Accusative direct object

Level 1Sounds Like znahídnij prâmogo dodatka

Use the Accusative case for the direct object (the 'what' or 'whom' of an action) and for direction of motion. It answers Кого? (Whom?) and Що? (What?).

How It Works

The Accusative case is the primary way to show who or what is being affected by a verb. Its formation depends on the noun's ending and animacy:

  • Nouns ending in -а/-я: Most of these are feminine, but some are masculine (like Микола or суддя). Regardless of gender, -а changes to -у, and -я changes to -ю (e.g., книгу, сестру, Миколу). Feminine nouns ending in a consonant do not change (e.g., ніч).
  • Masculine Inanimate: Objects do not change; they look like the Nominative (e.g., стіл, парк).
  • Masculine Animate: People and animals take the Genitive ending -а/-я (e.g., брата, кота, батька).
  • Neuter Nouns: In the singular, these never change (e.g., вікно, яблуко).
  • Plural Nouns: If the nouns are inanimate, they match the Nominative plural. If they are animate, they match the Genitive plural.
  • Negation: When a verb is negated with не, the direct object usually shifts from the Accusative to the Genitive case (e.g., Я не бачу книги).
  • Direction: The Accusative is also used to show motion toward a place after prepositions в/у and на (e.g., іти в школу).

Examples (6)

  1. Я читаю цікаву книгу.

    I am reading an interesting book.

    Word by Word: I read interesting book.

    The feminine noun книга changes to книгу because it is the direct object.

  2. Він бачить старий парк.

    He sees an old park.

    Word by Word: He sees old park.

    The masculine inanimate noun парк remains unchanged in the Accusative.

  3. Ми зустріли доброго лікаря.

    We met a kind doctor.

    Word by Word: We met kind doctor.

    The masculine animate noun лікар takes the ending -я (matching the Genitive).

  4. Вона їсть червоне яблуко.

    She is eating a red apple.

    Word by Word: She eats red apple.

    Neuter nouns like яблуко never change their form in the Accusative singular.

  5. Я йду в парк.

    I am going to the park.

    Word by Word: I go into park.

    The Accusative is used for direction after the preposition в.

  6. Я бачу твоїх друзів.

    I see your friends.

    Word by Word: I see your friends.

    For animate plurals, the Accusative form matches the Genitive plural.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Nominative form for feminine direct objects.

    Я люблю Україна.
    Я люблю Україну.

    Feminine nouns ending in -а must change to -у when they are the direct object.

  • Treating animate masculine nouns as inanimate.

    Я бачу батько.
    Я бачу батька.

    Masculine animate nouns, including those ending in -о like батько, must take the -а ending.

  • Changing the ending of a neuter noun in the Accusative singular.

    Я бачу вікну.
    Я бачу вікно.

    Neuter nouns in the singular never change their form in the Accusative case.

How It Connects

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

Accusative direct objectLevel 1

Learn This First

To understand how to use the Accusative case for direct objects, a learner must first be able to identify noun genders and know the specific case endings for both feminine and inanimate nouns.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 6 more in the full list.