The Object Form

Level 1

The object of a verb is in the accusative. The big change is -a to -u for feminine nouns.

How It Works

The subject is in the nominative, and the object is in the accusative. In Bosnian only some nouns show the difference.

GenderDictionary formObject
feminine in -akafakafu
feminine in -aknjigaknjigu
masculine thinghljebhljeb
neutermlijekomlijeko

Names of people and animals that are masculine do change, and a later entry covers it. A few masculine nouns end in -a and follow the feminine pattern in the singular: tata, tatu.

Feminine nouns that end in a consonant, such as noć, do not change in the singular.

If you are not sure, ask who does the action. The word for what receives it is the object. Amir čita knjigu: Amir is the subject, knjigu is the object.

Examples (5)

  1. Imam kafu.

    I have a coffee.

    Kafa changes to kafu.

  2. Volim muziku.

    I like music.

    Muzika changes to muziku.

  3. Vidim Neretvu.

    I see the Neretva.

    The river name ends in -u as the object.

  4. Jedem hljeb.

    I am eating bread.

    Hljeb is a masculine thing and does not change.

  5. Pijem mlijeko.

    I am drinking milk.

    Mlijeko is neuter and stays the same.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the feminine ending -a on the object.

    Imam kafa.
    Imam kafu.

    A feminine noun in -a ends in -u when it is the object.

  • Changing a neuter noun like a feminine one.

    Pijem mlijeku.
    Pijem mlijeko.

    Neuter nouns usually keep their form in the accusative singular.

How It Connects

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

The Object FormLevel 1

Learn This First

The object form is easiest to see against the base subject form and the feminine ending.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

objekatakuzativ