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Standard Latvian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → The accusative case and indirect objects → The accusative case and direct objects

Introduction[edit | edit source]

In the study of any language, understanding the different cases is essential for constructing accurate and meaningful sentences. One of the most important cases in the Latvian language is the accusative case. In this lesson, we will explore the accusative case and its role in indicating direct objects in Latvian sentences. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to form and use the accusative case, allowing you to express yourself more effectively in Latvian.

The Accusative Case[edit | edit source]

The accusative case is used to indicate the direct object of a verb or a preposition. In Latvian, the accusative case is formed by adding the suffix "-u" or "-i" to the end of the noun, depending on its gender, number, and declension. Let's take a closer look at how the accusative case is formed for different noun types:

Masculine Nouns[edit | edit source]

Masculine nouns ending in a consonant or a soft sign "-s" add the suffix "-u" in the accusative case. For example:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
puisis (boy)	[puɪsis]	boy
puisi (boy, accusative)	[puɪsi]	boy

As you can see, the noun "puisis" changes to "puisi" in the accusative case.

Masculine nouns ending in a vowel or a hard sign "-š" add the suffix "-i" in the accusative case. For example:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
draugs (friend)	[drauɡs]	friend
draugu (friend, accusative)	[drauɡu]	friend

Here, the noun "draugs" changes to "draugu" in the accusative case.

Feminine Nouns[edit | edit source]

Feminine nouns ending in a consonant or a soft sign "-s" add the suffix "-u" in the accusative case. For example:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
zeme (earth)	[zeme]	earth
zemi (earth, accusative)	[zemi]	earth

The noun "zeme" becomes "zemi" in the accusative case.

Feminine nouns ending in a vowel or a hard sign "-š" add the suffix "-i" in the accusative case. For example:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
saule (sun)	[saule]	sun
sauli (sun, accusative)	[sauli]	sun

The noun "saule" changes to "sauli" in the accusative case.

Neuter Nouns[edit | edit source]

Neuter nouns ending in a consonant or a soft sign "-s" add the suffix "-u" in the accusative case. For example:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
laiks (time)	[laiks]	time
laiku (time, accusative)	[laiku]	time

The noun "laiks" becomes "laiku" in the accusative case.

Neuter nouns ending in a vowel or a hard sign "-š" add the suffix "-i" in the accusative case. For example:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
dēlis (board)	[deːlis]	board
dēli (board, accusative)	[deːli]	board

Here, the noun "dēlis" changes to "dēli" in the accusative case.

Plural Nouns[edit | edit source]

In the case of plural nouns, regardless of gender, the accusative case is formed by adding the suffix "-us" or "-is" to the end of the noun. For example:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
zvaigznes (stars)	[zvaɪɡznes]	stars
zvaigznes (stars, accusative)	[zvaɪɡznes]	stars

As you can see, the plural noun "zvaigznes" remains the same in the accusative case.

Usage of the Accusative Case[edit | edit source]

Now that we have a good understanding of how to form the accusative case, let's explore its usage in Latvian sentences. The accusative case is primarily used to indicate the direct object of a verb or a preposition. Let's look at some examples:

Direct Objects[edit | edit source]

In a sentence, the direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. In Latvian, the direct object is usually in the accusative case. For example:

Es redzu zēnu. (I see a boy.)
Viņa lasa grāmatu. (She is reading a book.)

In these sentences, "zēnu" (boy) and "grāmatu" (book) are the direct objects, and they are in the accusative case.

Prepositions[edit | edit source]

Certain prepositions in Latvian also require the use of the accusative case. Here are some examples:

Es ejos pa ielu. (I am walking along the street.)
Viņš iet uz darbu. (He is going to work.)

In these sentences, the prepositions "pa" (along) and "uz" (to) require the use of the accusative case.

