Animate Masculine Objects

Level 2

For many masculine singular nouns, an animate direct object uses a form matching the genitive.

How It Works

For many masculine singular nouns, an animate direct object uses a form matching the genitive. An inanimate direct object normally matches the nominative. This is a singular contrast, not a rule for every number.

Compare Vidim prijatelja with Vidim telefon. The verb is unchanged, but the living masculine object takes -a. A feminine object follows its own declension, so this masculine animacy rule does not replace knjiga → knjigo.

Examples (3)

  1. Vidim prijatelja.

    I see a friend.

  2. Imam psa.

    I have a dog.

  3. Vidim avtobus.

    I see a bus.

How It Connects

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

Animate Masculine ObjectsLevel 2

Learn This First

Recognize object case and masculine gender before adding the animate/inanimate distinction.