Present of -a Verbs

Level 1

First Conjugation verbs end in -a. Two common patterns are a cânta → cânt (to sing) and a lucra → lucrez (to work). Learn which pattern each verb follows.

How It Works

In Romanian, verbs ending in -a belong to the First Conjugation. These are split into two regular types: Type 1 (plain) and Type 2 (suffixed with -ez). The pattern belongs to the verb: the infinitive ending alone does not tell you which one to use.

1. The Conjugation Table (Model: a lucra - to work)

  • Eu lucr-ez (I work)
  • Tu lucr-ezi (You work)
  • El/Ea lucr-ează (He/She works)
  • Noi lucr-ăm (We work) — No suffix here!
  • Voi lucr-ați (You all work) — No suffix here!
  • Ei/Ele lucr-ează (They work)

2. The Plain Pattern (Model: a cânta - to sing)

  • Eu cânt (I sing)
  • Tu cânți (You sing)
  • El/Ea cântă (He/She sings)
  • Noi cântăm (We sing)
  • Voi cântați (You all sing)
  • Ei/Ele cântă (They sing)

Plain does not mean an unchanged stem. For example, a mânca has eu mănânc, tu mănânci, and noi mâncăm.

3. Key Features

  • 3rd Person Identity: In the two regular patterns shown, the third-person singular and plural are identical (el lucrează / ei lucrează).
  • Vowel Change: The suffix -ez changes to -eaz- in the 3rd person when followed by the ending -ă.
  • Spelling Note for -ia Verbs: For verbs ending in -ia (like a studia), the noi form uses -iem instead of -iăm (e.g., noi studiem).

4. Pronunciation and Usage
The final i in lucrezi does not add a syllable: lu-crezi has two syllables. It marks a softened final consonant, as in the one-syllable cânți. Do not pronounce an extra vowel after z.

The present tense covers both habitual actions and actions happening now. Verbs such as a programa and a stresa follow the -ez pattern; check a new verb rather than choosing its pattern from its meaning or origin.

Examples (6)

  1. Eu lucrez la un proiect nou.

    I am working on a new project.

    Word by Word: I work at a project new.

    The verb 'a lucra' takes the -ez suffix for the first person singular (eu).

  2. Ea desenează un peisaj frumos.

    She is drawing a beautiful landscape.

    Word by Word: She draws a landscape beautiful.

    For 'a desena', the suffix becomes -ează in the 3rd person singular.

  3. Noi vizităm bunicii în fiecare duminică.

    We visit the grandparents every Sunday.

    Word by Word: We visit grandparents-the in every Sunday.

    Notice that the 'noi' form (we) does NOT use the -ez suffix; it uses the standard -ăm ending.

  4. Ei cercetează piața.

    They are researching the market.

    Word by Word: They research market-the.

    In the -ez pattern, the 3rd person plural (ei) is identical to the 3rd person singular.

  5. Tu te stresezi prea mult.

    You are stressing yourself out too much.

    Word by Word: You yourself stress too much.

    The reflexive verb 'a se stresa' follows the -ez pattern: 'tu te stresezi'.

  6. Noi cântăm împreună.

    We sing together.

    Word by Word: We sing together.

    The plain verb 'a cânta' does not add -ez.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding the suffix to the 'noi' or 'voi' forms.

    Noi lucrezăm astăzi.
    Noi lucrăm astăzi.

    The -ez suffix is absent from the noi and voi forms: lucrăm and lucrați.

  • Applying -ez to all -a verbs (over-generalization).

    Eu cântez un cântec.
    Eu cânt un cântec.

    Not all -a verbs use -ez. Verbs like 'a cânta' (to sing) or 'a mânca' (to eat) are 'plain' verbs and do not take the suffix.

  • Forgetting the vowel change in the 3rd person.

    El lucreză la birou.
    El lucrează la birou.

    When the suffix is followed by -ă, it must change from -ez to -eaz-.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Present of -a VerbsLevel 1

Learn This First

First recognize subject pronouns and the Romanian letters ă and ț. Then compare how a present-tense verb changes with its subject.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 4 more in the full list.

Words in This Pattern

-a-ez