The Gerund
The Romanian gerund ends in -ând or -ind and commonly describes how, why or when another action occurs. An ordinary current action uses the present tense; an activity noun normally uses a different form.
How It Works
The gerund commonly expresses a simultaneous action, manner or cause: Merge cântând (He/she walks along singing).
Forms: Learn -ând or -ind with each verb: a cânta → cântând, a vedea → văzând, a merge → mergând, a citi → citind, a hotărî → hotărând. Some stems also change, as in a face → făcând and a tăia → tăind.
Subjects and meaning: In common adverbial uses, the gerund describes an action of the main-clause subject. Other constructions can have their own subject, so interpret the whole sentence.
Negation: Add ne-: neștiind (not knowing).
Clitics: Attach them after the gerund, usually with linking -u-: văzându-l, gândindu-se. The feminine singular clitic o is the exception: văzând-o, without u.
Other uses: An adjectival gerund may agree, as in apă clocotindă. For an ordinary current action, use the present: Mănânc (I am eating). For an activity noun, Romanian normally uses another form, such as a supine or an established noun.
Examples (5)
- Ea învață ascultând muzică.
She studies [while] listening to music.
Word by Word: She learns listening music.
Here, 'ascultând' shows a simultaneous action occurring alongside the main verb 'învață'.
- Fiind obosit, a adormit imediat.
Being tired, he fell asleep immediately.
Word by Word: Being tired, he has fallen asleep immediately.
The gerund 'fiind' (from 'a fi') expresses the cause or reason for the main action.
- A intrat în cameră plângând.
She entered the room crying.
Word by Word: She entered in room crying.
The gerund 'plângând' describes the manner in which the subject entered the room.
- Văzându-l pe Ion, l-am salutat.
Seeing Ion, I greeted him.
Word by Word: Seeing-him on Ion, him-I-have greeted.
Note the linking vowel '-u-' before the clitic '-l'. This is a mandatory morphological rule for gerunds.
- Mergând spre casă, m-am întâlnit cu ea.
Walking toward home, I met her.
Word by Word: Walking toward home, myself-I-have met with her.
The gerund 'mergând' sets the background context for the main event.
Common Mistakes
Using 'nu' instead of 'ne-' for negation.
Nu știind răspunsul, a tăcut.Neștiind răspunsul, a tăcut.Gerunds are negated using the prefix 'ne-' attached directly to the verb, rather than the independent particle 'nu'.
Adding the linking vowel before feminine singular o.
Văzându-o pe Maria...Văzând-o pe Maria...The feminine singular clitic o attaches directly to a gerund with a hyphen: văzând-o. Other clitics usually take linking -u-, as in văzându-l.
Using the gerund for progressive 'am doing' actions.
Eu sunt mâncând.Eu mănânc.For the ordinary meaning 'I am eating', Romanian uses the present mănânc. Sunt mâncând is not the equivalent of the English progressive; other specialized constructions with fi and a gerund have different uses.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To form the Romanian gerund, you need to understand how to identify verb stems from the different conjugation groups (-a, -e, -i, -î) and be familiar with the specific Romanian vowels used in the suffixes -ând and -ind.
Related Patterns
- The Romanian Supine
Activity nouns often use the supine, while a gerund commonly modifies an action and can also have adjectival uses.
Level 5 - Clitics With Gerunds
Clitics follow a gerund, usually with linking -u-; feminine singular -o attaches directly without it.
Level 3 - Long-Infinitive Nouns
Long-infinitive nouns such as citire name activities. The gerund usually modifies an action and is not the usual form for an activity noun.
Level 5 - Present Actions in Progress
An ordinary current action uses the present tense; acum is optional when context already supplies now.
Level 2 - Time Clauses With cândWhen Clauses
In less formal speech, native speakers often replace the gerund with a 'când' (when) clause.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice The Gerund in Bubblegum
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