A2 · U01

Pe Cine? Ce?

The Accusative and the Direct Object

The Vibe

Who do you see? What are you taking?

You are in a small shop, looking for a gift, spotting someone you know, and trying to say who you are waiting for, who you are looking for, and what you are buying. In `A2_U01`, Romanian starts marking the direct object more clearly: `văd cartea`, `cumpăr un cadou`, `îl caut pe Luca`. It is the first step toward more targeted speech after the broader but softer A1 stage.

By the end of this unit you can

  • understand the direct object in simple action lines
  • say what you see, look for, buy, know, or wait for
  • distinguish an object-thing from a person as a direct object
  • use `pe` with a person in core A2 scenes

Core accusative map

At the start of A2, one simple idea is enough: the action lands on something. If it is a thing, you usually go without `pe`; if it is a person, `pe` becomes the important signal to notice.

Function Romanian Example
action targets a thing object without `pe` Văd cartea.
action targets a person `pe` + person Îl caut pe Luca.
buying / choosing an item verb + object Cumpăr un cadou.
waiting for a person a aștepta + person O aștept pe Maya.
looking for a thing a căuta + object Caut telefonul.

Grammar Hack

Find the verb first

If you have `văd`, `cumpăr`, `caut`, or `aștept`, the next question is usually: what exactly? or whom exactly?

Things often sit right after the verb

`Văd cartea`, `cumpăr un cadou`, `caut telefonul` — with objects, the pattern is quite transparent.

People pull in `pe`

In early A2 lines, this is the main signal to notice: `îl caut pe Luca`, `o aștept pe Maya`.

Do not think in heavy case terminology yet

It is better to learn this as the target of the action than as a long declension topic.

Learn it in verb bundles

Useful starters here are `a vedea`, `a căuta`, `a aștepta`, `a cunoaște`, and `a cumpăra`.

Where the topic becomes real right away

shop, gift, shopping list

Shopping is perfect for showing the direct object: what exactly you take, see, or look for.

  • Cumpăr un cadou.
  • Văd o geantă frumoasă.
  • Caut telefonul.

meeting a person

Once the target of the action is a person, `pe` becomes the key anchor in the course.

  • Îl caut pe Luca.
  • O aștept pe Maya.
  • Cunosc pe cineva? -> later nuance, but `pe` matters with a person target.

Unit verbs and targets

  • a vedea
  • a căuta
  • a aștepta
  • a cumpăra
  • a cunoaște
  • cadou
  • geantă
  • telefon
  • Luca
  • Maya

Ready-made phrases

  • Văd cartea.
  • Caut telefonul.
  • Cumpăr un cadou.
  • Îl caut pe Luca.
  • O aștept pe Maya.

Nice to Know

For both Russian- and English-speaking learners, `pe` can feel odd or unnecessary. But in real Romanian it is a very noticeable marker when the action targets a person. It is better to catch it early as a rhythm signal in speech rather than memorize it as a dry rule.

The Real Deal

  • ● sorting: person or thing as the action target
  • ● matching: verb and the correct target phrase
  • ● correction: remove or add `pe`
  • ● a mini shopping / meeting set in 3-4 lines

Shadowing & Audio

Listen and repeat, noticing where the target is a thing and where it is a person. On the second pass, exaggerate the rhythm of `pe Luca / pe Maya`.

Văd cartea. Caut telefonul. Cumpăr un cadou. Îl caut pe Luca. O aștept pe Maya.

Flashcards

The deck is built around the most useful target chunks: `văd`, `caut`, `cumpăr`, `pe Luca`, `pe Maya`.

Checkpoint

  • ✓ I understand what the action targets in the sentence
  • ✓ I can name a thing-object after the verb
  • ✓ I notice `pe` when the target is a person
  • ✓ I can build short shopping / meeting phrases without theory overload

Flashcards

1 / 20
Văd cartea.
I see the book
Caut telefonul.
I am looking for the phone
Cumpăr un cadou.
I am buying a gift
Îl caut pe Luca.
I am looking for Luca
O aștept pe Maya.
I am waiting for Maya
cadou
gift
geantă
bag
telefon
phone
pe Luca
Luca as the target of the action
pe Maya
Maya as the target of the action
Deschid usa.
I open the door
Inchid geanta.
I close the bag
Citesc cartea.
I read the book
Iau penita.
I take the pen
Il sun pe Ion.
I call Ion
O intreb pe Ana.
I ask Ana
usa
door
penia
pen
pe Ion
Ion as the target of the action
pe Ana
Ana as the target of the action

Exercises

Target Sort

Sort the targets by type: thing or person as the target of the action.

cartea
telefonul
Luca
Maya
cadoul

Verb Phrase Match

Match the situation with the correct Romanian target phrase.

I see the book
I am looking for the phone
I am looking for Luca
I am waiting for Maya

Direct Object Response

Read the cue and give the short Romanian line.

I am buying a gift
I see the bag
I am looking for Maya

Pe Repair

Fix the lines: in some places `pe` is extra, and in others it is missing.

Caut pe telefonul. Îl caut Luca. O aștept Maya.

Target Fill

Fill the gaps so the target phrase sounds natural.

Văd ___ carte.
Caut ___ telefonul.
Îl caut ___ Luca.
O aștept ___ Maya.
Cumpăr un ___.

Choose the Correct Pe Usage

Select the sentence where `pe` is used correctly. `pe` is used only before people.

Which sentence uses 'pe' correctly?

Select the correct line:

Which is right for 'I see him'?

Complete: 'I am looking for the key.' Choose the correct form:

Classify: Needs Pe or Not

People need `pe`, things don't. Sort the objects into two groups.

om (man)
cartea (the book)
Luca (Luca)
geanta (the bag)
femeie (woman)
cadoul (the gift)
prietenul (the friend)
telefonul (the phone)

Target Fill (Extended)

Fill the gaps: things, people, pronouns, and the `pe` preposition.

Caut ___ cheie.
___ caut pe Andrei.
Văd ___ carte pe masă.
Aștept ___ Ana la ușă.
Cumpăr ___ bilet pentru concert.
O ___ pe mama la stație.

Mini Shop Scene

Build a short scene in 3 direct-object phrases.

1.Say what you see.

2.Say what you are buying.

3.Say whom you are looking for or waiting for.

Practice saying this out loud.