Language/Serbian/Grammar/Cases:-Nominative-and-Accusative

◀️ Nouns: Gender and Number — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Pronouns: Personal Pronouns ▶️

Serbian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Cases: Nominative and Accusative

Welcome to the exciting world of Serbian grammar! Today, we will dive into two fundamental cases: the nominative and the accusative. Understanding these cases will not only improve your grammatical skills but also enhance your ability to express yourself more clearly in Serbian.

Throughout this lesson, we’ll explore what these cases mean, how they function within sentences, and how you can easily recognize and use them. We’ll provide plenty of examples and exercises to solidify your understanding. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get started!

Introduction to Cases in Serbian

In Serbian, nouns, pronouns, and adjectives change their forms based on their grammatical role in a sentence. This transformation is known as declension, and it plays a crucial role in conveying meaning. The two cases we will focus on today are:

• Nominative Case: The form used for the subject of a sentence. It answers the question "Who?" or "What?"

• Accusative Case: The form used for the direct object of a verb. It answers the question "Whom?" or "What?" in relation to the action.

Understanding these cases will empower you to construct sentences correctly, making your communication more effective.

Nominative Case

The nominative case is the starting point for every noun in Serbian. It indicates the subject of the sentence—the person or thing performing the action.

Nominative Case Examples

Let’s look at some examples:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
dečak	ˈdɛtʃak	boy
devojka	ˈdɛʋojka	girl
pas	pas	dog
mačka	ˈmaʧka	cat
knjiga	ˈkɲiga	book
auto	ˈauto	car
sto	sto	table
prozor	ˈprɔzor	window
učitelj	ˈutʃitelj	teacher
učenik	ˈuːtʃenik	student

As you can see, each of these nouns is in its nominative form, serving as the subject of a sentence.

Accusative Case

Now, let’s delve into the accusative case. This case is used when the noun or pronoun is the direct object of the action taken by the verb.

Accusative Case Examples

Here are some sentences illustrating the accusative case:

Serbian	Pronunciation	English
Vidim dečaka.	ˈVɪdɪm ˈdɛtʃaka.	I see the boy.
Čitam knjigu.	ˈʧitam ˈkɲigu.	I read the book.
Imam psa.	ˈImam ˈpasa.	I have a dog.
Volim devojku.	ˈʋolim ˈdɛʋojku.	I love the girl.
Gledam auto.	ˈɡlɛdam ˈaʊto.	I watch the car.
Slušam muziku.	ˈsluʃam ˈmuziɡu.	I listen to music.
Pišem pismo.	ˈpiʃɛm ˈpismo.	I write a letter.
Tražim prozor.	ˈtraʒim ˈprɔzor.	I am looking for a window.
Poznajem učitelja.	ˈpɔznaɪɛm ˈutʃitelja.	I know the teacher.
Učim srpski.	ˈuʧim ˈsɾpski.	I learn Serbian.

In these examples, the nouns in the accusative case are the direct objects of the sentences, receiving the action of the verb.

Summary of Nominative and Accusative Case

To summarize:

• The nominative case is used for the subject of the sentence.

• The accusative case is used for the direct object of the sentence.

Understanding when to use each case is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences in Serbian.

Practice Exercises

Now that we’ve covered the theory, let’s put your knowledge to the test! Below are some exercises designed to help you practice what you’ve learned.

Exercise 1: Identify the Case

For each of the following sentences, identify whether the bolded word is in the nominative or accusative case.

1. Devojka čita knjigu.

2. Pas trči.

3. Gledam auto.

4. Učitelj objašnjava lekciju.

5. Volim mačku.

Solutions:

1. Nominative

2. Nominative

3. Accusative

4. Nominative

5. Accusative

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the nouns in either the nominative or accusative case.

1. _______ (dečak) igra.

2. Vidim _______ (devojka).

3. _______ (pas) spava.

4. Čitam _______ (knjiga).

5. _______ (auto) je plavi.

Solutions:

1. Dečak

2. devojku

3. Pas

4. knjigu

5. Auto

Exercise 3: Translation Practice

Translate the following sentences into Serbian.

1. I see the girl.

2. The boy reads a book.

3. I love my dog.

4. The teacher teaches.

5. I am looking for the window.

Solutions:

1. Vidim devojku.

2. Dečak čita knjigu.

3. Volim mog psa.

4. Učitelj predaje.

5. Tražim prozor.

Exercise 4: Sentence Construction

Construct sentences using the following subjects and objects. Use the correct case.

1. Subject: devojka; Object: knjiga.

2. Subject: pas; Object: lopta (ball).

3. Subject: učitelj; Object: lekcija.

4. Subject: dečak; Object: automobil.

5. Subject: mačka; Object: životinja (animal).

Solutions:

1. Devojka čita knjigu.

2. Pas igra sa loptom.

3. Učitelj objašnjava lekciju.

4. Dečak vozi automobil.

5. Mačka je ljubavna životinja.

Exercise 5: Matching

Match the Serbian nouns with their correct accusative forms.

