A1 · U11

Who Is This? What Is This?

People and Object Identification

The Vibe

Who is this? What is this?

In front of you are photos of people, name badges, classroom objects, and short scenes where you need to quickly understand: is this a person or a thing, a profession or an object, someone familiar or a new item? In `A1_U11`, the language becomes identifying and question-based: `Cine e?`, `Ce e asta?`, `Este profesor`, `Este un telefon`. This unit helps you identify the world around you confidently in Romanian.

By the end of this unit you can

  • ask who someone is and what something is
  • identify people, professions, and objects in short lines
  • distinguish a question about a person from a question about a thing
  • use core identification patterns in everyday scenes

Core question and identification patterns

At A1, the goal is not theory overload. It is to give very clear routes: `Cine` for people, `Ce` for things, and `Este...` for simple identification.

Function Romanian Example
ask about a person Cine e? Cine e el?
ask about a thing Ce e asta? Ce e asta?
give identification Este... Este profesor.
name an object Este un/o... Este un telefon.
state a role Este student / profesoară Ea este profesoară.

Grammar Hack

`Cine` = person

As soon as the target is a person, a role, or an identity, `Cine?` is usually the right route.

`Ce` = thing / object / item

When the focus is an object or thing, `Ce e asta?` becomes the key beginner question.

`Este...` solves a lot

A large part of A1 identification can be handled by `Este profesor`, `Este un telefon`, `Este o cheie`.

Profession labels are often compact

Role identification is often short and clean: `Este student`, `Ea este profesoară`.

Photos and objects are ideal practice

These questions are best learned through cards, polaroids, and classroom/object scenes.

Where this topic comes alive right away

people and professions

Photos, badges, classmates, and coworkers are the most natural entry point for `Cine e?` and role labels.

  • Cine e ea?
  • Ea este profesoară.
  • El este student.

objects in class, a room, or a bag

For `Ce e asta?`, simple visible objects around the learner work perfectly.

  • Ce e asta?
  • Este un telefon.
  • Este o carte.

Unit words and roles

  • cine
  • ce
  • profesor / profesoară
  • student
  • doctor
  • telefon
  • carte
  • cheie
  • pix
  • fotografie

Ready-made phrases

  • Cine e el?
  • Ea este profesoară.
  • El este student.
  • Ce e asta?
  • Este un telefon.

Nice to Know: short identification is a real survival skill

Being able to quickly ask `Who is this?` or `What is this?` and understand a short answer is one of the most practical beginner skills. It works in classrooms, shops, offices, and ordinary daily conversation.

Mini dialogue: first day in class

Maya
Cine e el?
Profesor
El este Luca. El este student.
Maya
Și cine e ea?
Profesor
Ea este profesoară. Mă numesc Sofia.
Maya
Ce e asta?
Profesor
Este o carte. Cartea este pe masă.

Notice: Cine e? is for people, Ce e asta? is for objects. Maya uses both question types in one scene.

Practice in this unit

  • ● Who or What?
  • ● Role Match
  • ● Object ID
  • ● Question Repair
  • ● Photo Labels
  • ● Mini Identification Set

Shadowing: people, roles, objects

Listen to the difference between asking about a person and asking about a thing. Repeat them in pairs: question + short identification line.

Cine e el? El este student. Cine e ea? Ea este profesoară. Ce e asta? Este un telefon. Ce e asta? Este o carte.

Flashcards as question-answer chunks

Here flashcards are especially useful not only as words, but as small question-answer patterns.

Checkpoint

  • ✓ I distinguish `Cine e?` and `Ce e asta?`
  • ✓ I can identify a person by role or profession
  • ✓ I can identify basic objects around me
  • ✓ I build short question-answer patterns

Flashcards

1 / 20
Cine e el?
who is he?
El este student.
he is a student
Cine e ea?
who is she?
Ea este profesoară.
she is a teacher
Ce e asta?
what is this?
Este un telefon.
it is a phone
Este o carte.
it is a book
doctor
doctor
cheie
key
fotografie
photo
Cine?
who?
Ce?
what?
profesoară
teacher (f.)
inginer
engineer
mecanic
mechanic
artist
artist
un prieten
a friend (m.)
o prietenă
a friend (f.)
Asta e...
this is...
Cine sunt ei?
who are they?

Exercises

Who or What?

Sort the words by question type: about a person or about a thing.

student
profesoară
telefon
carte
doctor

Role Match

Match the question with the correct person-identification line.

Cine e el? (student)
Cine e ea? (teacher)
Cine e el? (doctor)

Object ID

Read the cue and give the short Romanian identification line.

what is this? phone
what is this? book
what is this? key

Question Repair

Fix the questions: the question type does not fit the answer.

Ce e el? Este student. Cine e asta? Este un telefon.

Photo Labels

Fill in the gaps in the question-answer patterns.

Cine ___ el?
Ce e ___?
Ea este ___.
Este un ___.
Este o ___.

Pick the Right Answer

Read the question and choose the most suitable answer.

What is the profession of someone who works with students?

Who learns in school?

How do you identify a person?

Who treats sick people?

What question do you ask about an object?

Build the Phrase

Put the words in the correct order to form a question or answer.

Спроси, кто это (про человека)

Спроси, что это (про предмет)

Скажи, что он студент

Скажи, что она учительница

Идентифицируй предмет

People or Objects?

Sort the words into two groups: people (roles) and objects.

doctor
student
profesoară
telefon
carte
cheie

Mini Identification Set

Build a short set of 2-4 question-answer lines.

1.Ask one question about a person.

2.Ask one question about an object.

3.Give short answers.

Practice saying this out loud.