Legal Modality
In administrative language, este obligat să expresses a duty, urmează să presents something expected or scheduled, and poate can express authorization. Context establishes the actual requirement.
How It Works
Legal Romanian (limbaj juridic-administrativ) relies on precise deontic modality to define rights and duties.
1. The Present Indicative (Modern Standard)
According to Law 24/2000 on legislative drafting, the present indicative is the preferred method for expressing legal commands (e.g., Cererea se depune...). Article 38(2) says that verbs are generally written in the present, affirmative form in normative acts. This is a legislative-drafting convention; a tense alone does not establish a rule’s duration or applicability.
2. Este obligat să / Are obligația să (Strict Obligation)
These explicitly state an obligation. In este obligat să, the participle must agree in gender and number with the subject. Are obligația să is a nominal alternative. In a legal text these can state a duty; the expressions also occur outside legal language.
3. Urmează să (Procedural Necessity)
Often translated as 'is to' or 'shall', this presents an expected or scheduled next step. It does not by itself make the action legally mandatory. In administrative texts, it is frequently used in the impersonal 3rd person singular (urmează să se...). It bridges the gap between a future event and a legal requirement.
4. Poate / Este în drept să (Authorization & Rights)
In a legal context, poate denotes deontic possibility—meaning the subject has the legal power or discretion to act. A more precise alternative for specific legal entitlements is este în drept să (is entitled to).
5. The Deontic Future
While the future tense (e.g., va plăti) was traditionally used for commands, modern legal drafting discourages it. Article 38(2) favors the present affirmative as a drafting convention. The applicable legal provisions and context establish when a rule is in force; present tense alone does not do so.
Examples (5)
- Cererea se depune la registratura instituției în termen de 30 de zile.
The application is submitted to the institution's registry within 30 days.
Word by Word: Application-the self submits at registry-the institution-genitive in term of 30 of days.
Uses the present indicative with the passive se to express a direct legal command, following modern legislative standards.
- Debitorul este obligat să plătească suma datorată în termen de zece zile.
The debtor is obligated to pay the amount owed within ten days.
Word by Word: Debtor-the is obligated to pay-subjunctive sum-the owed in term of ten days.
Uses 'este obligat să' to show a strict contractual duty.
- Prezenta hotărâre urmează să fie publicată în Monitorul Oficial.
The present decision is to be published in the Official Gazette.
Word by Word: Present-the decision follows to be-subjunctive published in Monitor-the Official.
Urmează să presents publication as a forthcoming procedural step. Any legal obligation comes from the surrounding instrument, not from the phrase alone.
- Instanța poate dispune suspendarea executării silite.
The court may order a stay of enforcement.
Word by Word: Court-the can order-INF suspension-the enforcement-of forced.
Here, 'poate' signifies the legal authority or power granted to the court.
- Urmează să se stabilească normele de aplicare a legii.
The application norms of the law are to be established.
Word by Word: Follows to self establish-subjunctive norms-the of application of law-the.
An impersonal use of 'urmează să' combined with the passive se.
Common Mistakes
Failing to agree the participle 'obligat' with the subject.
Compania este obligat să răspundă.Compania este obligată să răspundă.Since 'compania' is feminine singular, the participle must be 'obligată'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Recognize the agreeing participle in este obligat să. Recognize necessity expressed with a să-clause before comparing formal obligations.
Related Patterns
- să + Present SubjunctiveThe Să Construction
Most legal modals require the subjunctive mood for the following verb.
Level 2 - Passive se
The primary tool for modern legal commands when used with the present indicative.
Level 3 - Passive With a fiThe Fi Passive
Legal texts frequently combine these modals with the passive voice (e.g., 'urmează să fie publicat').
Level 3 - Formal Nominal Style
These modal constructions are core components of the formal nominal style used in administration.
Level 6 - Future With voi
While historically used for commands, modern standards discourage this in favor of the present indicative.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice Legal Modality in Bubblegum
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