The Grammar Of Russian Accusative Case

Accusative: The Case Of The Object
Accusative Prepositions
Accusative Inflection Is A Question Of Life And Death

Accusative: The Case Of The Object

The main parts of sentence are the subject, the predicate (verb) and the object. The subject tells who is taking action. The predicate tells what is happening. The object, which always is in accusative case, tells the target of action.

Еддард

Edward is reading a book about the history of great houses.

The object is typically a noun phrase, where possible adjectives are also in accusative. A noun phrase consists of a substantive, pronoun or numeral and adjectives which qualify the main word.

The brothers of Night Watch wear black clothes.

In addition, some prepositions use accusative.

Accusative Prepositions

Many prepositions of location (в, на, под, о) can take two cases. When answering the "Where something is?" the following noun is in prepositional. When answering "To where something is going?" they use accusative.

Preposition	Meaning	Example	In English
в + accusative	into, to inside	Он Он is a 3rd person, masculine, singular, nominative form of он third-person masculine singular pronoun: he, it. ушёл ушел is a past tense, masculine, singular, perfective form of уйти to leave, to depart, to go (away) (by foot) to escape, to evade to resign, to retire to be lost to fail to sink, to plunge to be spent с с is a requiring instrumental form of с with (+ instrumental case) from, off, from off, from below (with abstract nouns; nouns entailing a flat, open area; and special exceptions) (+ genitive case) because of, since (expressing a cause of motivation) (+ genitive case) for, about (indefinite time or number) (+ accusative case) (for indicating a duration of time; used in two forms: ''с +genitive по +accusative'' and ''с +genitive до +genitive'') (for time expressions) соба́кой собакой is a feminine, singular, instrumental form of собака dog hound (pejorative) mongrel; bastard (Internet) @ (at sign) во во is a requiring accusative form of во (location) in, at, on (+ prepositional case) (direction) to, into (+ accusative case) (time) at, in, on тьму. тьму is a feminine, singular, accusative form of тьма dark, darkness thousands, a multitude, a host, lots of	He took the dog outside to the dark.
за + accusative	for, per	Сила Сила is a feminine, singular, nominative form of сила strength force power, might vigor intensity efficacy energy volume и и is a ERROR form of и kissa честь! честь is a feminine, singular, nominative form of честь honor regard, respect За За is a requiring accusative form of за (of location, ''+ instrumental case) behind; beyond; on the other side of (of motion, ''+ accusative case) to (of time, ''+ accusative case) during (close to в течение) (of time, + accusative case with до) time before an event (+ accusative case) for; to; by; after; over (+ accusative case) instead of (of voting, ''+ accusative case) in favor of (+ instrumental case) at; while (used in expressions) орду! орду is a feminine, singular, accusative form of орда horde Он Он is a 3rd person, masculine, singular, nominative form of он third-person masculine singular pronoun: he, it. собира́л собирал is a past tense, masculine, singular, imperfective form of собирать to gather, collect to assemble to convoke (for a journey) to equip, prepare два два is a accusative form of два kissa ведро́ ведро is a neutral, singular, accusative form of ведро bucket, pail vedro; an ancient Russian measure of liquids equal to 12.3 liters (1/40 бочка\|бочки) я́год ягод is a plural, genitive form of ягода berry за за is a requiring accusative form of за (of location, ''+ instrumental case) behind; beyond; on the other side of (of motion, ''+ accusative case) to (of time, ''+ accusative case) during (close to в течение) (of time, + accusative case with до) time before an event (+ accusative case) for; to; by; after; over (+ accusative case) instead of (of voting, ''+ accusative case) in favor of (+ instrumental case) at; while (used in expressions) вахту. вахту is a feminine, singular, accusative form of вахта watch, shift, duty, vigil	Strength and honor! For The Horde! He collected two buckets of berries per trip.
на + accusative	onto, to top of	По́сле После is a requiring genitive form of после after (in time) плавения плавения is a neutral, singular, genitive form of плавения kissa Арья Арья is a feminine, singular, nominative form of арья kissa вы́лезла вылезла is a past tense, feminine, singular, perfective form of вылезть to get out, to climb out, to get off (of hair) to fall out, to come out на́ на is a requiring accusative form of на onto, on to, toward into, in (duration, value, purpose) for about, for (indicating the duration of an action following the verb; must have perfective aspect and past finite form) on, upon in, at with, for берег. берег is a masculine, singular, accusative form of берег bank, shore, coast, beach land	After a swim Arya climbed (out of water) to the beach.
