Different from the dative case that used to describe indirect object, we use accusative cases to describe or show the direct object. The accusative case often follow the questions: What? and whom? In Russian language those are: Что? and Кого? The Accusative case of Russian Nouns function is to indicate the activity or action of the object. First, let’s know the formula of Accusative.
The Formula of Accusative Case of Russian Nouns
Masculine
- If the masculine noun is inanimate, it remains in a nominative form
Стул – Стул (Chair)
Стол – Стол (Table)
Парк – Парк (Park)
- But, if it is an animate object and word ending is a consonant, add –a.
Студент – Студента (Student)
Брат – Брата (Brother)
- If it is an animate with the word ending –й or –ь, replace it with –я.
Учитель – Учителя (Teacher)
Гость – Гостя (Guest)
Feminine
- Most feminine nouns have nouns ending –а. Replace it with –у.
Книга – Книгу (Book)
Лампа –Лампу (Lamp)
Бабушка – Бабушку (Grandma)
- Replace the ending -я with –ю.
станция – станцию (station)
история – историю (history)
- If feminine nouns have ending in soft sign –ь, it remains in a nominative form.
Дверь – Дверь (Door)
Любовь – Любовь (Love)
Neutral
- Most neutral nouns are inanimate. Therefore it remains the same in nominative form.
Чувство – чувство (Feeling)
Ухо – Ухо (Ear)|
Дерево – дерево (Tree)
Солнце – солнце (Sun)
Море – море (Sea)
Plural
- If the noun is inanimate and neutral, the form is same with the nominative form. But, if the noun is animate and the noun ending is a consonant, add –ов. If the noun ending is – ь, replace it with – ей.
Брат – Братов (Brothers)
Гость – Гостей (Guests)
Стул – Стулы (Chairs)
Окно- окна (Windows)
Transitive verbs
The list below is some commonly used verbs in the accusative case to show a direct object.
- читать – to read
- купить – to buy
- любить – to love, to like
- видеть – to see
- давать – to give
- понимать – to understand
- любить – to love
- знать – to know
- брать – to take
Some of the verbs are the imperfective. Here, You can find more information about the imperfective aspect of Russian verb
The example of Accusative Case of Russian Nouns
- Моя подруга читал книгу в новой библиотеке.
(Moya podruga chital knigu v novoy biblioteke)
My friend read a book in a new library. - мои родители покупают дом.
(moi roditeli pokupayut novyy dom)
my parents are buying a new home. - Я вижу синее море.
(YA vizhu sineye more)
I see the blue sea.
That is the explanation of the accusative case of Russian nouns. If you find it difficult to make sentences in this case because you only know a few words in Russian, you can enrich your vocabulary with 150 Basic Russian Words for Beginners and you can also learn slang word in Russian language. Do not forget to learn about the Russian personal pronouns-all form with cases. Good luck!