The Romanian supine names an action through a preposition plus a form identical to the active past participle: Am de făcut multe. (I have a lot to do.) The surrounding construction tells you whether the phrase means something to do, something being done, or a thing's purpose.
What is the Romanian supine?
Use a preposition, most often de, before the active past-participle form; the result is action-oriented and often noun-like, but it can still retain the verb's meaning and complements.
| Infinitive | Shared form | Supine example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| a face | făcut | de făcut | to do / to be done |
| a spune | spus | greu de spus | hard to say |
| a scrie | scris | ceva de scris | something to write |
| a spăla | spălat | mașină de spălat | washing machine |
How does de work in the main supine patterns?
The preposition de links the supine to an obligation, an available or expected action, an evaluation, or a noun's purpose.
- After a avea, a avea de presents an unfinished task or obligation: Am de terminat raportul. (I have to finish the report.)
- After a fi, a fi de can present something still to be done or won: Mai sunt câteva lucruri de făcut. (There are still a few things to do.)
- After an adjective, de introduces the action being evaluated: E greu de spus. (It is hard to say.) and Este ușor de înțeles. (It is easy to understand.)
- With a repeated or understood verb, de can set up a contrast: De înțeles, înțeleg ideea, dar de explicat, nu. (I understand the idea, but I cannot explain it.)
Which verbs and other expressions can take the supine?
The preposition is part of the larger construction, so learn common verb frames together with their preposition rather than translating an English preposition word for word.
- a termina de + supine means finish doing something: Am terminat de scris mesajul. (I finished writing the message.)
- a se apuca de + supine means start doing something: S-a apucat de făcut curățenie. (He or she started cleaning.)
- a se pregăti de + supine means prepare to do something: Ne pregătim de plecat. (We are getting ready to leave.)
- Adjectives and predicative adverbs can select the same pattern: Carnea e bună de mâncat. (The meat is good to eat.) and E bine de știut. (It is good to know.)
How does a noun change the reading?
After a noun, the supine often describes what the noun is for, so the whole phrase can have a stable, noun-like meaning rather than describing one event happening now.
| Noun + supine | Literal action link | Natural English reading |
|---|---|---|
| mașină de spălat | a machine for washing | washing machine |
| fier de călcat | an iron for ironing | iron |
| ochelari de citit | glasses for reading | reading glasses |
| aparat de fotografiat | a device for photographing | camera |
The negative form ne- + supine can give a modal meaning such as impossible or not to be done: o vacanță de neuitat (an unforgettable holiday) and o greșeală de neiertat (an unforgivable mistake). Here ne- is attached to the form; it is not the finite negator nu.
Why can the supine still behave like a verb?
Although the supine is often described as noun-like, it does not lose all verbal properties. It can preserve the role of an object or an understood agent, and the exact syntactic analysis can vary by construction.
- An object can follow the supine or be understood from context: Este greu de explicat regula. (The rule is hard to explain.)
- A purpose phrase can make the object-like relationship clear: Am ceva de citit în tren. (I have something to read on the train.)
- An agent can be added when it matters: Regula este ușor de înțeles de către cursanți. (The rule is easy for learners to understand.)
- Negation usually belongs to the surrounding clause: Nu am nimic de făcut. (I have nothing to do.) In fixed or lexicalized negative compounds, use ne- as in de neuitat.
How is the supine different from nearby forms?
The spelling alone is not enough: the preposition and the construction decide whether a participle-like form is functioning as a supine.
| Form | Typical clue | Example | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supine | preposition + participle-like form | un raport de terminat (a report to finish) | names an action or purpose |
| Past participle as adjective | agrees with a noun | o sarcină terminată (a finished task) | describes a result or property |
| Infinitive | usually a + short infinitive | A citi este util. (Reading is useful.) | names an action without the supine's preposition |
| Gerund | a form in -ând or -ind, without a preposition | Citesc mergând. (I read while walking.) | usually links a simultaneous or circumstantial action |
Why does English translation vary?
Do not choose the Romanian form by matching one English label. Am de făcut multe. uses an English infinitive in translation, M-am apucat de citit. (I started reading.) uses an English -ing form, and mașină de spălat is normally a noun compound. The Romanian construction, not the English translation, determines the form.
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not treat the supine as a new participle ending: făcut in de făcut is the same form as the active past participle, but the preposition changes the construction.
- Do not make the supine agree just because an English adjective would: use o sarcină de terminat, not an invented feminine supine form.
- Do not replace every supine with a + infinitive: greu de spus is standard for hard to say, while greu a spune is not the equivalent pattern.
- Do not insert nu inside an ordinary de phrase. Say Nu am nimic de citit. (I have nothing to read.); reserve attached ne- for established negative formations such as de neuitat.
Which phrase contains a Romanian supine?
- o carte citită
- de citit
- a citi
- citind
De citit is a preposition plus the participle-like form citit, the central shape of the supine. The other options show an agreeing participle, an infinitive, and a gerund.
Complete the sentence: Am ___ raportul până mâine. (I have to finish the report by tomorrow.)
- terminat
- a termina
- terminând
- de terminat
The pattern a avea de + supine expresses an unfinished task: Am de terminat raportul. The infinitive cannot simply replace the preposition-led form here.
Which sentence uses a noun plus supine to express purpose?
- Am spălat mașina.
- Mașina este spălată.
- Mașina de spălat funcționează.
- Spălând mașina, am ascultat muzică.
In mașină de spălat, the supine describes what the machine is for, giving the established meaning washing machine. The other sentences use a finite verb, an adjective-like participle, or a gerund.
Choose the standard phrase meaning “hard to say.”
- greu de spus
- greu să spus
- greu de spune
- greu a spunând
An adjective can be followed by de plus the supine: greu de spus. The distractors confuse the supine with the subjunctive, infinitive, or gerund.
Which sentence correctly keeps negation in the surrounding clause?
- Am nu nimic de făcut.
- Am nimic nu de făcut.
- Nu am nimic de făcând.
- Nu am nimic de făcut.
The finite negator nu comes before am, while de făcut remains intact. A separate nu is not normally inserted inside this supine phrase.