Exceptions and Special Cases[edit | edit source]

While the general rules for forming the accusative case apply to most nouns, there are some exceptions and special cases to be aware of. Let's explore a few of them:

Nouns with a Stem Change[edit | edit source]

Some nouns undergo a stem change in the accusative case. For example:

zirgs (horse) → zirgu (horse, accusative)
dāma (lady) → dāmu (lady, accusative)

In these cases, the stem of the noun changes, and the accusative suffix is added to the modified stem.

Nouns with a Vowel Change[edit | edit source]

Some nouns undergo a vowel change in the accusative case. For example:

tēvs (father) → tēvu (father, accusative)
māte (mother) → māti (mother, accusative)

In these cases, the vowel in the stem of the noun changes, and the accusative suffix is added to the modified stem.

Nouns with Irregular Forms[edit | edit source]

There are also some nouns that have irregular forms in the accusative case. For example:

cilvēks (person) → cilvēku (person, accusative)
pilsēta (city) → pilsētu (city, accusative)

In these cases, the accusative form of the noun does not follow the regular pattern, and it must be memorized.

Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]

Understanding the accusative case is not only important for language proficiency, but it also provides insights into Latvian culture and society. The accurate use of the accusative case allows for clear communication and precise expression of thoughts and ideas. Latvians take pride in their language and appreciate when foreigners make an effort to learn and use Latvian correctly. By mastering the accusative case, you will be able to engage more deeply with the Latvian people and their rich cultural heritage.

Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Here are some exercises to help you solidify your understanding of the accusative case. Translate the following sentences into Latvian, making sure to use the correct form of the accusative case.

1. I see a cat. 2. She is eating an apple. 3. We are reading a book. 4. He is writing a letter. 5. They are watching a movie.

Solutions[edit | edit source]

Here are the solutions to the exercises:

1. Es redzu kaķi. 2. Viņa ēd ābolu. 3. Mēs lasām grāmatu. 4. Viņš raksta vēstuli. 5. Viņi skatās filmu.

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on the accusative case and direct objects in Latvian. You have learned how to form and use the accusative case to indicate direct objects in sentences, and you have gained valuable insights into Latvian culture and society. Keep practicing and applying what you have learned, and your proficiency in Latvian will continue to grow.

Table of Contents - Standard Latvian Course - 0 to A1[edit source]

Course Presentation

Introduction to Latvian grammar

Daily life and routines

Latvian traditions and customs

Verbs and tenses

Going shopping and using public transport

Latvian geography and landmarks

Adverbs and prepositions

Leisure activities and hobbies

Latvian arts and museums

The accusative case and indirect objects

Education and employment

Latvian history and politics

Conditional and subjunctive mood

Travel and tourism

Latvian culture and identity

The genitive and possessive forms

Health and wellness

Latvian sports and outdoor activities

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

◀️ Latvian museums and exhibitions — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Indirect objects and the dative case ▶️

