The Romanian Language.

Definite and Indefinite Articles An unusual feature of Romanian is that the definite article the is not a separate word. It appears as a suffix attached to the end of the noun, and it changes in keeping with the gender and number of its noun. The definite article is also used in situations where nglish does not distinguish between definite and indefinite. !or example, in possessi"e phrases the possessed item is put in the definite form, as in# Aceasta este soia mea $ This is m% wife $ &Conversation. Introductions' soia being the definite form of soie &wife'. The lists of nouns in Linguata use the definite form. EXAMPLES Indefinite to definite in the Singular # (asculine

A son

the son

un fiu

fiul

An American

the American

un american

americanul

A metre

the metre

un metru

metrul

A fish

the fish

un pete

petele

A dog !eminine

the dog

un cine

cinele

An nglishwoman

the nglishwoman

o englezoaic

englezoaica

A girl)daughter

the girl)daughter

o fat

fata

A beer

the beer

o bere

berea

A pharmac%

the pharmac%

o farmacie

farmacia

A coffee *euter

the coffee

o cafea

cafeaua

An hotel

the hotel

un hotel

hotelul

A ticket

the ticket

un bilet

biletul

A taxi

the taxi

un taxi

taxiul

Indefinite to Definite in the Plural In the plural, noun endings depend on gender and whether or not the noun is in the definite or indefinite form. (ost masculine nouns ha"e a plural ending in i+ feminine nouns in le e or i+ neuter nouns, which ha"e masculine endings in the singular, take feminine endings in the plural. (asculine

,ons

the sons

fii

fiii

Americans

the Americans

americani

americanii

(etres

the metres

metri

metrii

!ishes !eminine

the fishes

peti

petii

nglishwomen

the nglishwomen

englezoiace

englezoaicele

-aughters

the daughters

fete

fetele

.eers

the beers

beri

berile

/harmacies

the pharmacies

farmacii

farmaciile

0offees

the &cups of c.' coffees

cafele

cafelele

*euter

1otels

the hotels

hoteluri

hotelurile

Tickets

the tickets

bilete

biletele

Taxis

the taxis

taxiuri

taxiurile

Suggestion # 2ne wa% of thinking about the relationship between indefinite and definite articles, singulars and plurals is that masculine and neuter definite singulars are formed b% adding an L sound &as L, $UL or LE' to the end of their indefinite singular forms, while feminine definite singulars need an A sound at the end+ feminine and neuter definite plurals are formed b% adding an L sound to their indefinite plural forms &as LE', while masculine definite lurals add a short i sound.