The Direct Object

Level 1

A direct object names what a verb acts on, reads, sees or otherwise takes as its object. Croatian commonly marks that role with the accusative case.

How It Works

With many ordinary transitive verbs, an object uses the accusative: Čitam knjigu., Vidim grad. The exact form depends on the noun’s gender, number and declension.

Not every accusative looks different from the nominative. Inanimate masculine grad keeps the same form, while feminine knjiga becomes knjigu. Masculine living referents introduce another pattern, such as prijatelj/prijatelja.

Learn a verb together with its required complement. Some verbs take a genitive, dative or prepositional complement instead of a straightforward accusative object. The English presence of an object does not guarantee that Croatian uses the accusative.

Examples (4)

  1. Ana čita knjigu.

    Ana is reading a book.

    Knjigu is feminine accusative singular.

  2. Vidim grad.

    I can see the city.

    The inanimate masculine accusative matches grad’s nominative form.

  3. Ivan pije vodu.

    Ivan is drinking water.

    Voda changes to accusative vodu.

  4. Poznajem prijatelja tvoje sestre.

    I know your sister’s friend.

    Animate masculine prijatelj takes accusative prijatelja.

How It Connects

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

The Direct ObjectLevel 1

Learn This First

Distinguish the subject from the direct object before introducing the accusative role.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.