A1 Verb Conjugation 7 min read かんたん

Present Tense Regular - Conjugation 4

Master the '-esc' suffix to unlock the most common and practical Romanian verbs for daily communication.

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

The fourth conjugation covers verbs ending in -i or -î, which add specific suffixes like -esc or -ă depending on the stem.

  • Verbs ending in -i often add -esc in the singular: eu iubesc (I love).
  • Verbs ending in -î often keep the stem: eu cobor (I descend).
  • The plural forms for -esc verbs drop the -esc suffix: noi iubim (we love).
Stem + Suffix = Conjugated Verb (e.g., Iub + esc = Iubesc)

Overview

Welcome to the world of Romanian Conjugation 4! This group is a favorite among learners. Why?
Because it includes some of the most useful verbs you will ever need. If you want to speak, read, or decide anything in Romania, you need this rule. These verbs are easy to spot.
They all end in the letters -i or in their dictionary form. Think of verbs like a vorbi (to speak) or a citi (to read). They are the backbone of daily conversation.
Whether you are ordering a coffee or chatting with a new friend, these verbs do the heavy lifting. Don't worry about the two different endings yet. They behave very similarly.
Most of them follow a predictable pattern. It is like learning a dance step. Once you get the rhythm, you can do it with any song.
Yes, even native speakers get a bit lazy with these sometimes! But you are going to learn them perfectly. Let's dive into the mechanics of how these words change shape.

How This Grammar Works

Romanian verbs change their endings based on who is doing the action. This is called conjugation. For Conjugation 4, we have two main paths.
Most verbs like to be fancy and add a special suffix called -esc. This suffix makes the verb sound stronger and clearer. A smaller group of verbs prefers to stay simple and doesn't use that suffix.
Think of the -esc group as the popular kids in school. Most -i verbs you meet will want to join that club. When you see a verb ending in , like a hotărî (to decide), it uses a similar suffix: -ăsc.
The logic remains the same across both. You take the root of the word and glue on the correct ending. It is like building with Lego bricks.
You have the base, and you just swap the tops. If you forget the suffix, people might still understand you. However, you will sound a bit like a broken radio.
Let's make sure your signal is crystal clear!

Formation Pattern

1
To conjugate these verbs, follow these simple steps. We will use the fancy -esc group as our main example because it is the most common.
2
Start with the infinitive form, like a vorbi (to speak).
3
Remove the final -i to find the stem: vorb-.
4
Add the specific endings for each person.
5
Here is the pattern for verbs with the -esc suffix:
6
For Eu (I): Add -esc. Example: vorbesc.
7
For Tu (You): Add -ești. Example: vorbești.
8
For El/Ea (He/She): Add -ește. Example: vorbește.
9
For Noi (We): Add -im. Example: vorbim.
10
For Voi (You plural/formal): Add -iți. Example: vorbiți.
11
For Ei/Ele (They): Add -esc. Example: vorbesc.
12
Wait, did you notice something? The Eu and Ei/Ele forms are exactly the same! This is a great shortcut for your brain. For verbs ending in , the pattern is almost identical, but we use ă instead of e. For example, a hotărî becomes hotărăsc. It sounds a bit deeper in the throat, but the steps are the same. It is like a grammar traffic light; green means go with the suffix!

When To Use It

You will use this conjugation constantly in Romania. It is perfect for real-world scenarios. Use it when you are at a bookstore and want to say Eu citesc o carte (I am reading a book).
Use it when you meet someone and ask Vorbești engleză? (Do you speak English?). It is the go-to tense for habits and current actions. If you are in a job interview, you might say Eu hotărăsc repede (I decide quickly).
It shows confidence! You also use it for feelings and basic needs. Verbs like a dori (to wish/want) follow this pattern too.
When you are at a restaurant, you say Doresc o cafea (I wish for a coffee). It sounds much more polite than just pointing. This conjugation is your best friend for expressing who you are and what you do every day.
It makes you sound like a local who knows their way around the language.

