B2 Word Formation 5 min read صعب

Verb-to-Noun Conversion

Convert Romanian verbs to nouns using the -re suffix to express abstract actions and formal concepts effectively.
وضع علامة كمكتسب
تدرّب عليها

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Transform verbs into nouns using suffixes like '-re' or the supine form to describe abstract concepts or specific results.

  • Add '-re' to the verb root for abstract actions: 'a pleca' (to leave) becomes 'plecare' (departure).
  • Use the supine (de + participle) for activities: 'de citit' (reading/to be read).
  • Suffixes like '-tură' or '-eală' create concrete results or states: 'a picta' (to paint) becomes 'pictură' (painting).
Verb Root + -re/-tură/-eală ➔ Noun 📦

نظرة عامة

Ever felt like your sentences are too action-heavy? Sometimes you need to turn a verb into a noun. This is called nominalization.
In Romanian, we mostly use the long infinitive. It is a simple but powerful trick. It turns an action into a thing.
It makes your Romanian sound more sophisticated. You will see this everywhere in news and books. It is like putting a suit on a verb.
It makes it look professional and noun-like. You already know many of these words. Think of mâncare or parcare.
These started as verbs. Now they are fully functional nouns. This guide will show you how to do it yourself.

كيف تعمل هذه القاعدة

Romanian is a very clever language. It takes the base form of the verb. Then it adds a specific suffix to make it a noun.
This new noun behaves like any other noun. It has a gender. In this case, it is always feminine.
It can have articles. It can even be plural. Think of the verb as the raw material.
The -re suffix is the factory process. Once it goes through the factory, it is a noun. It no longer describes what someone is doing.
It describes the concept of the action itself. It is the difference between to sing and the singing. One is an act.
The other is a concept or a result.

نمط التكوين

1
Creating these nouns is actually quite logical. You follow the conjugation groups.
2
For Group 1 verbs ending in -a, replace -a with -are.
3
Example: a cânta (to sing) becomes cântare (singing/song).
4
For Group 2 verbs ending in -ea, replace -ea with -ere.
5
Example: a tăcea (to be silent) becomes tăcere (silence).
6
For Group 3 verbs ending in -e, replace -e with -ere.
7
Example: a scrie (to write) becomes scriere (writing).
8
For Group 4 verbs ending in -i or -î, replace the ending with -ire or -îre.
9
Example: a veni (to come) becomes venire (coming/arrival).
10
Example: a hotărî (to decide) becomes hotărâre (decision).
11
Remember, these nouns are always feminine. You will usually use them with the definite article -a. So plecare becomes plecarea. It is like adding a name tag to the word.

متى نستخدمها

You should use these nouns in formal writing. They are perfect for academic essays. You will also see them in legal documents.
They are great for titles of books or articles. Imagine you are at an airport. You look at the big screen.
You see Plecare (Departure) and Sosire (Arrival). These are just verbs turned into nouns. Use them when you want to talk about a process.
The dezvoltare (development) of the city is fast.
This sounds better than using a long verb phrase. They are also useful in job interviews. You can talk about your organizare (organizing skills).
It sounds more professional than just saying you like to organize. Think of it as the business casual of Romanian grammar.

متى لا نستخدمها

Don't use the -re form if a common noun already exists. Romanian is rich with synonyms. For example, a vorbi becomes vorbire.
But usually, we just say vorbă or discurs. If you use the -re form too much, you sound like a robot. Or a very boring lawyer.
Avoid it in casual conversation with friends. If you are ordering food, don't ask about the mâncare. Just ask what is good to eat.
Also, be careful with the supine. Sometimes the supine is more natural. We say mașină de spălat, not mașină de spălare.
Think of it like a grammar traffic light. If there is a shorter noun, the light is red for the -re form.