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+<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Standard-latvian|Standard Latvian]]  → [[Language/Standard-latvian/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Standard-latvian/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → The accusative case and indirect objects → The accusative case and direct objects</div>
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 == Introduction ==
-In this lesson, we will learn about the accusative case and how to use it with direct objects in Latvian sentences. This is an important aspect of the language and mastering it will allow you to express yourself more accurately and effectively.
+In the study of any language, understanding the different cases is essential for constructing accurate and meaningful sentences. One of the most important cases in the Latvian language is the accusative case. In this lesson, we will explore the accusative case and its role in indicating direct objects in Latvian sentences. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid understanding of how to form and use the accusative case, allowing you to express yourself more effectively in Latvian.
-Before we dive deeper into the accusative case, let's review some basic Latvian sentence structure. In Latvian, the word order is generally subject-verb-object, just like in English. Let's look at an example:
-"Es lasu grāmatu." (I am reading a book.)
-Here, "Es" (I) is the subject, "lasu" (am reading) is the verb, and "grāmatu" (book) is the direct object.
-In order to correctly form sentences with direct objects, we need to use the accusative case. Let's see how it works.
+== The Accusative Case ==
-=== What is the accusative case? ===
+The accusative case is used to indicate the direct object of a verb or a preposition. In Latvian, the accusative case is formed by adding the suffix "-u" or "-i" to the end of the noun, depending on its gender, number, and declension. Let's take a closer look at how the accusative case is formed for different noun types:
-The accusative case is used to indicate a direct object in a sentence. In other words, if the subject of the sentence is doing something to something or someone else, that something or someone else will be in the accusative case.
+=== Masculine Nouns ===
-In Latvian, the accusative case is most commonly formed by adding "-u" to the end of a masculine noun, or "-u/-i" to the end of a feminine noun. Let's look at some examples:
+Masculine nouns ending in a consonant or a soft sign "-s" add the suffix "-u" in the accusative case. For example:
 {| class="wikitable"
 ! Standard Latvian !! Pronunciation !! English
 |-
-| Zēns || [ze:ns] || boy
+| puisis (boy) || [puɪsis] || boy
-|-
-| Dators || [da:tors] || computer
 |-
-| Skola || [skola] || school
+| puisi (boy, accusative) || [puɪsi] || boy
-|-
-| Māja || [ma:ja] || house
 |}
-To form the accusative case of these nouns, we simply add "-u" or "-i" to the end, depending on the gender:
+As you can see, the noun "puisis" changes to "puisi" in the accusative case.
+Masculine nouns ending in a vowel or a hard sign "-š" add the suffix "-i" in the accusative case. For example:
 {| class="wikitable"
 ! Standard Latvian !! Pronunciation !! English
 |-
-| Zēnu || [ze:nu] || boy (accusative)
+| draugs (friend) || [drauɡs] || friend
-|-
-| Datoru || [da:toru] || computer (accusative)
-|-
-| Skolu || [skolu] || school (accusative)
 |-
-| Māju || [ma:ju] || house (accusative)
+| draugu (friend, accusative) || [drauɡu] || friend
 |}
-As you can see, the accusative case is indicated by the ending of the noun, not by its position in the sentence. Let's look at some examples of how to use the accusative case.
+Here, the noun "draugs" changes to "draugu" in the accusative case.
-=== Using the accusative case with direct objects ===
+=== Feminine Nouns ===
-In the sentence "Es lasu grāmatu." (I am reading a book.), "grāmatu" (book) is the direct object. To indicate this, we use the accusative case by adding "-u" to the end of the word, which becomes "grāmatu" in this case.
+Feminine nouns ending in a consonant or a soft sign "-s" add the suffix "-u" in the accusative case. For example:
-Here are some more examples:
+{| class="wikitable"
+! Standard Latvian !! Pronunciation !! English
+|-
+| zeme (earth) || [zeme] || earth
