Pattern
Trebuie să + subjunctive verb = "must / have to ___." Trebuie să plec (I must leave). At A1, recognize the pattern — full production comes at B1.
Explanation
Trebuie is an impersonal modal verb meaning "must" or "have to." Its form doesn't change for person — trebuie covers I, you, he, she, we, all of them. What changes is the verb that follows, which is in the subjunctive (introduced by să). Eu trebuie să plec (I have to leave). Noi trebuie să plecăm (We have to leave). Only the verb after să shifts to match the subject.
The subjunctive in Romanian is formed with să + a special verb form (in many verbs identical to the present indicative, but with key differences in the third person). For now, focus on recognizing the pattern: whenever you hear trebuie să, expect a verb to follow that signals obligation.
You'll see trebuie să on signs, in conversation, in instructions: Trebuie să plătești (You have to pay), Trebuie să așteptăm (We have to wait). Recognition first, production at B1 when we cover the full subjunctive paradigm.
Examples
| Romanian | English |
|---|---|
| Trebuie să plec acum. | I have to leave now. |
| Trebuie să mergem la doctor. | We have to go to the doctor. |
| Trebuie să mâncați. | You (pl.) need to eat. |
| Trebuie să plătești la casă. | You must pay at the register. |
| Ce trebuie să fac? | What do I have to do? |
Common mistakes
- Changing trebuie for the person: It's always trebuie, never trebuiem or trebuieți.
- Forgetting să: Trebuie plec is wrong; you need Trebuie să plec.
- Trying to translate "must" as a single verb: Romanian needs the să + subjunctive structure.