Understanding the Accusative Case in Hrvatski
The accusative case in Hrvatski is used to show the direct object of a sentence. This means it tells us who or what is receiving the action. It's like pointing a finger at the thing that's being acted upon.
Important Points
- Used for direct objects in a sentence.
- Changes the ending of nouns and adjectives.
- Shows movement towards something or someone.
- Used after certain prepositions.
In Hrvatski, nouns and adjectives change their endings based on the case they are in. For the accusative case, these changes depend on the gender and number of the noun.
Examples
- Vidim mačku. (I see the cat.)
- Čitam knjigu. (I am reading a book.)
- Imam prijatelja. (I have a friend.)
For masculine nouns, if the noun is animate (alive), it usually takes an '-a' ending, but if it is inanimate, it often stays the same. Feminine nouns generally change to end in '-u', and neuter nouns usually remain unchanged.
Examples
- Vidim psa. (I see the dog.)
- Kupujem jabuku. (I am buying an apple.)
- Imam pismo. (I have a letter.)
The accusative case is also used after certain prepositions that indicate direction or movement towards something, like 'u' (to) and 'na' (onto).
Examples
- Idem u školu. (I am going to school.)
- Stavljam knjigu na stol. (I am putting the book onto the table.)