A2 · Elementary Chapter 29

Prepositional Phrases

4 Total Rules
24 examples
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of connecting ideas using Romanian prepositions to describe location, time, and relationships clearly.

  • Identify essential prepositional requirements
  • Use common prepositions in daily life
  • Apply correct case endings to nouns
Connect your world with precision.

What You'll Learn

Advanced prepositions and their case requirements. Linking complex noun phrases.

  • Prepositional Requirements
    Mastering Romanian prepositions means knowing whether to keep the noun simple or dress it up in a case.
  • Prepositions + Case
    Master Romanian prepositions by defaulting to Accusative, while using Genitive for location words and Dative for 'thanks to'.
  • Complex Prepositional Phrases
    Master complex prepositions by pairing them with the Genitive case to describe precise locations and abstract relationships.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: correctly pair prepositions with the appropriate noun case to describe precise movements and locations.

Key Examples (6)

1

Mergem la restaurant diseară.

We are going to the restaurant tonight.

Prepositional Requirements
2

Cafeaua este cu zahăr.

The coffee is with sugar.

Prepositional Requirements
3

Merg la bibliotecă în fiecare zi.

I go to the library every day.

Prepositions + Case
4

Pisica doarme deasupra dulapului.

The cat is sleeping on top of the closet.

Prepositions + Case
5

Mașina este în fața casei.

The car is in front of the house.

Complex Prepositional Phrases
6

Pisica doarme deasupra dulapului.

The cat sleeps on top of the wardrobe.

Complex Prepositional Phrases

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The 90% Rule

If you're panicked and can't remember the case, use the Accusative. It's the most common and you'll be right 9 times out of 10!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prepositional Requirements
💡

Context is King

Always think about whether you are moving towards a point or entering a space.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Common Prepositions
💡

The Default Rule

If you are in a rush and can't remember the case, use the Accusative. You'll be right 90% of the time!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prepositions + Case
💡

The 'Of' Shortcut

Whenever you'd say 'of' in English (in front of, in the middle of), Romanian usually uses the Genitive case. It's a great mental shortcut!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Complex Prepositional Phrases

Key Vocabulary (5)

fără without lângă next to spre towards datorită thanks to asupra upon/over

Real-World Preview

coffee

Meeting at the Cafe

Review Summary

  • Preposition + Noun(Case)
  • Preposition + Noun
  • Preposition + Genitive Noun
  • Prep + Noun + Prep + Noun

Common Mistakes

Ensure the noun is in the correct case required by the preposition.

Wrong: Merg spre casa (Nominative)
Correct: Merg spre casă (Accusative)

Datorită requires the Genitive case, changing -ul to -ului.

Wrong: Datorită prietenul
Correct: Datorită prietenului

Lângă takes the Accusative, not the Genitive.

Wrong: Lângă a parcului
Correct: Lângă parc

Next Steps

You are making incredible progress. Keep practicing these connections, and you'll speak naturally in no time!

Write a diary entry using 5 different prepositions.

Continue to: Reviewing the Basics

Quick Practice (10)

Which preposition expresses purpose or a recipient?

Acest cadou este ___ tine.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pentru
'Pentru' is the standard preposition for 'for' in Romanian.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prepositional Requirements

Fill in the blank.

___ (Despite) ploii, am ieșit.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: În ciuda
Correct preposition for contrast.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Common Prepositions

Fill in the blank.

Merg ___ cinema.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: la
Cinema is a point/destination.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Common Prepositions

Complete the sentence using the Genitive case.

Bicicleta este în fața ___ (the house).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: casei
'În fața' requires the Genitive case, so 'casa' becomes 'casei'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prepositions + Case

Choose the correct preposition and case form for the sentence.

Cartea este ___ (on) masă.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pe
'Pe' is the standard Accusative preposition for 'on' a surface.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prepositions + Case

Select the correct case.

În fața ___ (casa).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: casei
Genitive case required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Common Prepositions

Choose the correct preposition for a person as a direct object.

O caut ___ Maria de două ore.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: pe
When a specific person is the direct object, we use the preposition 'pe'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prepositional Requirements

Choose the correct form for 'against the rules'.

Este ___ regulamentului să fumezi aici.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: împotriva
'Împotriva' means 'against' and is used for rules and laws.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Complex Prepositional Phrases

Choose the correct Genitive form to complete the sentence.

Cățelul se ascunde în spatele ___. (copac)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: copacului
The phrase 'în spatele' requires the Genitive case. 'Copacului' is the masculine singular Genitive form.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Complex Prepositional Phrases

Select the preposition that indicates being inside a location.

Cheile sunt ___ buzunar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: în
'În' is used for being inside a container or a space like a pocket.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Prepositional Requirements

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

The most common is likely de, used for descriptions and origin. You'll also see la and în constantly for location.
No, prepositions themselves never change. Only the noun that follows them might change its ending depending on the case required.
It depends on the noun. 'La școală' means 'at school', 'la ora 5' means 'at 5 o'clock'.
No, 'în' implies being inside something. Using it for a point like 'school' sounds unnatural.
The Accusative is by far the most common. Most everyday words like la, în, and cu use it.
They are usually location-based or abstract, like împotriva (against) or deasupra (above). They also tend to be longer words.
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