الأخطاء الشائعة

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes. The biggest mistake is the gender. These nouns are always feminine. Never say un scriere. It must be o scriere. Another mistake is forgetting the article. In English, we say Reading is fun. In Romanian, we say Citirea este distractivă. You need that -a at the end. Don't confuse the long infinitive with the past participle. Scrisul and scrierea are different. Scrisul is the physical act or handwriting. Scrierea is the process or the work. It is a subtle difference. Like the difference between a photo and a painting. One is more literal, the other more abstract.

مقارنة مع أنماط مشابهة

You might get confused with the Supine. The Supine uses de plus the past participle. For example, de citit.
We use the Supine for the purpose of an object. The long infinitive (-re) is for the action as a concept. Cartea este pentru citire (The book is for the act of reading).
Am multe de citit (I have many things to read). See the difference? One is the category, the other is the task.
There is also the short infinitive. That is just the verb without a. Like mersul.
Mersul pe jos este sănătos. This is very common for physical activities. The -re form is more for abstract processes.

أسئلة شائعة

Q

Are all -re words nouns?

Most of them are! They are the long infinitive form.

Q

Can I make a plural?

Yes! Cântare becomes cântări.

Q

Is it formal?

Yes, it usually sounds more formal than the verb.

Q

Do I always need the article?

Usually, yes, when it is the subject of the sentence.

Q

Can I use it for any verb?

Almost every verb can become a noun this way. Some just sound a bit weird in daily life.

Common Suffixes for Verb-to-Noun Conversion

Suffix Function Verb Example Noun Result English Translation
-re
Abstract Action
a pleca
plecare
departure
-tură
Concrete Result
a picta
pictură
painting
-eală
State/Feeling
a ameți
amețeală
dizziness
-mânt
Solemn/Abstract
a jura
jurământ
oath
-at/-ut
Supine (Activity)
a citi
de citit
reading/to read
-it
Past Participle Noun
a găsi
găsitul
the finding
-et
Sound/Action
a răpăi
răpăit
patter (of rain)

Meanings

The morphological process of creating nouns from verbal roots to express the action itself, the result of the action, or the state resulting from the action.

1

Abstract Action (Long Infinitive)

Using the suffix '-re' to name the action in a general, abstract sense, often used in formal or academic contexts.

“Cântarea imnului a durat cinci minute.”

“Programarea necesită multă concentrare.”

2

Concrete Result

Using suffixes like '-tură' to describe the physical or tangible outcome of an action.

“Această pictură este celebră.”

“Am o tăietură la deget.”

3

Activity/Purpose (Supine)

Using the 'de' + past participle construction to denote an ongoing activity or a purpose.

“Am mult de lucru astăzi.”

“Mașina de spălat s-a stricat.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Verb-to-Noun Conversion
Verb (Infinitive) Noun (Long Infinitive) English Translation Usage Context
a pleca
plecare
departure
Travel/Airports
a sosi
sosire
arrival
Travel/Timetables
a vinde
vânzare
sale/selling
Business/Retail
a scrie
scriere
writing/script
Literature/Formal
a aproba
aprobare
approval
Official/Legal
a mânca
mâncare
food/eating
Daily Life
a hotărî
hotărâre
decision
Legal/Formal

طيف الرسمية

رسمي
Plecarea din incintă este interzisă.

Plecarea din incintă este interzisă. (Leaving a place)

محايد
Plecarea de la birou a fost târzie.

Plecarea de la birou a fost târzie. (Leaving a place)

غير رسمي
E timpul de plecat.

E timpul de plecat. (Leaving a place)

عامية
Hai cu valea!

Hai cu valea! (Leaving a place)

The Power of -re

Verb-to-Noun

Processes

  • Dezvoltare Development
  • Cercetare Research

Official Events

  • Plecare Departure
  • Aprobare Approval

Long Infinitive vs. Supine

Long Infinitive (-re)
Citirea The act of reading
Vânzarea The sale process
Supine (de + Participle)
De citit Something to read
De vânzare For sale (status)

How to Nominate a Verb

1

Is the verb ending in -a, -ea, -e, or -i?