+|-
+| zemi (earth, accusative) || [zemi] || earth
+|}
-* Es redzu zēnu. (I see a boy.) - "zēnu" (boy) is in the accusative case.
+The noun "zeme" becomes "zemi" in the accusative case.
-* Viņš lasa ziņas. (He's reading the news.) - "ziņas" (news) is in the accusative case.
-* Māte cep maizi. (Mother is baking bread.) - "maizi" (bread) is in the accusative case.
-Note that the accusative case does not apply to feminine nouns in the plural form. In this case, the ending "-as" is simply replaced by "-as" or "-us" depending on the vowel. For example:
+Feminine nouns ending in a vowel or a hard sign "-š" add the suffix "-i" in the accusative case. For example:
-* Meitenes ēd saldējumu. (The girls are eating ice cream.) - "saldējumu" (ice cream) is in the accusative case.
+{| class="wikitable"
+! Standard Latvian !! Pronunciation !! English
+|-
+| saule (sun) || [saule] || sun
+|-
+| sauli (sun, accusative) || [sauli] || sun
+|}
-=== Exceptions to accusative formation ===
+The noun "saule" changes to "sauli" in the accusative case.
-There are some nouns that do not follow the typical accusative case formation. Some of the most common exceptions are:
+=== Neuter Nouns ===
-* Nouns ending in "-s" - in this case, the accusative ending is "-u/-i", but the "-s" is dropped. For example, "viens solis" (one step) becomes "vienu soli" in the accusative case.
+Neuter nouns ending in a consonant or a soft sign "-s" add the suffix "-u" in the accusative case. For example:
-* Nouns ending in "-š" - in this case, the accusative ending is "-u/-i", but the "-š" is replaced by "-i". For example, "mežs" (forest) becomes "mežu" in the accusative case.
-* Nouns ending in "-is" - in this case, the accusative ending is "-u/-i", but the "-is" is replaced by "-i". For example, "galds" (table) becomes "galdu" in the accusative case.
-* Nouns ending in "-us" - in this case, the accusative ending is simply "-u". For example, "alus" (beer) becomes "alu" in the accusative case.
-It's important to note that there are many exceptions to these exceptions, so it's always a good idea to check a Latvian grammar book or online resource if you're not sure about a particular word.
+{| class="wikitable"
+! Standard Latvian !! Pronunciation !! English
+|-
+| laiks (time) || [laiks] || time
+|-
+| laiku (time, accusative) || [laiku] || time
+|}
-=== Using the accusative case with pronouns ===
+The noun "laiks" becomes "laiku" in the accusative case.
-In addition to nouns, pronouns can also take the accusative case when used as direct objects. To form the accusative case of pronouns, we simply add "-u" (for masculine and feminine), or "-i" (for neuter) to the end. Here are some examples:
+Neuter nouns ending in a vowel or a hard sign "-š" add the suffix "-i" in the accusative case. For example:
 {| class="wikitable"
 ! Standard Latvian !! Pronunciation !! English
 |-
-| Es || [es] || I
+| dēlis (board) || [deːlis] || board
-|-
-| Tu || [tu] || You (singular)
 |-
-| Viņš || [vi:ns] || He
+| dēli (board, accusative) || [deːli] || board
-|-
-| Viņa || [vi:na] || She
-|-
-| Mēs || [me:s] || We
-|-
-| Jūs || [ju:s] || You (plural)
-|-
-| Viņi || [vi:ni] || They (masculine or mixed gender)
-|-
-| Viņas || [vi:nas] || They (feminine)
-|-
-| Tas || [tas] || It (neuter)
 |}
-To form the accusative case of these pronouns, we simply add "-u" or "-i" to the end, depending on the gender:
+Here, the noun "dēlis" changes to "dēli" in the accusative case.
+=== Plural Nouns ===
+In the case of plural nouns, regardless of gender, the accusative case is formed by adding the suffix "-us" or "-is" to the end of the noun. For example:
 {| class="wikitable"
 ! Standard Latvian !! Pronunciation !! English
 |-
-| Mani || [ma:ni] || Me (accusative)
+| zvaigznes (stars) || [zvaɪɡznes] || stars
-|-
-| Tevi || [te:vi] || You (singular, accusative)
-|-
-| Viņu || [vi:nu] || Him (accusative)
-|-
-| Viņu || [vi:nu] || Her (accusative)
-|-
-| Mūs || [mu:s] || Us (accusative)
-|-
-| Jūs || [ju:s] || You (plural, accusative)
-|-
-| Viņus || [vi:nus] || Them (masculine or mixed gender, accusative)
 |-
-| Viņas || [vi:nas] || Them (feminine, accusative)
+| zvaigznes (stars, accusative) || [zvaɪɡznes] || stars
-|-
-| To || [to] || It (neuter, accusative)
 |}
-Here are some examples of how to use the accusative case with pronouns:
