Accusative of People and Animals

Level 2

Masculine singular people and animals take the genitive form as object; things keep the nominative.

How It Works

NominativeAccusative
brat (brother)brata
pas (dog)psa
AmirAmira
sto (table)sto
kafa (feminine)kafu

This only changes masculine singular nouns. Feminine nouns in -a end in -u in the accusative whether they are alive or not: Vidim sestru, vidim kuću.

Adjectives and pronouns that go with a living masculine noun change too: Vidim starog psa. Words for things stay unchanged. In speech, some things named like people, such as car makes (Kupio sam Golfa), may follow the person pattern. When you meet a new noun, ask first if it is masculine and alive.

Examples (5)

  1. Vidim brata.

    I see my brother.

    Living masculine: brat becomes brata.

  2. Poznajem Amira.

    I know Amir.

    Names follow the same rule.

  3. Imamo psa.

    We have a dog.

    Animals count as living.

  4. Vidim sto.

    I see a table.

    A thing keeps the nominative form.

  5. Volim kafu.

    I like coffee.

    Feminine nouns take -u.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving a living masculine noun unchanged

    Vidim brat.
    Vidim brata.

    A living masculine object needs the genitive-like form.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Accusative of People and AnimalsLevel 2

Learn This First

Animate nouns have a special accusative.

Words in This Pattern

akuzativpasbrat