Serbian Accusative Personal Pronouns
Understanding Accusative Personal Pronouns in Serbian
The accusative case in Serbian is used to indicate the direct object of a sentence—the person or thing directly receiving the action of the verb. Unlike some serbian language courses that introduce the genitive case immediately after the nominative, it is more practical to learn the accusative case next. This is because sentences often contain both a subject and an object, making the accusative case highly relevant in everyday conversation.
Just like other cases, the accusative involves changes to nouns and pronouns, including personal pronouns.
Note: It’s important to first learn the personal pronouns in the nominative case before proceeding to their accusative forms.
Personal Pronouns in Nominative and Accusative Cases
| English | Nominative | Accusative |
| I | ja | mene / me |
| you (singular) | ti | tebe / te |
| he | on | njega / ga |
| she | ona | nju / je |
| it | ono | njega / ga |
| we | mi | nas |
| you (plural) | vi | vas |
| they | oni | njih / ih |
Example:
English: I saw you.
- I – subject
- saw – verb (past tense)
- you – object (we will apply the accusative here)
Serbian:
- Videla sam tebe. / Videla sam te.
Note: The verb form “videla sam” indicates that the speaker is female. If the speaker is male, it would be “video sam.” Check this post for more explanation about serbian past tense.
We do not use “ti” (nominative form of “you”) here because “you” in this sentence is the object. Instead, we use the accusative forms “tebe” or “te.” The accusative case is applied to the object of the sentence.
- Long form: Videla sam tebe.
- Short form: Videla sam te.
Usage Tips:
- The long form (tebe) is often used for emphasis or when the object is placed at the beginning of the sentence:
- Tebe sam videla. (It’s you I saw.)
- The short form (te) is commonly used when the object comes after the verb or within the sentence:
- Videla sam te juče. (I saw you yesterday.)
If you’re just starting to learn Serbian, it’s advisable to use the long forms until you become more comfortable with when to use the short forms.
Additional Examples:
| English | Serbian |
| You saw me. | Videla si me / mene. |
| I saw him. | Videla sam ga / njega. |
| I saw her. | Videla sam je / nju. |
| They saw us. | Videli su nas. |
| They saw you (pl.). | Videli su vas. |
| They saw them. | Videli su ih / njih. |
Why Learning the Accusative Case Is Important
Mastering the accusative case will significantly advance your understanding of Serbian. It is one of the most frequently used cases, essential for everyday communication. By learning the accusative forms of personal pronouns, you’ll be able to construct more complex sentences and express yourself more clearly.
Tips for Learning:
- Practice Regularly: Use the accusative forms in sentences to become familiar with them.
- Understand the Context: Pay attention to whether the pronoun is the subject or the object to determine which case to use.
- Listen and Imitate: Exposure to spoken Serbian will help you grasp how native speakers use these forms.
Learning Serbian can be challenging, especially when it comes to grammatical cases. However, approaching it in a proper order step by step and understanding the function of each case will make the process smoother. Remember, the key is consistent practice and not being afraid to make mistakes as you learn.
Keep going, and soon you’ll find that using cases becomes more natural!
Note: For further study, consider reviewing topics such as Serbian verb conjugations, subject pronouns, and other grammatical cases to build a strong foundation in the language.
