Accusative Direct Object
The direct object, answering ką? (what? whom?), is in the accusative: Skaitau knygą (I am reading a book), Turiu brolį (I have a brother), Matau gatvę (I see the street), Perku knygas (I am buying books).
How It Works
Singular endings
- -as → -ą: namas → namą. -a → -ą: knyga → knygą.
- -ė → -ę: gatvė → gatvę.
- -is, -ys → -į: brolis → brolį, arklys → arklį, akis → akį.
- -us → -ų: sūnus → sūnų. -ius → -ių: skaičius → skaičių.
- Many -uo nouns use a stem in -en- or -er-: vanduo → vandenį, sesuo → seserį.
Plural endings
- namai → namus, broliai → brolius, svečiai → svečius, sūnūs → sūnus
- knygos → knygas, gatvės → gatves, akys → akis, seserys → seseris
The nasal letters ą, ę, į, ų are the only thing that separates many accusatives from other forms in writing, so do not leave them out. See The Nasal Letters Ą, Ę, Į and Ų.
Where the accusative is not used
- After a negated verb, the object is genitive: Matau namą but Nematau namo. See Genitive After Negation.
- Some verbs take a genitive object, such as norėti, laukti and ieškoti: Noriu kavos. See Wanting Things With Norėti.
- Some verbs take a dative object, such as padėti (to help): Padedu mamai.
Adjectives with the object are accusative too: Perku naują knygą. (I am buying a new book.)
Examples (6)
- Skaitau knygą.
I am reading a book.
Word by Word: Read book.
Knyga becomes knygą.
- Turiu brolį.
I have a brother.
Word by Word: Have brother.
Brolis becomes brolį.
- Matau gatvę.
I see the street.
Word by Word: See street.
Gatvė becomes gatvę.
- Perku knygas.
I am buying books.
Word by Word: Buy books.
In the plural, knygos becomes knygas.
- Geriu kavą.
I am drinking coffee.
Word by Word: Drink coffee.
- Pažįstu jo sūnų.
I know his son.
Word by Word: Know his son.
Sūnus becomes sūnų.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the accusative after a negated verb.
Neturiu brolį.Neturiu brolio.When the verb has ne-, the object moves to the genitive: brolio, not brolį.
Using the nominative plural -os instead of the accusative plural -as.
Perku knygos.Perku knygas.Knygos is the plural subject form. As an object, the plural of knyga is knygas.
Leaving out the nasal letter, so the object looks like a subject.
Skaitau knyga.Skaitau knygą.The accusative of knyga is knygą. Without ą, the word reads as the nominative.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The accusative marks the direct object in the affirmative patterns introduced here.
Related Patterns
- Nominative Subject
The subject is nominative, while the direct object is accusative.
Level 1 - Genitive After Negation
After a negated verb, the object changes from accusative to genitive.
Level 2 - turėtiHaving with Turėti
Turėti (to have) takes an accusative object: Turiu brolį.
Level 1 - norėti + genitiveWanting Things with Norėti
Norėti is one of the verbs that takes a genitive object instead.
Level 1 - Nasal Letters ą, ę, į, ųThe Nasal Letters Ą, Ę, Į and Ų
Most singular accusative endings are written with a nasal letter.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- kas / kąQuestion Word KasLevel 1
- į + accusativeInto and to with ĮLevel 1
- Accusative of TimeLevel 2
- Flexible Word OrderLevel 2
- mėgti + accusativeLiking with MėgtiLevel 2
- Comparison With kaipLike and as with KaipLevel 3
- Things That Happen by ThemselvesLevel 4
- Causative -inti, -dintiCausative VerbsLevel 5
And 2 more in the full list.
Practice Accusative Direct Object in Bubblegum
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