When Not To Use It

Don't use these endings for every single verb you see. If a verb ends in -a (like a lucra), it belongs to a different family. Don't try to force an -esc onto it.
Also, avoid this pattern for the past or the future. This is strictly for the right now or general truths. Another trap is the simple group of -i verbs.
A few common verbs like a fugi (to run) or a veni (to come) don't like the -esc suffix. They have their own slightly different endings. If you say fugesc, people will smile because it sounds cute but wrong.
Think of it like wearing flip-flops to a wedding. It works, but it's not quite right. Stick to the -esc pattern for most verbs, but keep an eye out for those few rebels.
Also, don't use these endings if you are talking about someone else but forget to change the verb. In Romanian, the ending tells us who is talking. If you use the wrong one, you might accidentally say We speaks instead of I speak.

Common Mistakes

One of the biggest hurdles is the whispered i at the end of vorbești. You don't pronounce it like a loud ee. It is more like a soft puff of air. If you say it too loudly, you might sound like you are singing an opera. Another mistake is mixing up the Noi and Voi endings. Remember that Noi (we) always ends in -m, like
mmm, this food is good.
Voi (you all) ends in -ți, which sounds like a sharp ts. Many learners also forget to use the suffix for the Ei/Ele (they) form. They often use the El/Ea form by mistake. Remember, they and I are twins in this conjugation. They both love the -esc ending. Finally, don't forget that verbs change to in the middle of the word for Noi and Voi. So a hotărî becomes hotărâm. It looks weird, but it sounds natural once you practice it. Even native speakers mess this up in writing sometimes, so don't be too hard on yourself!

Contrast With Similar Patterns

How does this compare to Conjugation 1 (the -a verbs)? Well, Conjugation 1 often uses an -ez suffix, like lucrez. Conjugation 4 uses -esc.
They are like cousins. They look different, but they follow the same logic of adding a filler to make the word easier to conjugate. Compared to Conjugation 2 (ending in -ea) or Conjugation 3 (ending in -e), Conjugation 4 is much more regular.
Those other groups have a lot of irregular surprises. Conjugation 4 is like a reliable old car. It might have two different models (suffix vs.
no suffix), but it rarely breaks down once you know how to drive it. If you know Spanish or Italian, you might expect all -i verbs to behave the same. In Romanian, we just like to add that extra -esc flavor to make things interesting.
It gives the language its unique, rhythmic character.

Quick FAQ

Q

Do I always need to say Eu or Tu before the verb?

No! The verb ending already tells us who is speaking. You can just say Vorbesc.

Q

How do I know if a verb uses -esc or not?

Most do! If you are guessing, use -esc. You will be right 80% of the time.

Q

Is a veni in this group?

Yes, it ends in -i, but it is a bit of a rebel. It doesn't use -esc.

Q

What about verbs ending in ?

They are just like -i verbs but with a slightly different vowel sound. Treat them the same way!

Q

Why do Eu and Ei have the same ending?

It is just a lucky break for learners! One less form to memorize.

Q

Is this conjugation formal or informal?

It is both! The conjugation doesn't change, only the pronoun Tu vs Voi does.

Meanings

The fourth conjugation is one of the four main verb groups in Romanian, characterized by stems ending in -i or -î. It is essential for expressing actions in the present tense.

1

Inchoative verbs

Verbs that describe a process of becoming or a state, often using the -esc suffix.

“Eu citesc o carte.”

“Ea se gândește la vacanță.”

2

Non-inchoative verbs

Verbs that do not take the -esc suffix, often ending in -î.

“Eu cobor scările.”

“Noi venim acasă.”

Conjugation of 'a citi' (to read)

Person Singular Plural
1st eu citesc noi citim
2nd tu citești voi citiți
3rd el/ea citește ei/ele citesc

Reference Table

Reference table for Present Tense Regular - Conjugation 4
Pronoun a vorbi (to speak) a citi (to read) a hotărî (to decide)
Eu (I) vorbesc citesc hotărăsc
Tu (You) vorbești citești hotărăști
El/Ea (He/She) vorbește citește hotărăște
Noi (We) vorbim citim hotărâm
Voi (You plural) vorbiți citiți hotărâți
Ei/Ele (They) vorbesc citesc hotărăsc

フォーマル度スペクトル

フォーマル
Eu citesc.

