Feminine Direct Objects
In the previous lesson, you learned that inanimate masculine and neuter nouns don't change their form when they become direct objects. However, feminine nouns do!
Most feminine nouns end in -a in their dictionary form (the Nominative case). When a feminine noun is the direct object of a sentence—the thing receiving the action—that -a ending changes to -u to form the Accusative case.
For example, karta (ticket) becomes kartu, and voda (water) becomes vodu.
| I need a ticket. | Trebam kartu. |
| The man needs water. | Čovjek treba vodu. |
Everyday Actions
This rule applies whenever a feminine noun is the target of an action, such as needing (trebati), listening to (slušati), or cooking (kuhati).
| We often listen to music. | Često slušamo glazbu. |
| Mother is cooking soup. | Majka kuha juhu. |
Notice how glazba (music) becomes glazbu and juha (soup) becomes juhu.
Eating, Carrying, and Wearing
You will also use the -u ending with everyday verbs like eating (jesti) and carrying or wearing (nositi).
| The child is eating an apple. | Dijete jede jabuku. |
| I am wearing a t-shirt today. | Danas nosim majicu. |
Even in negative sentences or questions, the direct object still takes the Accusative case.
| Why are you eating a salad? | Zašto jedeš salatu? |
| You are reading a book now. | Sada čitaš knjigu. |