Я считаю этот урок интересным.

I

Breakdown of Я считаю этот урок интересным.

• интересный: interesting
• этот: this
• урок: the lesson

Questions & Answers about Я считаю этот урок интересным.

What does the verb считать mean in this sentence? I thought it meant “to count.”

Считать has two main meanings in Russian:

1. To count (do arithmetic):

   • Я считаю деньги. – I am counting the money.

2. To consider / to regard / to think of something as:

   • Я считаю этот урок интересным. – I consider this lesson (to be) interesting.

In your sentence it has the second meaning: you are expressing an opinion/judgment about the lesson, not doing math.

Why is этот урок in the accusative case?

Этот урок is in the accusative because it is the direct object of the verb считать in the meaning “to consider.”

Structure:

• Я – subject (nominative)
• считаю – verb
• этот урок – direct object (accusative)
• интересным – what you consider the object to be (predicate in instrumental)

This pattern is standard:

• Я считаю его хорошим учителем. – I consider him a good teacher.
  
  • его – accusative (object)
  • хорошим учителем – instrumental (what you consider him to be)