Polish Accusative Case
Content
The accusative is the fourth of the 7 cases.
It is mainly used as the direct object.
It answers the questions:
– kogo? (who?)
– co? (what?)
Accusative Case Usage
1. Direct object in affirmative sentences
For verbs that are negated, the genitive is used instead.
Kopnąłem piłkę.
(I kicked the ball)
Kupiłem nowy dom.
(I bought a new house)
2. With certain prepositions
These include: o (against, up against), na (for), po (for), w (into, on), przez (through, across, for), and more. Note that the prepositions o, na, po, and w are also used in the locative case. However, these prepositions are used in the accusative to put more emphasis on motion.
A list of more accusative prepositions is provided.
Książka jest oparta o ścianę.
(The book is leaning against the wall)
Wyjeżdżam po piwo.
(I am going for beer)
W poniedziałek, mam szkołę.
(On monday, I have school)
Robiłem to przez całe życie.
(I have been doing this for my whole life)
Accusative vs Locative Prepositions
1. Jadę na mecz.
(I am going for the game)
2. Jestem na meczu.
(I am at the game).
The word mecz (match) in sentence 1 is in the accusative after the preposition na because there is motion; “I” am going to the game. In sentence 2, mecz is in the locative because there is no motion.
3. With certain phrases regarding time
Pracowałem całą noc.
(I worked the whole night)
Ten sklep jest otwarty całą dobę.
(This store is open 24 hours a day)
Accusative Case Declension
Accusative Singular Nouns
Masculine accusative singular nouns are divided into animate and inanimate.
Masculine Animate
– Receive a ending
Nominative Singular | Accusative Singular |
jastrząb (hawk)
kret (mole) jeż (hedgehog) |
jastrzęba
kreta jeża |
Masculine Inanimate
– Receive no ending (same form as the nominative masculine singular).
Nominative Singular | Accusative Singular |
komputer (computer)
stół (table) sweter (sweater) |
komputer
stół sweter |
Feminine
– If it ends with an “a”, receives ę ending.
Nominative Singular | Accusative Singular |
bluzka (blouse)
stopa (foot) ręka (hand) |
bluzkę
stopę rękę |
– If it ends with a consonant, receives no ending (same form as the nominative feminine singular).
Nominative Singular | Accusative Singular |
noc (night)
łódź (boat) powódź (flood) |
noc
łódź powódź |
Neuter
– Receive no ending (same form as the nominative neuter singular)
Nominative Singular | Accusative Singular |
ciało (body)
czoło (forehead) gniazdo (nest) |
ciało
czoło gniazdo |
Accusative Singular Adjectives
Masculine accusative singular adjectives are divided into animate and inanimate.
Masculine Animate
– Receive ego ending.
Nominative Singular | Accusative Singular |
duży (big)
tani (cheap) |
dużego
taniego |
Masculine Inanimate
– Receive y or i ending (same form as masculine nominative singular adjective)
Nominative Singular | Accusative Singular |
duży (big)
tani (cheap) |
duży
tani |
Feminine
– Receive ą ending.
Nominative Singular | Accusative Singular |
duży (big)
tani (cheap) |
dużą
tanią |
Neuter
– Receive e ending (same form as neuter nominative singular adjective)
Nominative Singular | Accusative Singular |
duży (big)
tani (cheap) |
duże
tanie |
Accusative Plural Nouns
Masculine accusative plural nouns are divided into personal and non-personal.
Masculine Personal
– These have the same endings as the genitive plural nouns.
Nominative Singular | Accusative Plural |
żołnierz (soldier)
chłopiec (boy) syn (son) |
żołnierzy
chłopców synów |
Masculine Non-Personal
– These have the same endings as the masculine nominative plural nouns.
Nominative Singular | Accusative Plural |
klucz (key)
strzęp (scrap) przycisk (button) |
klucze
strzępy przyciski |
Feminine
– These have the same endings as the feminine nominative plural nouns.
Nominative Singular | Accusative Plural |
osoba (person)
ściana (wall) piłka (ball) |
osoby
ściany piłki |
Neuter
– These have the same endings as the neuter nominative plural nouns.
Nominative Singular | Accusative Plural |
mieszkanie (flat)
środowisko (environment) muzeum (museum) |
mieszkania
środowiska muzea |
Accusative Plural Adjectives
Masculine plural accusative adjectives are also divided into masculine personal and masculine non-personal declension.
Masculine Personal
– If it ends with a hard consonant, except k and g, or a hardened consonant, receives ych ending.
Nominative Singular | Accusative Plural |
duży (big)
inny (different) |
dużych
innych |
– If it ends with a soft consonant, or k or g, receives ich ending.
Nominative Singular | Accusative Plural |
tani (cheap)
wysoki (tall) |
tanich
wysokich |
Masculine Non-Personal, Feminine, and Neuter
– Receive e ending (same form as masculine non-personal, feminine, and neuter nominative plural nouns).
Nominative Singular | Accusative Plural |
duży (big)
tani (cheap) |
duże
tanie |