Breakdown of Я прошу учителя повторить правило.
я
I
учитель
the teacher
правило
the rule
повторить
to repeat
Questions & Answers about Я прошу учителя повторить правило.
What case is учителя, and why does it look different from учитель?
Учителя is in the accusative singular and refers to an animate masculine noun.
- Dictionary form (nominative): учитель (teacher)
- Genitive singular: учителя
- Accusative singular (for animate masculine nouns): same form as genitive → учителя
In this sentence, учителя is the direct object of прошу (I ask), so it must be in the accusative. Because the noun is animate and masculine, the accusative takes the same ending as the genitive, not the nominative.
That is why you see учителя, not учитель.
Could I say Я прошу учитель instead of Я прошу учителя?
No, Я прошу учитель is incorrect.
You need the accusative form for the direct object of прошу:
- Я прошу кого? – учителя (whom do I ask? the teacher)
Using the nominative учитель would sound like you are starting a new clause where учитель is the subject (as if you were going to say The teacher does something), but nothing follows, so it is ungrammatical in this context.
Who is actually repeating the rule here — me or the teacher?