Pattern
Verbs with infinitive in -e (a merge, a face, a spune) take present endings: -, -i, -e, -em, -eți, - (often with stem changes).
Explanation
The -e class is the trickiest of the main verb groups because many verbs in it are irregular. The "regular" pattern endings are -, -i, -e, -em, -eți, - (with the 1sg and 3pl usually having no ending after the stem). But the stem itself often changes: a merge → eu merg, tu mergi, el merge, noi mergem, voi mergeți, ei merg. Pretty clean.
Compare a face (to do/make): eu fac, tu faci, el face, noi facem, voi faceți, ei fac. The stem stays fac- throughout. But a spune (to say): eu spun, tu spui (note the "i"), el spune, noi spunem, voi spuneți, ei spun. Slight stem variation.
The main thing to notice: the 1sg and 3pl forms typically end in a bare consonant or short cluster (merg, fac, spun), unlike -i verbs which end in -esc. The plural endings -em, -eți are stressed.
Conjugation
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu (I) | merg |
| tu (you, informal) | mergi |
| el/ea (he/she) | merge |
| noi (we) | mergem |
| voi (you pl.) | mergeți |
| ei/ele (they) | merg |
Examples
| Romanian | English |
|---|---|
| Eu merg la școală. | I go to school. |
| Tu faci ce vrei. | You do what you want. |
| El spune mereu adevărul. | He always tells the truth. |
| Noi scriem o scrisoare. | We are writing a letter. |
| Ei citesc ziarul. | They read the newspaper. |
Common mistakes
- Adding -esc to -e verbs: Mergesc is wrong; it's merg.
- Forgetting stem changes: Some -e verbs change vowels — a putea → pot, poți, poate (not putez).
- Stressing the wrong syllable in plural: Mergem is stressed on -em, not on the first syllable.