Pattern
Past participles are formed by adding a suffix to the verb stem: -at (a-verbs), -ut (most e/ea-verbs), -it (i-verbs). Many irregular: a face → făcut, a merge → mers, a fi → fost.
Explanation
The past participle is the form you use with a avea to make the perfect compus (past tense). The general rules:
- -a verbs (a cânta, a lucra) → drop -a, add -at: cântat, lucrat, mâncat, întrebat
- -i verbs (a vorbi, a locui) → drop -i, add -it: vorbit, locuit, citit
- -ea verbs (a vedea, a plăcea) → typically -ut: văzut, plăcut, putut
- -e verbs (a merge, a face) → mostly irregular: mers, făcut, spus, scris
The 1sg present is often a good starting point, but irregular verbs ignore the rule. Common irregulars to memorize: a fi → fost, a avea → avut, a merge → mers, a face → făcut, a spune → spus, a scrie → scris, a lua → luat, a bea → băut, a citi → citit, a vedea → văzut, a veni → venit.
Past participles also work as adjectives, in which case they DO agree in gender and number: o ușă închisă (a closed door), uși închise (closed doors). But when paired with a avea to form perfect compus, they stay invariable: Am închis ușa (I closed the door).
Examples
| Romanian | English |
|---|---|
| a cânta → cântat | to sing → sung |
| a vorbi → vorbit | to speak → spoken |
| a vedea → văzut | to see → seen |
| a merge → mers | to go → gone |
| a face → făcut | to do/make → done/made |
Common mistakes
- Applying -at to all verbs: Mergat is wrong; it's mers.
- Changing the participle for gender in perfect compus: Ea a mersă is wrong; it's Ea a mers.
- Forgetting irregulars: A bea, a fi, a face, a lua all have irregular participles. Memorize each.