Accusative Case
by E. Malachowska-Pasek
and P. Westwalewicz

Below are the examples of how and when the accusative case is used in a sentence.

1. Direct object.

• Piotr ma książkę. (Piotr has a book.)

2. After na, w and o with certain verbs and phrases, such as grać w (to play), czekać na (to wait for), krzyczeć na (to yell at), prosić o (to ask for).

• Piotr gra w piłkę. (Piotr plays ball.)
• Piotr czeka na kolegę. (Piotr is waiting for a friend.)
• Piotr krzyczy na chuligana. (Piotr is yelling at the hooligan.)
• Piotr prosi o kawę. (Piotr is asking for coffee.)

3. The preposition w + accusative case must be used when expressing “on + day of the week" :

• ...w piątek... (on Friday)
• ...w sobotę... (on Saturday)

4. Use the accusative case with verbs of motion + na when discussing going to an event, open spaces, or spaces historically considered "open" (such as uniwersytet university, poczta post office)

• Piotr idzie na koncert. (Piotr is going to a concert.)
• Piotr poszedł na rynek. (Piotr went to the market.)
• Piotr jedzie na uniwersytet. (Piotr is going [by vehicle] to the university.)

5. Use the accusative case with verbs of motion + nad when talking about going to, and spending some time in places located near water.

• Idę nad rzekę. (I am going to the river.)
• W lecie zawsze jeździmy nad morze. (During the summer time, we always go to the sea side.)

Forming the accusative case of nouns