Eu citesc. (Daily activity)

ニュートラル
Citesc.

Citesc. (Daily activity)

カジュアル
Citesc.

Citesc. (Daily activity)

スラング
Citesc.

Citesc. (Daily activity)

The World of -i Verbs

Conjugation 4

Communication

  • a vorbi to speak
  • a glumi to joke

Daily Actions

  • a citi to read
  • a găti to cook

Suffix vs No Suffix

The '-esc' Group (Most Verbs)
vorbesc I speak
citesc I read
The Simple Group (Few Verbs)
fug I run
vin I come

How to Conjugate Conjugation 4

1

Does the verb end in -i or -î?

YES ↓
NO
Stop! It's not Conjugation 4.
2

Is it a common 'simple' verb like 'a fugi'?

YES ↓
NO
Use the -esc / -ăsc suffix pattern.
3

Are you using Noi or Voi?

YES ↓
NO
Add -esc, -ești, -ește, or -esc.

Common -i Verbs by Usage

🏠

Home

  • a găti (cook)
  • a dormi (sleep)
🧠

Mind

  • a citi (read)
  • a dori (wish)

レベル別の例文

1

Eu citesc o carte.

I am reading a book.

2

Tu dormi mult.

You sleep a lot.

3

Ea iubește muzica.

She loves music.

4

Noi venim acasă.

We are coming home.

1

Ei vorbesc română.

They speak Romanian.

2

Eu cobor la stație.

I get off at the station.

3

Tu nu auzi muzica?

Don't you hear the music?

4

Ea se gândește la el.

She is thinking about him.

1

Ei reușesc să termine la timp.

They manage to finish on time.

2

Eu simt că plouă.

I feel that it is raining.

3

Tu privești pe fereastră.

You are looking out the window.

4

Noi definim succesul diferit.

We define success differently.

1

El stabilește regulile jocului.

He establishes the rules of the game.

2

Noi oferim soluții noi.

We offer new solutions.

3

Ea îndeplinește toate condițiile.

She fulfills all the conditions.

4

Ei se căsătoresc în mai.

They are getting married in May.

1

El mărturisește adevărul.

He confesses the truth.

2

Noi deslușim misterul.

We unravel the mystery.

3

Ea înflorește în acest mediu.

She flourishes in this environment.

4

Ei se împărtășesc din experiență.

They share from their experience.

1

El zămislește idei noi.

He conceives new ideas.

2

Noi tăinuim acest secret.

We keep this secret hidden.

3

Ea se potrivește perfect.

She fits in perfectly.

4

Ei se orânduiesc după reguli.

They organize themselves according to rules.

間違えやすい

Present Tense Regular - Conjugation 4 3rd vs 4th Conjugation

Both have -i endings in some forms.

Present Tense Regular - Conjugation 4 Inchoative vs Non-inchoative

Learners add -esc to everything.

Present Tense Regular - Conjugation 4 Singular vs Plural

Using -esc in plural.

よくある間違い

Noi iubiesc

Noi iubim

The -esc suffix is dropped in the plural.

Eu dormesc

Eu dorm

Not all 4th conjugation verbs take -esc.

Tu citi

Tu citești

Missing the correct person ending.

El venesc

El vine

Adding -esc to a non-inchoative verb.

Voi dormesc

Voi dormiți

Wrong plural ending.

Ei venesc

Ei vin

Incorrect stem usage.

Eu coboresc

Eu cobor

Overusing -esc.

Noi simțesc

Noi simțim

Infix error in plural.

Ei reușim

Ei reușesc

Wrong plural ending.

Tu simțiți

Tu simți

Wrong singular ending.

Ei zămislim

Ei zămislesc

Failure to use -esc in 3rd person plural.

El tăinuiește

El tăinuiește (correct, but check stem)

Stem vowel error.

Ei orânduim

Ei orânduiesc

Wrong plural ending.

文型パターン

Eu ___ o carte.

Noi ___ acasă.

Tu ___ la stație.

Ei ___ succesul.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Ce citești?

Travel very common

Cobor aici.

