Biernik Case - when and how to use

Biernik is the 'accusative' case & is one of many cases in the Polish language. It has a few more endings than the instrumental case "Narzędnik".

 

So when do we use Biernik?

We use the accusative case when referencing a direct object. e.g.

• Darren je czekoladę (Darren is eating chocolate)

 

This sentence can be broken down into:

• 'Subject' - Darren,
• 'Verb' - je
• 'Direct Object (Accusative)' - czekoladę

 

The Polish word for chocolate is actually czekolada with an 'a' at the end.  Because the word chocolate is the direct object in this sentence the ending will change to czekoladę.

 

If we change the sentence and make chocolate the subject it will use it's Mianownik (Nominative) case.

• Czekolada jest smaczna (Chocolate is tasty)

 

Biernik case can be used after the following verbs:

1. jeść (to eat)
2. mieć (to have)
3. kochać (to love)
4. robić (to make/do)
5. czytać (to read)

.......and many others.

 

What are the different endings for Biernik case?

 

There are 4 different categories for singular:

1. Masculine (Alive)
2. Masculine (Inanimate)  
3. Feminine
4. Neuter

 

Masculine (Alive)

 

This applies to objects that breathe i.e. chłopiec (boy), słoń (elephant)

The endings for masculine (alive) are:

• Verb -ego
• Noun -a

 

Example

1. Mam Wysokiego brata (I have a tall brother)

 

Masculine (Inanimate)

 

This applies to objects that are categorised as masculine but do not breathe. i.e. dom (house), autobus (bus)

 

The endings for masculine (Inanimate) do not change. They stay the same as they would be in their mianownik case:

 

Example

1. Mam nowy komputer. (I have a new computer)

Feminine

 

This applies to all objects that are categorised as feminine. i.e. kanapka (sandwich), herbata (tea), mama (mum)

 

The endings for feminine are:

• Verb -ą
• Noun -ę

 

Example

1. mam piękną żonę (I have a beautiful wife)

Neuter

 

This applies to all objects that are categorised as neutral. i.e. dziecko (child), piwo (beer), oko (eye)

The endings for neuter do not change. They stay the same as they would be in their mianownik case:

 

Example

1. lubię czerwone wino. (I like red wine)

 

Table of Biernik Endings

 

Gender	Adjective ending	Noun ending
Masculine (Alive)	-ego	-a
Masculine (Inactive)	No change	No change
Feminine	-ą	-ę
Neuter	No change	No change

 

Plural Endings - Biernik

 

Gender	Adjective ending	Noun ending
Masculine/Feminine	-e (or -ie if the last character is a 'k' or a 'g')	-y (or -i if the last character is a 'k' or a 'g')
Neuter	-e	-a

 

Practice

I've created a tool to help me practice, why not practice your Biernik.

Accusative Exercises

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