1. dečak

2. devojka

3. pas

4. knjiga

5. auto

Accusative Forms:

a. devojku

b. psa

c. knjigu

d. dečka

e. auto

Solutions:

1 - d

2 - a

3 - b

4 - c

5 - e

Exercise 6: True or False

Determine if the statements are true or false.

1. The nominative case is used for direct objects. (False)

2. "Vidim dečaka." uses the accusative case. (True)

3. "Učitelj" is in the nominative case in the sentence "Učitelj predaje." (True)

4. The accusative case answers "Who?" (False)

5. "Mačka" is the subject in the sentence "Mačka spava." (True)

Exercise 7: Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the following sentences by changing the subject or object to the accusative case.

1. Devojka voli dečka.

2. Učitelj čita knjigu.

3. Pas gleda auto.

4. Dečak jede voće (fruit).

5. Mačka lovi pticu (bird).

Solutions:

1. Devojka voli dečka.

2. Učitelj čita knjigu.

3. Pas gleda auto.

4. Dečak jede voće.

5. Mačka lovi pticu.

Exercise 8: Short Answers

Respond to the following questions using the correct case.

1. Ko čita knjigu? (Who reads the book?)

2. Šta voli pas? (What does the dog love?)

3. Koga vidiš? (Whom do you see?)

4. Šta učitelj objašnjava? (What does the teacher explain?)

5. Ko spava? (Who sleeps?)

Solutions:

1. Devojka čita knjigu.

2. Pas voli loptu.

3. Vidim devojku.

4. Učitelj objašnjava lekciju.

5. Dečak spava.

Exercise 9: Create Sentences

Using the following nouns, create your own sentences in both nominative and accusative cases.

1. dečak

2. pas

3. mačka

4. knjiga

5. auto

Solutions:

1. Nominative: Dečak trči. Accusative: Vidim dečaka.

2. Nominative: Pas spava. Accusative: Čujem psa.

3. Nominative: Mačka se igra. Accusative: Hranim mačku.

4. Nominative: Knjiga je nova. Accusative: Čitam knjigu.

5. Nominative: Auto je plavi. Accusative: Vozim auto.

Exercise 10: Group Activity

In pairs, create a dialogue using at least five sentences that include both nominative and accusative cases.

Example:

• A: Ko čita? (Who reads?)

• B: Učitelj čita knjigu. (The teacher reads a book.)

• A: Koga voli devojka? (Whom does the girl love?)

• B: Devojka voli dečaka. (The girl loves the boy.)

• A: Šta radi pas? (What does the dog do?)

• B: Pas trči za loptom. (The dog runs after the ball.)

Conclusion

You’ve made it through our lesson on the nominative and accusative cases! Remember, practice is key to mastering these concepts. As you continue your journey in learning Serbian, pay attention to the cases used in conversations and written texts. This will help solidify your understanding and improve your fluency.

Keep up the great work, and I look forward to seeing you in our next lesson on personal pronouns!

Table of Contents - Serbian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Grammar

• Nouns: Gender and Number
• Cases: Nominative and Accusative
• Pronouns: Personal Pronouns
• Verbs: Present Tense
• Verbs: Past Tense

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Counting
• Food and Drink
• Family and Relationships
• Transportation and Directions

  ---

Introduction to Serbian Culture

• Traditional Serbian Music
• Religious Festivals
• Folk Dances
• Serbian Films
• Cuisine

  ---

Pronouns: Possessive Pronouns

• Verbs: Future Tense
• Adjectives: Comparative and Superlative
• Verbs: Imperative

  ---

Shopping

• Clothes and Accessories
• At the Market
• Banking and Money

  ---

Sports and Recreation

• Football in Serbia
• Winter Sports
• Music Festivals

  ---

Adjectives: Declension

• Verbs: Perfective and Imperfective
• Verbs: Reflexive Verbs

  ---

Jobs and Professions

• Places around Town
• Education and Learning

  ---

Literature and Poetry

• Medieval Serbian Literature
• Contemporary Serbian Poetry

  ---

Verbs: Conditional

• Verbs: Participles
• Verbs: Infinitives

  ---

Entertainment and Media

• Movies and Theater
• Music and Performances

  ---

Art and Artists

• Famous Serbian Painters
• Contemporary Serbian Art Scene

Sources

• 7 Serbian Cases and How to Learn Them: The Declining Secret ...
• 7 Serbian Cases: The Definitive Chart
• The Serbian Accusative Case: Endings and Usage

Other Lessons

• Verbs: Past Tense
• Past Participle in Serbian
• Verbs: Infinitives
• Verbs: Participles
• Prepositions
• Imperative Tense
• Gender
• Possessive Case in Serbian
• Verbs: Future Tense
• Plural

◀️ Nouns: Gender and Number — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Pronouns: Personal Pronouns ▶️