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Learn how to form the accusative case (biernik) in Polish with common nouns like mama → mamę, tata → tatę, and dziecko → dziecko. Understand when to use biernik to express objects or persons affected by an action.
  1. The accusative case functions in a sentence as a direct object or an attribute, depending on which parts of speech appear in its form.
  2. If there are nouns, personal pronouns, or numerals in the accusative case, then it functions in the sentence as a direct object.
  3. The accusative case always occurs after the preposition przez.

Odmiana rzeczowników: mianownik → biernik (Noun declension: nominative → accusative)

mianownik (kto? co?) (nominative (who? what?))biernik (kogo? co?) (accusative (who? what?))
mama (mom)(mam) mamę ((I have) mum)
tata (dad)(mam) tatę ((I have) dad)
dziecko (child)(mam) dziecko ((I have) child)
brat (brother)(mam) brata ((I have) brother)
siostra (sister)(mam) siostrę ((I have) sister)
babcia (grandmother)(mam) babcię ((I have) grandmother)
dziadek (grandfather)(mam) dziadka ((I have) grandfather)
syn  (son)(mam) syna ((I have) son)
córka (daughter)(mam) córkę ((I have) daughter)

Exercise 1: Rzeczowniki w bierniku

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

siostrę, rodzinę, kolegę, brata, żonę, synów, kota, córkę

1.
Mam brata i ....
(I have a brother and a sister.)
2.
Michał ma ... i troje dzieci.
(Michał has a wife and three children.)
3.
Moja mama ma ....
(My mother has a brother.)
4.
Oni mają ....
(They have a daughter.)
5.
Moja siostra ma swoją ....
(My sister has her family.)
6.
On ma trzech ....
(He has three sons.)
7.
Mamy ... i psa.
(We have a cat and a dog.)
8.
Dziecko ma ....
(The child has a friend.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. To jest mój brat i to są _____ książki.

(This is my brother and these are _____ books.)

2. Ona opiekuje się _____ babcią.

(She takes care of _____ grandmother.)

3. Proszę, weź _____ torbę.

(Please, take _____ bag.)

4. Mój tata lubi _____ pracę.

(My dad likes _____ job.)

5. To są nasze dzieci, a to są _____ zabawki.

(These are our children, and these are _____ toys.)

6. Widzisz moją siostrę? To jest _____ rower.

(Do you see my sister? This is _____ bike.)

Nouns in the Accusative Case

This lesson covers the usage and formation of the accusative case (biernik) in Polish, which is the fourth grammatical case used to indicate the direct object of a verb — answering the questions "kogo?" (whom?) and "co?" (what?). Understanding the accusative case is essential for expressing who or what receives the action in a sentence.

Declension: Nominative to Accusative

Here are some examples showing how nouns change from the nominative case (subject) to the accusative case (direct object):

Nominative (kto? co?)Accusative (kogo? co?)
mama(mam) mamę
tata(mam) tatę
dziecko(mam) dziecko
brat(mam) brata
siostra(mam) siostrę
babcia(mam) babcię
dziadek(mam) dziadka
syn(mam) syna
córka(mam) córkę

Function of the Accusative Case

The accusative case identifies the direct object or the target of an action. It often appears after certain prepositions and with specific pronouns or numerals:

  • It answers whom? (kogo?) or what? (co?).
  • It functions as the direct object (dopełnienie bliższe) in sentences with nouns, personal pronouns, or numerals.
  • It is always used after the preposition przez (through/by).

Examples of Usage

Here are some practical phrases using the accusative case:

  • To jest mój brat i to są jego książki. (This is my brother and those are his books.)
  • Ona opiekuje się swoją babcią. (She takes care of her grandmother.)
  • Proszę, weź swoją torbę. (Please, take your bag.)
  • Mój tata lubi swoją pracę. (My dad likes his job.)
  • To są nasze dzieci, a to są ich zabawki. (These are our children and those are their toys.)
  • Widzisz moją siostrę? To jest jej rower. (Do you see my sister? This is her bike.)

Key Points and Useful Vocabulary

  • Biernik = accusative case in Polish.
  • Questions it answers: kogo? co?
  • Common accusative endings for feminine nouns often change -a to -ę (e.g., mama → mamę).
  • Masculine animate nouns typically add -a (e.g., brat → brata).

Differences Between English and Polish in Using the Accusative

Unlike English, which relies mostly on word order to mark the direct object, Polish uses noun declension to indicate the accusative case. For example, "I see my brother" is "Widzę mojego brata" in Polish, where "brata" clearly signals the direct object through its ending rather than position alone.

Useful verbs typically followed by the accusative case include:

  • widzieć (to see)
  • mieć (to have)
  • kupować (to buy)
  • kochać (to love)

Focusing on the appropriate endings for masculine and feminine nouns and remembering verb-preposition combinations will help you master the accusative case efficiently.

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Joanna Majchrowska

Master of Spanish Philology

University of Lodz

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Poland


Last Updated:

Wednesday, 15/10/2025 21:43