Course of Polish

Accusative Case (Biernik) - Usage

The Accusative Case is a very common case. It is used for direct objects in sentences (the object upon which the subject acts). When there are no grounds for using another case, use the Accusative Case.

After transitive verbs

Use the Accusative Case for nouns that complement transitive verbs. Use the Genitive Case when the verb is negated.

transitive verb - a verb that requires an object upon which to act, and without which the sentence may not make sense.

Example

Daj mi tę książkę. - Give me this book.

In the sentence above, książka is the object that we act upon. Without it and any additional context, daj mi makes no sense.

There are many transitive verbs. The table below displays examples of transitive verbs.

Examples

kupić_perf	to buy
dać_perf	to give
widzieć_imperf	to see
słyszeć_perf	to hear
słuchać_imperf	to listen
spotykać_imperf	to meet
sprzedawać_imperf	to sell
zabierać_imperf	to take
zabić_perf	to kill
wyrzucać_imperf	to throw

Example sentences:

Examples

kupić - to buy

Kupiłem książkę, którą mi poleciłaś. - I bought the book you recommended to me.

książkę - Accusative Singular

książka - Nominative Singular

dostać - to get

Kiedy dostanę swoją przesyłkę? - When will I receive my parcel?

przesyłkę - Accusative Singular

przesyłka - Nominative Singular

widzieć - to see

Widzę znajomego po drugiej stronie ulicy. - I see a friend across the street.

znajomego - Accusative Singular

znajomy - Nominative Singular

For additional examples, see the article on Accusative Case after verbs .

After certain prepositions

Some prepositions require nouns to be in the Accusative Case:

przez(e) - through, via, during
na - onto, to
za - behind, in back of, for
w(e) - into
o - against, for (as in fight for)
po - for, after (to get someone), up to

Examples

Przez całą podróż bolała mnie głowa. - My head ached during the whole trip.

całą podróż - Accusative Singular

cała podróż - Nominative Singular

Samolot wleciał w chmurę burzową. - The plane flew into a storm cloud.

chmurę burzową - Accusative Singular

chmura burzowa - Nominative Singular

Walczymy o naszą godność! - We fight for our dignity!

naszą godność - Accusative Singular

nasza godność - Nominative Singular

The Accusative Case is also used after Instrumental prepositions when expressing "motion-to".

pod - to under, beneath, below
nad - above
za - behind
przed - in front of

Examples

Jestem nad morzem. - I'm at the sea.

Jadę nad morze. - I'm going to the sea.

morzem - Instrumental Singular

morze - Accusative Singular

morze - Nominative Singular

Zaczekaj przed szkołą. - Wait in front of the school building.

Wyjdź przed szkołę. - Go out in front of the school building.

szkołą - Instrumental Singular

szkołę - Accusative Singular

szkoła - Nominative Singular

For additional examples, see the article on Accusative Case after prepositions .

When expressing time duration

When expressing how long something took, use the Accusative Case.

Examples

Stałem w korku dwie godziny. - I was stuck in traffic for two hours.

dwie godziny - Accusative Plural

dwie godziny - Nominative Plural

Czekałam na niego całą noc. - I waited for him the entire night.

całą noc - Accusative Singular

cała noc - Nominative Singular

Accusative Case (Biernik) - Introduction

Accusative Case (Biernik) - Nouns Declension

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Cases - Noun Declension

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After transitive verbs

Use the Accusative Case for nouns that complement transitive verbs. Use the Genitive Case when the verb is negated.

transitive verb - a verb that requires an object upon which to act, and without which the sentence may not make sense.

Example

Daj mi tę książkę. - Give me this book.

In the sentence above, książka is the object that we act upon. Without it and any additional context, daj mi makes no sense.

There are many transitive verbs. The table below displays examples of transitive verbs.

Examples

kupić_perf	to buy
dać_perf	to give
widzieć_imperf	to see
słyszeć_perf	to hear
słuchać_imperf	to listen
spotykać_imperf	to meet
sprzedawać_imperf	to sell
zabierać_imperf	to take
zabić_perf	to kill
wyrzucać_imperf	to throw

Example sentences:

Examples

kupić - to buy

Kupiłem książkę, którą mi poleciłaś. - I bought the book you recommended to me.

książkę - Accusative Singular

książka - Nominative Singular

dostać - to get

Kiedy dostanę swoją przesyłkę? - When will I receive my parcel?

przesyłkę - Accusative Singular

przesyłka - Nominative Singular

widzieć - to see

Widzę znajomego po drugiej stronie ulicy. - I see a friend across the street.

znajomego - Accusative Singular

znajomy - Nominative Singular

For additional examples, see the article on Accusative Case after verbs .

After certain prepositions

Some prepositions require nouns to be in the Accusative Case:

przez(e) - through, via, during
na - onto, to
za - behind, in back of, for
w(e) - into
o - against, for (as in fight for)
po - for, after (to get someone), up to

Examples

Przez całą podróż bolała mnie głowa. - My head ached during the whole trip.

całą podróż - Accusative Singular

cała podróż - Nominative Singular

Samolot wleciał w chmurę burzową. - The plane flew into a storm cloud.

chmurę burzową - Accusative Singular

chmura burzowa - Nominative Singular

Walczymy o naszą godność! - We fight for our dignity!

naszą godność - Accusative Singular

nasza godność - Nominative Singular

The Accusative Case is also used after Instrumental prepositions when expressing "motion-to".

pod - to under, beneath, below
nad - above
za - behind
przed - in front of

Examples

Jestem nad morzem. - I'm at the sea.

Jadę nad morze. - I'm going to the sea.

morzem - Instrumental Singular

morze - Accusative Singular

morze - Nominative Singular

Zaczekaj przed szkołą. - Wait in front of the school building.

Wyjdź przed szkołę. - Go out in front of the school building.

szkołą - Instrumental Singular

szkołę - Accusative Singular

szkoła - Nominative Singular

For additional examples, see the article on Accusative Case after prepositions .

When expressing time duration

When expressing how long something took, use the Accusative Case.

Examples

Stałem w korku dwie godziny. - I was stuck in traffic for two hours.

dwie godziny - Accusative Plural

dwie godziny - Nominative Plural

Czekałam na niego całą noc. - I waited for him the entire night.

całą noc - Accusative Singular

cała noc - Nominative Singular

Grammar

Accusative Case (Biernik) - Usage

Cześć! Jestem Jarek, miło mi Cię poznać!

Cases - Noun Declension

Grammar

Accusative Case (Biernik) - Usage

After transitive verbs

After certain prepositions

When expressing time duration

Cześć! Jestem Jarek, miło mi Cię poznać!

Cases - Noun Declension

After transitive verbs

After certain prepositions

When expressing time duration

After transitive verbs

After certain prepositions

When expressing time duration

After transitive verbs

After certain prepositions

When expressing time duration