о + accusative	against	Он Он is a 3rd person, masculine, singular, nominative form of он third-person masculine singular pronoun: he, it. ударился ударился is a past tense, masculine, singular, perfective form of удариться to hit, strike (against) (colloquial) to take (to), plunge (into) {{passive of\|lang=ru\|уда́рить}} голово́й головой is a feminine, singular, instrumental form of голова (anatomy) head mind; brains о о is a requiring accusative form of о (+ prepositional case): about, of, on (+ accusative case): against, upon столб. столб is a masculine, singular, accusative form of столб post, pole, pillar, column	He bumped his head against a post.
по + accusative	up to, as far as (location)	Рыбак Рыбак is a masculine, singular, nominative form of рыбак fisherman бы́л был is a ERROR form of был kissa по по {{non-gloss definition\|with accusative case}} {{non-gloss definition\|with dative case}} {{non-gloss definition\|with prepositional case}} колено колено is a past tense, neutral, singular, perfective form of колено kissa в в is a requiring prepositional form of в (location) in, at, on (+ prepositional case) (direction) to, into (+ accusative case) (time) at, in, on per воде. воде is a feminine, singular, prepositional form of вода water (chemistry) H₂O	Fisherman was knee deep in water.
под + accusative	to under	Засунь Засунь is a masculine, singular, nominative form of засунь kissa гра́дусник градусник is a masculine, singular, nominative form of градусник medical thermometer по́д под is a requiring accusative form of под (with accusative case) (with instrumental case) мышку. мышку is a feminine, singular, accusative form of мышка (animate) {{diminutive of\|мышь\|lang=ru}}. {{label\|ru\|inanimate\|computing\|diminutive}} mouse	Put the thermometer under your arm.
про + accusative	about	Я Я is a 1st person, singular, nominative form of я {{l\|en\|I}} (first-person singular subject pronoun) зна́ю знаю is a present tense, 1st person, singular, imperfective form of знать to know: to be familiar with or accustomed to a person, place, or thing to know: to be in possession of a specific fact or datum всё все is a neutral, singular, accusative form of все kissa про про is a requiring accusative form of про about, concerning э́ту эту is a feminine, singular, accusative form of этот this, these it this one that ситуацию. ситуацию is a feminine, singular, accusative form of ситуация situation	I know all about the situation.
с + accusative	about one
через + accusative	through	Ко́шка Кошка is a feminine, singular, nominative form of кошка cat cat-o'-nine-tails (technical) grapnel, drag (technical) grappel fork (cranes) car, trolley, carriage (geology) spit, bar (in the plural) climbing irons, climbing grapplers не́ не is a particle. A form of не (negative in full) not, no, -n't, without Idiomatic negative usage (partial negative) perhaps not, whether ... or not will never (implying impossibility to do something) (usually not translated, gives affirmative meaning for expression, especially in exclamations) заметил заметил is a past tense, masculine, singular, perfective form of заметить to notice, remark, note, observe никаки́х никаких is a plural, genitive form of никакой (indefinite pronoun) not any of possible variants, no, none; (in a negative context) whatever, whatsoever, absolutely (slang) (about person's state) inactive, senseless, e.g. very drunken or exhausted мышей, мышей is a plural, accusative form of мышь mouse (animal) mouse (computer pointing device) когда́ когда is a ERROR form of когда kissa оно́ оно is a 3rd person, neutral, singular, nominative form of оно third-person neuter singular pronoun: it. ходи́л ходил is a past tense, masculine, singular, imperfective form of ходить to go, to walk to wear something (only impf.) to go (to), to attend, to visit to run (trains, ships, etc.) to work, to run (clocks) to lead, to play, to move (in games) to tend, to take care (of), to nurse (only impf.) to be good (about money) че́рез через is a requiring accusative form of через through across, over (time) in, after via with, with the help of because of конюшню. конюшню is a feminine, singular, accusative form of конюшня stable, stabling	The cat didn't notice any mice while walking through the stables.
через + accusative	after some time	Че́рез Через is a requiring accusative form of через through across, over (time) in, after via with, with the help of because of два два is a accusative form of два kissa го́да года is a masculine, singular, genitive form of год year её её (possessive pronoun) her, hers, its котята котята is a feminine, singular, nominative form of котята kissa нача́л начал is a past tense, masculine, singular, perfective form of начать to begin, start, commence лови́ть ловить is a infinitive form of ловить to catch мышей. мышей is a plural, accusative form of мышь mouse (animal) mouse (computer pointing device)	After two years its kittens will start to catch mice.

