petrecere.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: să vină
The 3rd person of 'a veni' changes from 'vine' (indicative) to 'să vină' (subjunctive).
Select the correct negative subjunctive form.

Te rog ___ (a nu uita) cheile.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: să nu uiți
In negative subjunctive, 'nu' is placed between the particle 'să' and the verb.
Identify the correct form of the verb 'to be'.

Este important ___ (a fi) punctuali.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: să fim
For 'we' (noi), the subjunctive form of 'a fi' is 'să fim'.

Score: /3

Exercices pratiques

8 exercises
Choose the correct subjunctive form for the 3rd person singular. Choix multiple

Ea vrea să ___ (a cânta) la pian.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: cânte
For -a verbs, the 3rd person subjunctive ends in -e.
Fill in the missing particle.

Trebuie ___ mergem la școală.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: să
The subjunctive mood is always preceded by the particle 'să'.
Find the error in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Vreau nu să plec încă.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nu să
The negative 'nu' must come after 'să': 'să nu plec'.
Change the indicative to subjunctive: 'El merge' -> 'Vreau ca el...' Sentence Transformation

Vreau ca el să ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: meargă
The 3rd person singular of 'a merge' changes from 'merge' to 'meargă'.
Select the past subjunctive form. Choix multiple

Se poate să ___ (a uita) parola.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: să fi uitat
The past subjunctive is formed with 'să fi' + participle.
Which of these triggers the subjunctive? Grammar Sorting

Identify the subjunctive trigger:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vreau să...
Verbs of desire like 'a vrea' trigger the subjunctive.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

— Mergem la film? — Da, ___ mergem!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: hai să
'Hai să' is the standard way to say 'Let's' in Romanian.
Is this rule true or false? True False Rule

The 1st person singular subjunctive is always different from the indicative.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
In most verbs, the 1st person singular is identical in both moods (e.g., eu cânt / eu să cânt).

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

Use `ca să` when you want to emphasize the purpose or 'in order to'. In simple object clauses like 'I want to eat', just use `să`.

Usually no. `Cred că` takes the indicative because it expresses a belief in a fact. However, `Nu cred să` (I don't believe that) often takes the subjunctive to show doubt.

It's a historical feature of Romanian to distinguish the subjunctive from the indicative. It's the only person that consistently has a different ending.

In modern spoken Romanian, the infinitive is very rare after verbs like 'want' or 'must'. Stick to the subjunctive to sound natural.

It's `să fi` + the past participle. It's used for doubt about the past: `Să fi plecat deja?` (Could he have left already?).

Use `hai să` + the 1st person plural subjunctive: `Hai să mergem!` (Let's go!).

When followed by the subjunctive, `trebuie` is usually impersonal and stays the same: `Eu trebuie să merg`, `Ei trebuie să meargă`.

After verbs of fear, we add a `nu` that doesn't mean 'no'. `Mă tem să nu cad` means 'I'm afraid I might fall'.

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Subjuntivo (que + verb)

Romanian uses subjunctive where Spanish uses infinitive for same-subject desires.

French moderate

Subjonctif

Romanian subjunctive is much more frequent in daily speech than the French subjonctif.

German low

Konjunktiv I / II

German relies on infinitive constructions where Romanian uses 'să'.

Japanese none

Conditional (~ba, ~tara) or ~youni

Japanese uses sentence-ending particles or conditionals instead of a verb mood.

Arabic partial

Al-Mudaari' al-Mansub

Arabic subjunctive is marked by vowel changes at the end of the verb, similar to Romanian's 3rd person flip.

Chinese none

Contextual markers (希望, 要)

Chinese is analytic and lacks the morphological complexity of the Romanian mood system.

Previous
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