Long-Infinitive Nouns
Romanian action nouns such as plecare and citire name actions, processes, or results. They appear in everyday and formal language.
How It Works
Action nouns in -re
Words such as plecare, citire, and vedere are historically related to the long infinitive. In ordinary modern syntax these are feminine nouns. Long verbal infinitives also survive in marked old or formulaic uses; do not use them as the ordinary verb after vreau.
Forms
Compare a pleca → plecare, a vedea → vedere, a cere → cerere, a citi → citire, and a coborî → coborâre. The connection is productive, but the actual word and its meaning should be checked rather than mechanically appending letters.
Nominal syntax
These nouns take articles, adjectives, and case forms: plecarea, plecări, plecării. An object-like dependent can be expressed with a genitive (citirea cărții) or, in appropriate indefinite constructions, with a preposition (citire de poezie); it is not an ordinary bare accusative object.
Meaning and register
Many occur in everyday language, as in plecare or confirmare, as well as formal prose. Their contrast with supine-derived nouns such as cititul depends on the word and context, not a universal completed-action versus ongoing-habit distinction.
Examples (4)
- Plecarea trenului a fost amânată.
The departure of the train was delayed.
Word by Word: Departure-the train-of-the has been delayed.
Here, 'plecarea' is the long-infinitive noun derived from 'a pleca' (to leave).
- Rezolvarea acestei probleme este dificilă.
The solving of this problem is difficult.
Word by Word: Solving-the this-of problem is difficult.
'Rezolvarea' (from 'a rezolva') acts as the subject of the sentence.
- Am primit o confirmare prin e-mail.
I received a confirmation by email.
Word by Word: I-have received a confirmation through email.
'Confirmare' is the indefinite form of the long infinitive from 'a confirma'.
- Procesul de recrutare a început ieri.
The recruitment process started yesterday.
Word by Word: Process-the of recruitment has started yesterday.
'Recrutare' is used here as an abstract noun modifying 'procesul'.
Common Mistakes
Using the long infinitive as a verb after a modal.
Vreau plecare acum.Vreau să plec acum.In this ordinary modern construction, plecare is an action noun and does not function as the finite complement meaning to leave. Use Vreau să plec. Historical or fixed verbal relics do not make the incorrect example an ordinary verbal construction.
Using the accusative case for the object of the action noun.
Citirea cartea a durat mult.Citirea cărții a durat mult.For the intended definite meaning the reading of the book, use genitive cărții after citirea, not accusative cartea. Action nouns can also take other complements, including de-phrases; this example does not impose genitive on every nominal complement.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Distinguish the modern verbal infinitive from related nominal forms in -re. Recognize the feminine article attached to a long-infinitive noun.
Related Patterns
- The Romanian Supine
Supine-derived action nouns provide another nominal expression of activities; actual usage depends on the word and context.
Level 5 - Feminine Genitive/Dative
The action nouns are feminine and follow feminine case patterns; a genitive dependent can express the object of the underlying action.
Level 2 - The Attached Definite Article
These action nouns take the same definite articles as other feminine nouns; definiteness depends on the sentence.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Long-Infinitive Nouns in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Romanian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