YES ↓
NO
Check if it's an irregular verb.
2

Remove 'a' and add -re. Is it a general concept?

YES ↓
NO
Use it without article or with 'o'.
3

Add the feminine article -a.

YES ↓
NO
Example: Plecarea

Common Nouns by Conjugation

📝

Group 1 (-are)

  • • Lucrare
  • • Cântare
⚖️

Group 2/3 (-ere)

  • • Tăcere
  • • Scriere
🚀

Group 4 (-ire)

  • • Simțire
  • • Venire

أمثلة حسب المستوى

1

Unde este intrarea?

Where is the entrance?

2

Îmi place această mâncare.

I like this food.

3

Plecare la ora nouă.

Departure at nine o'clock.

4

Am o întrebare.

I have a question.

1

Am mult de lucru.

I have a lot of work (to do).

2

E timpul de plecat.

It's time to leave.

3

Cumpăr o mașină de spălat.

I am buying a washing machine.

4

Ascultarea este importantă.

Listening is important.

1

Pictura aceasta este foarte frumoasă.

This painting is very beautiful.

2

Am o tăietură mică la deget.

I have a small cut on my finger.

3

Plictiseala este mare aici.

The boredom is great here.

4

Vânzarea a fost un succes.

The sale was a success.

1

Dezvoltarea durabilă este esențială.

Sustainable development is essential.

2

Implementarea noilor reguli va dura.

The implementation of the new rules will take time.

3

Scriitura autorului este unică.

The author's writing style is unique.

4

Avem multe probleme de rezolvat.

We have many problems to solve.

1

Așezământul cultural a fost renovat.

The cultural establishment was renovated.

2

Ea a făcut un legământ de tăcere.

She made a vow of silence.

3

Simt o oarecare amețeală.

I feel a certain dizziness.

4

Hotărârea instanței este definitivă.

The court's decision is final.

1

O arătare ciudată a apărut în noapte.

A strange apparition appeared in the night.

2

Cântarea lor răsuna în toată valea.

Their chanting/singing echoed throughout the valley.

3

Suntem în plină restructurare a sistemului.

We are in the middle of a system restructuring.

4

Epuizarea resurselor este iminentă.

The depletion of resources is imminent.

سهل الخلط

Verb-to-Noun Conversion مقابل Infinitive vs. Nominalized Noun

Learners try to use 'a citi' (to read) as a noun like in English 'Reading is fun'.

Verb-to-Noun Conversion مقابل Supine vs. Past Participle

They look identical (e.g., 'scris').

Verb-to-Noun Conversion مقابل -re vs. -tură

Both can come from the same verb.

أخطاء شائعة

✗

Eu place mănâncă.

✓

Îmi place mâncarea.

Using the verb form instead of the noun.
✗

Unde este intra?

✓

Unde este intrarea?

Using the verb root instead of the nominalized form.
✗

Vreau un plecare.

✓

Vreau o plecare.

Incorrect gender; -re nouns are feminine.
✗

Mâncare este bun.

✓

Mâncarea este bună.

Forgetting the definite article and gender agreement.
✗

Am terminat citi.

✓

Am terminat de citit.

Missing the 'de' for the supine form.
✗

Mașină spălat.

✓

Mașină de spălat.

The supine requires the preposition 'de' to function as an adjective/noun.
✗

Este timp pentru plecare.

✓

Este timpul de plecat.

Using the formal noun where the supine is more natural.
✗

Scrierea lui e urâtă.

✓

Scriitura lui e urâtă.

Using the abstract action (-re) instead of the result/style (-tură).
✗

Simt o plictisire.

✓

Simt o plictiseală.

Using the wrong suffix for a state of being.
✗

Hotărârea de judecător.

✓

Hotărârea judecătorului.

Misusing the nominalized form in genitive constructions.

