Language/Lithuanian/Grammar/Nominative-and-Accusative-Cases
Welcome to this exciting lesson on Lithuanian grammar! Today, we’re going to dive into the world of noun cases, specifically focusing on the Nominative and Accusative cases. Understanding these two cases is crucial for building a solid foundation in Lithuanian, as they play a significant role in constructing meaningful sentences.
In this lesson, we will explore:
- What the nominative and accusative cases are
- How to identify and use these cases in sentences
- The differences between them
- Practical exercises to reinforce your understanding
By the end of this lesson, you'll have a clear idea of how to use the nominative and accusative cases in your Lithuanian conversations. So, let’s get started!
Understanding Cases in Lithuanian
Before we delve deeper into the specific cases, let’s take a moment to understand what we mean by cases in the Lithuanian language.
- Nominative Case: This case is primarily used for the subject of a sentence, the one performing the action. For example, in the sentence “The cat is sleeping,” “the cat” is in the nominative case.
- Accusative Case: This case is used for the direct object of a sentence, which receives the action. In the sentence “I see the cat,” “the cat” is in the accusative case because it is the object being seen.
Understanding how these cases function will help you communicate more effectively in Lithuanian.
Nominative Case
Definition and Usage
The nominative case is the form of a noun that is used when it is the subject of a sentence. It answers the question "Who?" or "What?".
Examples of Nominative Case
Let’s take a look at some examples of nouns in the nominative case:
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| katė | [ˈkɐtʲe] | cat |
| šuo | [ʃuɔ] | dog |
| žmogus | [ʒmɔˈɡus] | person |
| knyga | [ˈknyɡɐ] | book |
| stalas | [ˈstɐlɐs] | table |
In these examples, you can see that each noun stands alone as the subject of a sentence.
Accusative Case
Definition and Usage
The accusative case is used to indicate the direct object of a verb—the entity that is directly affected by the action. It answers the questions "Whom?" or "What?".
Examples of Accusative Case
Now, let's look at examples of nouns in the accusative case:
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| katę | [ˈkɐtʲe] | cat |
| šunį | [ʃuˈni] | dog |
| žmogų | [ʒmɔˈɡu] | person |
| knygą | [ˈknyɡɐ] | book |
| stalą | [ˈstɐlɐ] | table |
Notice how the nouns change form when they are in the accusative case. This change indicates their role in the sentence.
Distinguishing Between Nominative and Accusative
To summarize the differences:
- Nominative: Used for the subject of the sentence.
- Accusative: Used for the direct object of the sentence.
This differentiation is crucial for constructing sentences correctly in Lithuanian.
Practice Exercises
Now that we understand the nominative and accusative cases, let's put our knowledge to the test! Below are some exercises to help reinforce what we've learned.
Exercise 1: Identify the Case
Read the sentences below and identify which noun is in the nominative case and which is in the accusative case.
1. Katė miega. (The cat is sleeping.)
2. Aš matau katę. (I see the cat.)
Answers:
- Sentence 1: Nom: katė
- Sentence 2: Acc: katę
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the noun in parentheses.
1. Aš turiu _____ (knyga).
2. _____ (šuo) bėga greitai.
Answers:
1. knygą
2. Šuo
Exercise 3: Translate the Sentences
Translate the following sentences into Lithuanian, paying attention to the correct case.
1. I have a book.
2. The dog is barking.
Answers:
1. Aš turiu knygą.
2. Šuo loja.
Exercise 4: Change the Case
Change the following nominative nouns into accusative.
1. žmogus
2. katė
3. stalas
Answers:
1. žmogų
2. katę
3. stalą
Exercise 5: Sentence Construction
Create sentences using the following nouns in both the nominative and accusative cases.
1. knyga
2. šuo
Example Answers:
1. Nominative: Knyga yra ant stalo. (The book is on the table.)
Accusative: Aš skaitau knygą. (I am reading the book.)
2. Nominative: Šuo žaidžia. (The dog is playing.)
Accusative: Aš matau šunį. (I see the dog.)
Exercise 6: Identify the Object
Identify the object in the following sentences and state whether it is in the nominative or accusative case.
1. Aš valgau obuolį. (I am eating an apple.)
2. Katė žiūri į paukštį. (The cat is looking at the bird.)
Answers:
1. obuolį (Accusative)
2. paukštį (Accusative)
Exercise 7: Noun Gender Practice
Determine the gender of the following nouns and provide both nominative and accusative forms.
1. žuvis (fish)
2. medis (tree)
Answers:
1. Nominative: žuvis (feminine), Accusative: žuvį
2. Nominative: medis (masculine), Accusative: medį
Exercise 8: Fill in the Case Endings
Fill in the correct endings for the following nouns in both nominative and accusative cases.
1. draugas (friend)
2. kėdė (chair)
Answers:
1. Nominative: draugas, Accusative: draugą
2. Nominative: kėdė, Accusative: kėdę
Exercise 9: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct accusative form for the noun provided.
1. katė:
- a) katės
- b) katę
- c) katė
Answer:
b) katę
Exercise 10: Create Your Own Sentences
Write three sentences using both nominative and accusative forms of nouns you’ve learned.
Example Answers:
1. Mergaitė skaito knygą. (The girl is reading a book.)
2. Berniukas mato šunį. (The boy sees a dog.)
3. Motina gamina pietus. (The mother is making lunch.)
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve now gained a foundational understanding of the nominative and accusative cases in Lithuanian. Remember, practice is key when it comes to mastering these concepts. Keep working on your exercises and try to integrate these cases into your speaking and writing.
With this knowledge, you’re one step closer to becoming proficient in Lithuanian. Keep up the great work, and I look forward to seeing you in the next lesson!
Videos
Easy Lithuanian - Nominative case (forming plural) - YouTube
Sources
- Lithuanian declension - Wikipedia
- A few Remarks on the Lithuanian Vocative - Antanas Klimas
- Lithuanian grammar - Wikipedia
Other Lessons
- Future Tense
- How to Use Be
- Nouns
- Adjectives
- Gendered Nouns
- Word Order
- Plurals
- 0 to A1 Course
- Pronouns
- Questions