What selects the accusative singular
The accusative commonly presents an entity as a direct object, a spatial goal, or a bounded time expression.
- A verb or preposition governs the case, but the intended relation still matters. в + accusative expresses a goal; в + prepositional expresses a setting.
| Relation | Example | Question |
|---|---|---|
| direct object | Я чита́ю кни́гу. | what is being read? |
| spatial goal | Я иду́ в шко́лу. | where to? |
| time / duration | Я рабо́тал всю неде́лю. | for what span? |
| accusative preposition | Мы говори́м про кни́гу. | about what? (colloquial про) |
Mini-check
1. Identify the accusative: А́нна чита́ет кни́гу. 2. Which relation distinguishes в шко́лу from в шко́ле?
Apply this next
- Retrieve the rule without looking, then continue to the next lesson.