أنماط الجُمل

___ (Noun in -re) a fost foarte ___ (Adjective).

Am mult ___ (Supine) astăzi.

___ (Noun) este rezultatul ___ (Noun in -re).

Nu suport ___ (Noun in -eală) aceasta.

Real World Usage

Job Interview very common

Dezvoltarea abilităților mele a fost constantă.

Texting a friend constant

Am de învățat, nu pot ieși.

Cooking common

Timpul de coacere este de 30 de minute.

Art Gallery occasional

Această pictură este din secolul XIX.

Doctor's Office common

Simt o amețeală de dimineață.

Legal Documents very common

Hotărârea va fi comunicată prin poștă.

💡

The Gender Secret

Every single noun formed with -re is feminine. This makes your life easy! Just use 'o' or '-a' and move on.
⚠️

Don't Overdo It

Using too many -re nouns makes you sound like a legal contract. If you're talking to a friend, stick to normal verbs.
🎯

The 'Meal' Exception

While 'mâncare' means food, it's so common that it lost its formal vibe. It's one of the few you can use anywhere.
💬

Airport Lingo

In Romanian airports, you won't see 'Departures'. You'll see 'Plecări' (the plural of plecare). It's the standard way to label things.

Smart Tips

Replace 'because I arrived late' with 'due to my late arrival'.

Pentru că am sosit târziu... → Din cauza sosirii mele târzii...

Look for the verb root to understand the meaning immediately.

I don't know what 'tăietură' means. → It comes from 'a tăia' (to cut), so it must be 'a cut'!

If you can put 'the act of' before it, use -re. If you can put 'for' or 'to be' before it, use the supine.

Timp de citire. → Timp de citit.

Try the -eală suffix for feelings like boredom, dizziness, or tiredness.

Sunt plictisit. → M-a cuprins plictiseala.

النطق

ple-CA-re

Stress on -re

In nouns ending in -re, the stress usually falls on the syllable before the suffix.

plic-ti-SEA-lă

The 'ă' in -eală

The 'ă' is a mid-central vowel, similar to the 'a' in 'about'.

Declarative Nominalization

Plecarea este mâine. ↘

A simple statement of fact.

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

RE-member that RE is for the RE-al action name.

ربط بصري

Imagine a factory. The 'Verb' is the machine working (a lucra). The 'Noun' is the box coming out of the factory labeled 'Lucrare'.

Rhyme

Când acțiunea vrei s-o numești, Un -re la urmă să potrivești.

Story

A chef is 'a găti' (cooking). He creates 'mâncare' (food). If he makes a mistake, he feels 'amețeală' (dizziness) from the heat. He writes his 'scriitură' (recipe) in a book 'de citit' (to be read).

Word Web

plecaremâncarelucrarecitirescriiturăplictisealăhotărâre

تحدٍّ

Look around your room. Find 5 objects and try to think of the verb they come from (e.g., 'scaun' doesn't work, but 'pictură' does!).

ملاحظات ثقافية

Romanian speakers often prefer nominalization in formal writing to sound 'intelectual' (intellectual). It's a sign of education.

In some regions, the supine is used even more frequently than in standard Romanian for everyday tasks.

The suffix -re is the backbone of Romanian bureaucracy. Every official document is a 'cerere' (request), 'hotărâre' (decision), or 'notificare' (notification).

Romanian nominalization in -re stems directly from the Latin long infinitive (e.g., 'cantare'). While other Romance languages shortened the infinitive, Romanian kept the long form as a noun.

بدايات محادثة

“

Ce părere ai despre dezvoltarea tehnologiei?

“

Ai mult de lucru săptămâna aceasta?

“

Care este pictura ta preferată?

“

Ai simțit vreodată o plictiseală extremă la școală?

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Descrie o plecare importantă din viața ta.
Scrie despre planurile tale de weekend folosind supinul.
Argumentează pro sau contra implementării inteligenței artificiale în educație.
Descrie un obiect de artă folosind sufixul -tură.

