Lesson 21 – Accusative

Welcome back! In this lesson, we’re diving into the Accusative Case (Biernik) in Polish. This case is used for direct objects—the thing or person being acted upon in a sentence. By the end of this lesson, you’ll understand when and how to use the accusative case, and you’ll be able to construct sentences with confidence. Let’s get started!

What Is the Accusative Case?

The accusative case is used for:

1. Direct objects (the receiver of the action).
   • Jem zupę. – I am eating soup.
2. After certain prepositions (e.g., na, w, przez).
   • Idę na spacer. – I am going for a walk.

When to Use the Accusative Case

You’ll use the accusative case:

1. After verbs like:
   • jeść (to eat), pić (to drink), kupować (to buy), zamawiać (to order), lubić (to like), widzieć (to see).
   • Example: Lubię kawę. – I like coffee.
2. When talking about preferences or actions:
   • Kupuję chleb. – I am buying bread.
   • Piję herbatę. – I am drinking tea.

How Nouns Change in the Accusative Case

Here’s how nouns change based on gender and animacy:

Examples:

• Jem zupę. – I am eating soup.
• Piję herbatę. – I am drinking tea.
• Kupuję chleb. – I am buying bread.
• Lubię kawę. – I like coffee.

Using the Accusative Case in Sentences

Let’s see how the accusative case works in real-life sentences:

1. Talking About Food and Drinks:
   • Jem jabłko. – I am eating an apple.
   • Piję sok pomarańczowy. – I am drinking orange juice.
2. Shopping and Ordering:
   • Kupuję nową książkę. – I am buying a new book.
   • Zamawiam pizzę. – I am ordering pizza.
3. Expressing Preferences:
   • Lubię czekoladę. – I like chocolate.
   • Nie lubię piwa. – I don’t like beer.

Grammar Notes

1. Accusative Endings:
   • Masculine animate nouns add -a in the accusative (e.g., kot → kota).
   • Feminine nouns change -a to -ę (e.g., kawa → kawę).
   • Neuter and masculine inanimate nouns stay the same.
2. Verbs That Require the Accusative:
   • Many common verbs require the accusative case. Memorize these verbs to use the case correctly.

Practice Tasks

1. Fill in the Blanks:
   Complete the sentences with the correct accusative form:
   • Jem ___ (bread).
   • Piję ___ (tea).
   • Kupuję ___ (apple).
   • Lubię ___ (coffee).
2. Translate These Sentences:
   • I am eating soup.
   • She is drinking milk.
   • We are buying vegetables.
   • They like pizza.
3. Create Your Own Sentences:
   Write 5 sentences about what you eat and drink daily using the accusative case. For example:
   • Jem kanapkę na śniadanie. – I eat a sandwich for breakfast.
   • Piję kawę rano. – I drink coffee in the morning.

Cultural Tip: Polish Food Culture

In Poland, meals are an important part of daily life. Breakfast (śniadanie) is usually light, lunch (obiad) is the main meal of the day, and dinner (kolacja) is often lighter. Poles love hearty dishes like pierogi (dumplings) and bigos (hunter’s stew). Don’t forget to try them!

Homework

1. Write 10 sentences using the accusative case. Include examples of masculine, feminine, neuter, and plural nouns.
2. Practice saying these sentences out loud. Focus on pronunciation and fluency.
3. Bonus: Look up 5 new verbs that require the accusative case and practice using them in sentences.

That’s it for Lesson 21! You’ve now mastered the accusative case in Polish. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using it effortlessly in conversations. Do zobaczenia! 😊