Social Media very common

Iubesc asta!

Work common

Reușim să terminăm.

Food Delivery occasional

Vin imediat.

Job Interview common

Îndeplinesc condițiile.

💡

The 80/20 Rule

If you meet a new verb ending in -i, guess that it uses the -esc suffix. You will be right almost every time!
⚠️

The Whispered 'i'

In 'vorbești', the final 'i' is barely audible. It's like a secret you're whispering to the person you're talking to.
🎯

Double check 'They'

Always remember that 'Eu' and 'Ei' are best friends in this group. They share the exact same verb form: 'vorbesc'.
💬

Polite Speaking

When asking if someone speaks English, use 'Vorbiți engleză?' to be polite to strangers or elders.

Smart Tips

Always note the infinitive ending.

citi a citi

Check if it's -esc.

dorm dorm (no -esc)

Use a table.

citesc, citim citesc, citești, citește, citim, citiți, citesc

Practice aloud.

citesc citesc (aloud)

発音

citesc [chi-tesk]

The -esc suffix

Pronounced as 'esk'.

Rising for questions

Citești? ↗

Indicates a question.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Remember: 'Esc' is like an 'esc-alator' going up in the singular, but it disappears when you reach the plural floor.

視覚的連想

Imagine a person reading (citesc) with an 'esc' suffix floating above their head like a crown, but the crown vanishes when a group of people enters the room.

Rhyme

In the singular, add the esc, in the plural, give it a rest.

Story

Ana loves to read (Ana iubește să citească). She reads every day (Ea citește). But when her friends come (ei vin), they stop reading (ei nu citesc) and start sleeping (ei dorm).

Word Web

citesciubescdormivenivorbesccoborsimți

チャレンジ

Write 5 sentences using 5 different 4th conjugation verbs in 5 minutes.

文化メモ

The fourth conjugation is very common in literature and daily speech.

Similar to standard Romanian, but some regional variations exist.

Often uses specific regional verbs in the fourth conjugation.

Derived from Latin -ire verbs.

会話のきっかけ

Ce citești?

Când dormi?

Vorbești română?

Ce simți acum?

日記のテーマ

Scrie despre ce citești.
Descrie cum dormi noaptea.
Ce iubești la România?
Cum reușești să fii fericit?

Test Yourself

Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'a citi' (to read).

Eu ___ ziarul în fiecare dimineață.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: citesc
For 'Eu' (I), we add the '-esc' suffix to the root 'cit-'.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'a vorbi' (to speak).

Voi ___ foarte bine limba română.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vorbiți
The 'Voi' form for -i verbs always ends in '-iți'.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'a hotărî' (to decide).

Noi ___ să plecăm acum.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: hotărâm
For 'Noi', verbs ending in -î change the ending to -âm.

Score: /3

練習問題

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ o carte.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: citesc
Correct conjugation for 'eu'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Noi iubiesc.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Noi iubim
Plural form drops -esc.
Choose the correct form. 選択問題

Tu ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dormi
Correct conjugation for 'tu'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

citesc / eu / carte / o

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu citesc o carte
Standard SVO order.
Translate to Romanian. 翻訳

They sleep.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ei dorm
Correct conjugation for 'ei'.
Conjugate 'a veni'. Conjugation Drill

Eu ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vin
Correct conjugation for 'eu'.
Match the verb to its form. Match Pairs

Eu citesc

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a citi
Infinitive form.
Choose the correct form. 選択問題

Ei ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: reușesc
Correct conjugation for 'ei'.

Score: /8

よくある質問 (8)

Verbs ending in -i or -î.

Check the dictionary or learn the common ones.

Only in 3rd person plural.

Yes, always check irregular verbs.

Different infinitive endings.

Yes, it is standard.

Not if you practice.

Historical evolution.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

-ir verbs

Romanian has the -esc infix.

French moderate

-ir verbs

Romanian -esc is more common.

German low

Weak verbs

German has no infix system.

Japanese low

Ichidan verbs

Japanese is agglutinative.

Arabic low

Form IV verbs

Arabic is non-concatenative.

Chinese none

None

Chinese uses particles.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

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