أخطاء شائعة

Incorrect

صحيح

Incorrect

صحيح

Incorrect

صحيح

Incorrect

صحيح

Test Yourself

Convert the verb 'a sosi' into a noun to complete the sentence.

___ trenului a fost întârziată cu zece minute.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sosirea
We use the long infinitive 'sosire' with the feminine definite article '-a' for the arrival of a transport.
Choose the correct feminine noun form for 'a vinde'.

Magazinul are o ___ de haine noi săptămâna aceasta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vânzare
Since the sentence uses 'o' (indefinite article), we need the base noun 'vânzare'.
Select the correct noun for 'a gândi' in a formal context.

Această problemă necesită o ___ profundă.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gândire
'Gând' is 'a thought', but 'gândire' is 'thinking' as a process or mindset.

Score: /3

تمارين تطبيقية

8 exercises
Transform the verb in brackets into a noun ending in -re.

___ (a pleca) trenului a fost amânată.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Plecarea
We need the articulated feminine noun 'Plecarea' as it is the subject.
Choose the correct supine form. اختيار متعدد

Am o carte foarte interesantă ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de citit
The supine 'de citit' indicates the purpose/activity associated with the book.
Correct the error in the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Pictarea aceasta este celebră.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Pictura
For a physical work of art, we use -tură, not -re.
Match the verb to its nominalized state noun. Match Pairs

a ameți, a plictisi, a obosi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: amețeală, plictiseală, oboseală
The suffix -eală is used for states of being.
Build a sentence using 'implementare'. Sentence Building

proiectului / a durat / Implementarea / luni / trei

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Implementarea proiectului a durat trei luni.
Standard SVO order with the nominalized subject.
Sort these into 'Process' (-re) and 'Result' (-tură). Grammar Sorting

scriere, scriitură, tăiere, tăietură

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Process: scriere, tăiere; Result: scriitură, tăietură
-re is the act, -tură is the result.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Ce faci diseară? B: Nu pot ieși, am mult ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de învățat
The supine is used for ongoing tasks in informal speech.
Is the following statement true? True False Rule

Nouns ending in -re are always masculine.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
They are almost always feminine.

Score: /8

الأسئلة الشائعة (8)

Generally, no. While 'A greși e omenește' (To err is human) exists, in 99% of cases, you must use the nominalized form like `greșeala` or `greșirea`.

`Scriere` is the act of writing (the process), while `scriitură` is the style of writing or the physical handwriting.

Yes, verbal nouns ending in -re are feminine (e.g., `o plecare`, `două plecări`).

Use the supine (`de citit`) for tasks, functions, or when the action is ongoing. Use the noun (`citirea`) for abstract concepts or formal titles.

It is a noun derived from the verb `a mânca`. It means 'food' or 'the act of eating'.

Most -re nouns change to -ri in the plural (e.g., `hotărâre` -> `hotărâri`).

Yes! Adding `ne-` creates the opposite: `pricepere` (skill) -> `nepricepere` (clumsiness/lack of skill).

`Cititul` is the past participle used as a masculine noun. it is often used for hobbies or general habits, whereas `citirea` is more formal.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Infinitive (el cantar) or -ción (la canción)

Romanian has a dedicated morphological form (-re) that is distinct from the active verb.

French moderate

-ment (le changement) or -tion

Romanian -re is more productive and regular than French -ment.

German high

Substantiviertes Verb (Das Lesen)

Romanian nouns change gender (feminine) and add articles at the end.

Japanese low

koto (こと) or no (の)

Romanian nominalization is morphological, Japanese is syntactic.

Arabic partial

Masdar (مصدر)

Arabic uses root patterns; Romanian uses suffixation.

Chinese none

No change (contextual)

Romanian is highly inflectional; Chinese is isolating.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Nominalization Techniques
Next
Concise Expression

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