The Russian Accusative Case: Endings & Examples
By Daily Cyrillic · Updated
The Russian accusative case marks direct objects and destinations with certain prepositions. Its question forms are кого? что? Learn the regular noun endings with the reference table, then compare examples in complete sentences. Prepositions and verb patterns help determine the case, so practise the ending together with the expression that requires it.
Reading time: about 2 min.
- Case
- Accusative
- Question
- кого? что?
- Reference
- Singular noun endings
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What the accusative case does
The accusative answers кого? / что? - "whom?" / "what?" as the target of an action. It marks the direct object: in «я читаю книгу» ("I read a book"), книга becomes книгу because the book is what gets read.
It also expresses motion ("where to?") with в and на - «я иду в школу» ("I am going to school") - and duration of time - «я ждал неделю» ("I waited for a week").
When to use it, and the animate rule
Use the accusative for the direct object of a transitive verb (читать, видеть, любить, делать). Use it after в and на when there is movement toward a place, and after за, через and про.
The key wrinkle is the animate rule. For masculine nouns (and all plurals), the accusative is identical to the nominative for inanimate things (стол -> стол) but identical to the genitive for animate ones - people and animals: «я вижу студента» ("I see the student"), not студент. Feminine -а/-я nouns have their own ending (-у/-ю), and neuter nouns never change.
Prepositions that trigger the Accusative
в / на (motion), за, через, про, под (motion)
Accusative singular endings
Feminine -а/-я nouns take -у/-ю (книга -> книгу). Masculine inanimate and all neuter nouns look like the nominative; masculine animate nouns look like the genitive. Feminine -ь nouns (ночь) do not change at all.
| Gender | Hard stem | Soft stem | Note / example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | = nom. / = gen. | = nom. / = gen. | inanimate = nominative; animate = genitive |
| Feminine | -у | -ю / -ь | -ь nouns are unchanged (ночь -> ночь) |
| Neuter | = nom. | = nom. | окно, море (unchanged) |
Example sentences
Я читаю книгу.
Ya chitayu knigu.
I am reading a book.
Я вижу студента.
Ya vizhu studenta.
I see the student.
Мы идём в школу.
My idyom v shkolu.
We are going to school.
Она любит музыку.
Ona lyubit muzyku.
She loves music.
Я жду подругу.
Ya zhdu podrugu.
I am waiting for a friend.
Он купил машину.
On kupil mashinu.
He bought a car.
Положи книгу на стол.
Polozhi knigu na stol.
Put the book on the table.
Я ждал неделю.
Ya zhdal nedelyu.
I waited for a week.
Practice: which case is it?
Practice: which case is it?
Я читаю книгу.
Why is «книгу» in this case?
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FAQ
When do you use the accusative case in Russian?
What is the animate accusative rule?
What are the accusative endings in Russian?
Turn this guide into words you can use
Build a free Russian set for this topic, with examples and ElevenLabs AI audio.
Read the full guide
- Russian Cases: All 6 Explained
The full overview of every case with endings tables and a drill.
- Nominative
The subject; the dictionary form
- Genitive
Possession, "of", absence, quantity
- Dative
The indirect object; "to / for" someone
- Instrumental
"With / by means of"; profession
- Prepositional
Location and topic ("about")