Romanian uses a genitive article before a possessor in three settings: after an indefinite possessed noun, after an intervening modifier, and with an independent genitive. Its form agrees with the possessed noun: un coleg al Mariei (a colleague of Maria's), but o colegă a Mariei (a female colleague of Maria's).
How do you choose al, a, ai, or ale?
Identify the gender and number of the possessed noun, then choose the matching genitive article. The possessor's features do not control the form.
| Possessed noun | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular | al | un coleg al Mariei (a colleague of Maria's) |
| Neuter singular | al | un mesaj al colegului (a message from the colleague) |
| Feminine singular | a | o idee a lui (an idea of his) |
| Masculine plural | ai | niște pantofi ai lui (some shoes of his) |
| Feminine or neuter plural | ale | niște fotografii ale familiei (some photographs of the family) |
Look at the noun naming the thing possessed, not at the person or thing that possesses it. Compare un coleg al Mariei (a male colleague of Maria's), o colegă a Mariei (a female colleague of Maria's), niște colegi ai Mariei (some male colleagues of Maria's), and niște colege ale Mariei (some female colleagues of Maria's). The possessor itself still has its own genitive form; see genitive and dative noun forms.
When does the genitive article appear?
Use the genitive article in three settings: after an indefinite possessed noun, after an intervening modifier, and with an independent genitive. The ordinary close pattern with a definite noun and an immediate possessor usually uses no separate genitive article.
- An indefinite possessed noun takes the genitive article: o fotografie a Mariei (a photograph of Maria's).
- A modifier between the possessed noun and the possessor requires the genitive article: fotografia veche a Mariei (Maria's old photograph).
- An independent genitive takes the genitive article: A cui este fotografia? — A Mariei. (Whose photograph is it? — Maria's.)
- When a genitive possessor immediately follows a definite noun, Romanian usually uses the ordinary close pattern without a genitive article: fotografia Mariei (Maria's photograph).
How does the genitive article work with possessive pronouns?
The same agreement appears in possessive pronouns and in phrases such as un prieten al meu (a friend of mine), niște prieteni ai mei (some friends of mine), and niște prietene ale mele (some female friends of mine). Compare the close definite forms prietenul meu (my friend) and prietenele mele (my female friends).
What controls the choice among al, a, ai, and ale?
- The gender and number of the possessor
- The tense of the sentence
- The gender and number of the possessed noun
- The position of the verb
The genitive article agrees with the possessed noun. In o carte a Mariei, feminine singular carte selects a; the possessor Maria does not control the article.
Choose the correct phrase for “a book of Maria's.”
- o carte al Mariei
- o carte a Mariei
- o carte ai Mariei
- o carte ale Mariei
The possessed noun carte is feminine singular, so the phrase uses a: o carte a Mariei.
Complete the sentence: Am cumpărat niște pantofi ___ lui Andrei.
- al
- a
- ai
- ale
Pantofi is masculine plural, so its genitive article is ai: niște pantofi ai lui Andrei.
Which sentence means “The old photographs of the family are here”?
- Fotografiile vechi ale familiei sunt aici.
- Fotografiile vechi a familiei sunt aici.
- Fotografiile vechi ai familiei sunt aici.
- Fotografiile vechi al familiei sunt aici.
The adjective vechi separates the possessed noun from the possessor, so the genitive article appears. Feminine plural fotografiile selects ale: fotografiile vechi ale familiei.
Complete the ordinary close genitive: ___ este pe masă. (The book is on the table; it is Maria's book.)
- Cartea Mariei
- Cartea a Mariei
- O carte Mariei
- Cartea ai Mariei
When the possessor immediately follows a definite noun, Romanian normally uses the close form without the genitive article: Cartea Mariei.