1.) Accusative Case Most Often Designates a Direct Object of an Action in a Sentence
Usually, we use Accusative case after transitive verbs; verbs that take direct object. Basically, it means “to do something, to write something, to bring something, to see somebody, to love somebody, or to like something”, etc.
For example:
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| любить | to love, to like |
| читать | to read |
| видеть | to see |
| покупать | to buy |
| брать | to take |
| давать | to give |
| знать | to know |
| писать | to write |
Here are few examples for better comprehension:
Я люблю маму – I love mother.
The verb “to love” is a transitive verb and has a direct object “mother” in this sentence. So the word “маму” (mother) is the Accusative case form. In the Nominative case form, the Russian word “mother” will be “мама”. The Accusative case is used here because it indicates the object of the action “люблю” (to love). Note: the verb “люблю” is conjugated with personal pronoun “Я”. The infinitive form of the word “to love” in Russian is “любить”.
Папа покупает газету – Father buys a newspaper.
In this sentence, the situation is very similar to the above-mentioned example. The verb “to buy” is a transitive verb and has a direct object “newspaper” in this sentence. So the word “газету” (newspaper) is the Accusative case form. In the Nominative case form, the word “newspaper” is “газета”. The Accusative case is used here because the sentence indicates the object of the action “покупает” (to buy). Note: the verb “покупает” is conjugated with pronoun “папа” which is equivalent to personal pronoun “он” (He). The Russian infinitive form of the word “to buy” will be “покупать” as it was shown in the table above.
2.) The Accusative Case is used with Prepositions “на” (on/onto) and “в” (in/into) to Express Motion to Some Direction (Somewhere)
Поезд едет в Россию – The train is going to Russia. Literally: The train is going into Russia.
The Nominative case word Россия (Russia) had to be changed into the Accusative case form of the word “Россию” because the sentence indicates the motion to the country and it has used the preposition “в” (into).
3.) The Accusative Case is used in Certain Expressions Which Describe Frequency or Duration of an Action
For example:
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| одну секунду | one second |
| одну минуту | one minute |
| пару раз в году | a couple of times a year |
| два раза в неделю | two times a week |
| один раз в месяц | one time a month |
| одну неделю | one week |
| один месяц | one month |
Мы ездим в Россию с семьёй один раз в год – We go to Russia with my family once a year.
And again the Accusative case is used in both ways: “в Россию” and “один раз в год”.
4.) The Accusative Case is used After Certain Prepositions
For example:
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| через | across, after a period of time |
| за | for (in return for) |
| про | about |
Я иду через дорогу – I go across the road.
The Accusative case form of the word “дорогу” (the road) is being used after one of the three above-mentioned prepositions. And Nominative case of the word (the road) is “дорога”.
Before we start with the formation of Accusative case, it’s worth it to mention the following advice:
Keep in mind that the formation of Accusative case is similar to the formation of Nominative case!
- It’s similar for all inanimate nouns
- It’s similar for singular feminine nouns ending in –ь
- It’s similar for plural feminine nouns; the singular form of which ends in -а, -я
And keep in mind as well that the formation of Accusative case is similar to the formation of Genitive case!
- It’s similar for plural feminine and masculine nouns ending in -а, -я
Formation of Accusative Singular Case:
| Gender | Nominative Singular | Remove | Add | Accusative Singular | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inanimate* Accusative is equal to singular Nominative | masculine | компьютер музей склад | — | — | компьютер музей склад | computer museum warehouse |
| neutral | озеро солнце | — | — | озеро солнце | lake sun | |
| feminine | дверь | — | — | дверь | door | |
| Animate** Accusative is equal to singular Nominative | feminine ending in -ь | дочь | — | — | дочь | daughter |
| masculine | друг олень | — ь | а я | друга оленя | friend deer | |
| feminine and masculine ending in -а, -я | машина воля | а я | у ю | машину волю | car volition | |
| Inanimate | feminine ending in -а, -я | газета | а | у | газету | newspaper |
*- Inanimate means not alive.
**- Animate means alive or having life.
Formation of Accusative Plural Case
| Gender | Nominative Singular (Plural) | Remove | Add | Accusative Plural | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inanimate Accusative is equal to plural Nominative | masculine | компьютер (компьютеры) музей (музеи) склад (склады) | — й | ы и | компьютеры музеи склады | computer museum warehouse |
| neutral | письмо (письма) здание (здания) | о е | а я | письма здания | letter building | |
| feminine | ночь (ночи) | ь | и | ночи | night | |
| Animate Accusative is equal to plural Genitive | feminine ending in -ь | дочь (дочки) | ь | ей | дочерей | daughter |
| masculine | волк (волки) олень (олени) | — ь | ов ей | волков оленей | wolf deer | |
| feminine and masculine ending in -а, -я | чайка (чайки) стая (стаи) | а я | и и | чайки стаи | gull flock | |
| Inanimate Accusative is equal to plural Nominative | feminine ending in -а, -я | машина (машины) рука (руки) | а a | ы и | машины руки | car hand |