+As you can see, the plural noun "zvaigznes" remains the same in the accusative case.
+== Usage of the Accusative Case ==
+Now that we have a good understanding of how to form the accusative case, let's explore its usage in Latvian sentences. The accusative case is primarily used to indicate the direct object of a verb or a preposition. Let's look at some examples:
+=== Direct Objects ===
+In a sentence, the direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. In Latvian, the direct object is usually in the accusative case. For example:
+* Es redzu zēnu. (I see a boy.)
+* Viņa lasa grāmatu. (She is reading a book.)
+In these sentences, "zēnu" (boy) and "grāmatu" (book) are the direct objects, and they are in the accusative case.
+=== Prepositions ===
+Certain prepositions in Latvian also require the use of the accusative case. Here are some examples:
+* Es ejos pa ielu. (I am walking along the street.)
+* Viņš iet uz darbu. (He is going to work.)
+In these sentences, the prepositions "pa" (along) and "uz" (to) require the use of the accusative case.
+== Exceptions and Special Cases ==
+While the general rules for forming the accusative case apply to most nouns, there are some exceptions and special cases to be aware of. Let's explore a few of them:
+=== Nouns with a Stem Change ===
+Some nouns undergo a stem change in the accusative case. For example:
-* Es tevi redzu. (I see you.) - "tevi" (you) is in the accusative case.
+* zirgs (horse) → zirgu (horse, accusative)
-* Viņas iegādājas rotaļlietas. (She's buying toys.) - "rotaļlietas" (toys) is in the accusative case.
+* dāma (lady) → dāmu (lady, accusative)
-It's worth noting that Latvian frequently omits the subject pronoun altogether when it is clear from the context who is doing the action. This is similar to how Spanish and other languages work.
+In these cases, the stem of the noun changes, and the accusative suffix is added to the modified stem.
+=== Nouns with a Vowel Change ===
+Some nouns undergo a vowel change in the accusative case. For example:
+* tēvs (father) → tēvu (father, accusative)
+* māte (mother) → māti (mother, accusative)
+In these cases, the vowel in the stem of the noun changes, and the accusative suffix is added to the modified stem.
+=== Nouns with Irregular Forms ===
+There are also some nouns that have irregular forms in the accusative case. For example:
+* cilvēks (person) → cilvēku (person, accusative)
+* pilsēta (city) → pilsētu (city, accusative)
+In these cases, the accusative form of the noun does not follow the regular pattern, and it must be memorized.
+== Cultural Insights ==
+Understanding the accusative case is not only important for language proficiency, but it also provides insights into Latvian culture and society. The accurate use of the accusative case allows for clear communication and precise expression of thoughts and ideas. Latvians take pride in their language and appreciate when foreigners make an effort to learn and use Latvian correctly. By mastering the accusative case, you will be able to engage more deeply with the Latvian people and their rich cultural heritage.
+== Exercises ==
+Now it's time to practice what you've learned! Here are some exercises to help you solidify your understanding of the accusative case. Translate the following sentences into Latvian, making sure to use the correct form of the accusative case.
+. I see a cat.
+. She is eating an apple.
+. We are reading a book.
+. He is writing a letter.
+. They are watching a movie.
+== Solutions ==
+Here are the solutions to the exercises:
+. Es redzu kaķi.
+. Viņa ēd ābolu.
+. Mēs lasām grāmatu.
+. Viņš raksta vēstuli.
+. Viņi skatās filmu.
 == Conclusion ==
-In this lesson, we have learned about the accusative case and how to use it to indicate direct objects in Latvian sentences. We have seen how
+Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on the accusative case and direct objects in Latvian. You have learned how to form and use the accusative case to indicate direct objects in sentences, and you have gained valuable insights into Latvian culture and society. Keep practicing and applying what you have learned, and your proficiency in Latvian will continue to grow.
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 * [[Language/Standard-latvian/Grammar/Future-Tense|Future Tense]]
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