Animate accusative for masculine and plural

When the direct object is a person — the case shifts.

When you watch, see, or know a person or animal, the masculine accusative copies the genitive form (not the nominative as for inanimate things). Same rule applies to the plural.

Why a special rule?

In lesson 10 you saw that masculine inanimate accusative = nominative. But for people and animals, that's confusing — Иван видит врач could mean either 'Ivan sees the doctor' or 'the doctor sees Ivan'. Russian solves this by giving animate masculines a distinct accusative ending, identical to the genitive.

Masculine animate accusative = genitive

Иван (nom) → Ивана (acc/gen). Друг → друга. Учитель → учителя. Я знаю Ивана = I know Ivan. (Not Я знаю Иван.) Ты видишь друга? = Do you see (your) friend?

Feminine — no change from before

Feminine accusative is the same whether animate or inanimate: -а → -у, -я → -ю. Я вижу Анну (not Анна). Same rule as inanimate.

Plural — animate accusative = genitive plural

For plural objects that are people or animals, the accusative copies the genitive plural: Я знаю студентов (I know the students) — студентов is genitive plural. Я знаю книги stays as nominative plural — books are inanimate.

Pronouns

Personal pronouns in the accusative are the same as in the genitive: меня, тебя, его, её, нас, вас, их. Я знаю его = I know him. Я люблю её = I love her.

Examples

Я знаю Ивана.

I know Ivan.

Masculine animate → -а ending (same as genitive).

Я знаю Анну.

I know Anna.

Feminine — same as inanimate accusative.

Анна любит Ивана.

Anna loves Ivan.

Иван видит друга.

Ivan sees a friend.

Я знаю студентов.

I know the students.

Plural animate → genitive plural form.

Я знаю его.

I know him.

Pronoun — same as genitive.