Imperfect Endings

Level 2

The Romanian imperfect uses a single set of endings for all verbs, but the 'theme vowel' before the ending changes based on the verb group.

How It Works

To form the imperfect, you add specific endings to the verb stem. The endings depend on the infinitive group. A key rule is that the stress always falls on the ending, which prevents the stem from changing its vowels (diphthongization).

1. Group I (-a): Use endings -am, -ai, -a, -am, -ați, -au.
Example: a lucra → lucram.
Note: Verbs ending in -chea or -ghea (e.g., a veghea) use the Group II/III endings (vegheam).

2. Group II (-ea), Group III (-e), and Group IV (-i): Use endings -eam, -eai, -ea, -eam, -eați, -eau.
Example: a vedea → vedeam; a merge → mergeam; a citi → citeam.
Note: If the stem ends in -i (e.g., a scrie, a ști), the 'e' is dropped: scriam, știam.
Note: If the stem ends in -u (e.g., a locui), the 'e' becomes 'i': locuiam.

3. Group IV (-î): Use endings -am, -ai, -a, -am, -ați, -au.
Example: a coborî → coboram.

Common Irregular Stems:

  • a fi: uses stem er- (eram, erai...)
  • a da: uses stem dăd- (dădeam, dădeai...)
  • a sta: uses stem stăt- (stăteam, stăteai...)
  • a vrea: vream, vreai, vrea; the common alternative a voi has voiam, voiai, voia

Examples (6)

  1. Eu lucram în fiecare zi.

    I used to work every day.

    Word by Word: I was-working in every day.

    Shows a standard Group I (-a) verb using the -am ending.

  2. Noi mergeam la școală pe jos.

    We used to go to school on foot.

    Word by Word: We were-going to school on foot.

    Shows a Group III (-e) verb using the -eam ending.

  3. Ea scria o scrisoare când am sunat.

    She was writing a letter when I called.

    Word by Word: She was-writing a letter when (I) have called.

    For stems ending in -i (like 'a scrie'), the 'e' from the -ea- suffix is dropped, resulting in 'scria'.

  4. Voi locuiați în București?

    Were you (plural) living in Bucharest?

    Word by Word: You were-living in Bucharest?

    For verbs ending in -ui (like 'a locui'), the theme vowel becomes -ia- (locuiam, locuiați).

  5. Eram foarte fericit atunci.

    I was very happy then.

    Word by Word: (I) was very happy then.

    Demonstrates the irregular stem 'er-' for the verb 'a fi'.

  6. Ea veghea copilul în fiecare noapte.

    She was watching over the child every night.

    Word by Word: She was-watching-over child-the in every night.

    Verbs ending in -chea or -ghea (like 'a veghea') use the -eam/-ea endings instead of -am/-a.

Common Mistakes

  • Using present tense suffixes like -ez or -esc in the imperfect.

    Eu lucrezam ieri.
    Eu lucram ieri.

    The present-stem suffixes -ez and -esc are not carried into the imperfect. Use lucram, not lucrezam. These suffixes also occur in some subjunctive and imperative forms, so they are not limited to the indicative present.

  • Using the present stem 'sunt-' for the verb 'a fi'.

    Eu suntam acolo.
    Eu eram acolo.

    The verb 'a fi' uses a completely different stem (er-) in the imperfect.

How It Connects

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Imperfect EndingsLevel 2

Learn This First

To learn the imperfect endings, you first need to understand the general purpose of the imperfect tense. You also need a solid grasp of subject pronouns to identify which ending corresponds to which person, and familiarity with regular present tense verb stems (specifically -a verbs) as a basis for attaching these new endings.

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Patterns that build on this one.