Accusative Inflection Is A Question Of Life And Death

The accusative form depends on whether the noun is aninmate like "mule" or "policeman" or inanimate like "stone" or "emptiness". For masculine and plural, the accusative form is like genetive for animate nouns and like nominative for inanimante nouns.

Singular accusative neuters are always like nominative ones.

Singular accusative feminine nouns have dedicated, perfectly regular inflection.

The same rules apply both to nouns and adjectives qualifying them.

Gender	Accusative	Example	In Russian
Animate Masculine	Like genitive	Остерега́йся Остерегайся is a past tense, masculine, singular, perfective form of остерегайся kissa э́того этого is a masculine, singular, accusative form of этот this, these it this one that человека. человека is a masculine, singular, genitive form of человек person, human being, man (collective, no plural) human race ''also plural when used with cardinal words'':	Watch out for that man.
Inanimate Masculine	Like nominative	Вспомни Вспомни is a plural, accusative form of вспомни kissa про́шлый прошлый is a masculine, singular, accusative form of прошлый last, past former год. год is a masculine, singular, accusative form of год year	Remember last year.
Animate & Inanimate Feminine	а -> у я -> ю яя -> юю ь -> ь	Она́ Она is a 3rd person, feminine, singular, nominative form of она third-person feminine singular pronoun: she, it. third-person feminine singular objective pronoun: her, it. ударилась ударилась is a past tense, feminine, singular, perfective form of удариться to hit, strike (against) (colloquial) to take (to), plunge (into) {{passive of\|lang=ru\|уда́рить}} но́вую новую is a feminine, singular, accusative form of новый new novel recent modern маши́ну машину is a feminine, singular, accusative form of машин kissa о о is a requiring accusative form of о (+ prepositional case): about, of, on (+ accusative case): against, upon си́нюю синюю is a feminine, singular, accusative form of синий deep blue indigo (figuratively) dead (sense transferred from the blue color of a dead person's face) (figuratively) drunken, drunk (also acts as noun) (slang) being a thief from the Russian mafia (from the blue color of the tattoos that cover his body) дверь. дверь is a feminine, singular, accusative form of дверь door	She bumped the new car against the blue door.
Animate & Inanimate Neuter	Like nominative	Он Он is a 3rd person, masculine, singular, nominative form of он third-person masculine singular pronoun: he, it. объясни́л объяснил is a past tense, masculine, singular, perfective form of объяснить to explain мне мне is a 1st person, singular, dative form of мне kissa дело. дело is a neutral, singular, accusative form of дело affair, matter, concern work, business art, science deed, act, action court case cause ''in expessions''	He explained the matter (inanimate) to me.
Animate & Inanimate Neuter	Like nominative	Ры́царь Рыцарь is a masculine, singular, nominative form of рыцарь knight cavalier, gallant уби́л убил is a past tense, masculine, singular, perfective form of убить to kill to murder to beat (in cards) to drive to despair to waste ужа́сный ужасный is a masculine, singular, accusative form of ужасный terrible, horrible, dreadful, awful чудовище. чудовище is a neutral, singular, accusative form of чудовище monster	The knight killed the horrible monster (animate).
Animate Plural	Like genitive	Внача́ле Вначале is a positive form of вначале at first, first (at the beginning) он он is a 3rd person, masculine, singular, nominative form of он third-person masculine singular pronoun: he, it. имити́ровал имитировал is a past tense, masculine, singular, imperfective form of имитировать to mimic, to imitate to simulate знамени́тых знаменитых is a plural, accusative form of знаменитый famous, renowned, celebrated, noted, notorious, distinguished, eminent, illustrious художников. художников is a plural, accusative form of художник artist, painter	In the beginning he imitated famous artists (masc.).
		Терпе́ть Терпеть is a infinitive form of терпеть to endure, to suffer, to tolerate, to stand to undergo (a change, ''especially'' a negative one) не́ не is a particle. A form of не (negative in full) not, no, -n't, without Idiomatic negative usage (partial negative) perhaps not, whether ... or not will never (implying impossibility to do something) (usually not translated, gives affirmative meaning for expression, especially in exclamations) могу́ могу is a present tense, 1st person, singular, imperfective form of мочь to be able may таки́х таких is a plural, genitive form of такой (adjectival pronoun) such, suchlike девушек. девушек is a plural, genitive form of девушка girl (from the age of puberty to womanhood) lass miss (informal but common form of address to a young girl or woman)	I hate girls (fem.) like that.
		Их Их is a 3rd person, plural, genitive form of их kissa до́чь дочь is a feminine, singular, nominative form of дочь daughter говорит, говорит is a present tense, 3rd person, singular, imperfective form of говорить to speak, to talk to say, to tell что́ что is a ERROR form of что kissa ви́дит видит is a present tense, 3rd person, singular, imperfective form of видеть to see чудовищ. чудовищ is a masculine, singular, accusative form of чудовищ kissa	Their daughter claims to see monsters (n.).
Inanimate Plural	Like nominative	Я Я is a 1st person, singular, nominative form of я {{l\|en\|I}} (first-person singular subject pronoun) люблю́ люблю is a present tense, 1st person, singular, imperfective form of любить to love, to like, to be fond of, to grow fond of (more intensely than нравиться) ма́ленькие маленькие is a plural, accusative form of маленький little, small short trifling, petty города. города is a plural, accusative form of город city, town downtown	I like small towns (masc.).
		Он Он is a 3rd person, masculine, singular, nominative form of он third-person masculine singular pronoun: he, it. продаёт продает is a present tense, 3rd person, singular, imperfective form of продавать to sell to sell out, betray машины. машины is a plural, accusative form of машина (colloquial) automobile, car, auto, motor vehicle machine engine mechanism machinery truck, lorry	He sells cars (fem.).
		Запомни Запомни is a past tense, ERROR, ERROR, perfective form of запомни kissa мои́ мои is a plural, accusative form of мой (possessive pronoun) my, mine слова. слова is a plural, accusative form of слово word, term speech, address promise	Keep my words (n.) in mind.

Accusative Case

Parts of Speech

Noun Cases

Themes

Vocabulary

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Table Of Contents

Accusative: The Case Of The Object

Accusative Prepositions

Accusative Inflection Is A Question Of Life And Death