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
kupićperf
to buy
daćperf
to give
widziećimperf
to see
słyszećperf
to hear
słuchaćimperf
to listen
spotykaćimperf
to meet
sprzedawaćimperf
to sell
zabieraćimperf
to take
zabićperf
to kill
wyrzucaćimperf
to throw
Example sentences:
Examples
kupić - to buy
Kupiłem książkę, którą mi poleciłaś. - I bought the book you recommended to me.
książkę - Accusative Case
książka - Nominative Case
dostać - to get
Kiedy dostanę swoją przesyłkę? - When will I receive my parcel?
przesyłkę - Accusative Case
przesyłka - Nominative Case
widzieć - to see
Widzę znajomego po drugiej stronie ulicy. - I see a friend across the street.
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 Case
dwie godziny - Nominative Case
Czekałam na niego całą noc. - I waited for him the entire night.
całą noc - Accusative Case
cała noc - Nominative Case
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