Declensions of nouns are closely connected to noun cases. The ending of a noun in each case depends on its declension. There are three declensions of nouns in Russian:
The nouns of the first declension are masculine and feminine nouns ending in а and я (including nouns of general gender): книга (book), мужчина (man), соня (sleepyhead).
The second declension: masculing nouns ending in a consonant or neutral nouns ending in о or е: поле (field), конь (horse, masculine), остров (island), кот (cat).
The third declension: feminine nouns ending in ь (Soft Sign): дочь (daughter), ночь (night), лошадь (horse, feminine).
Let’s see how noun of each declension changes in accusative case (when a noun is an object of a direct action).
I declension:
Nominative case (dictionary form) |
Accusative case |
In a sentence |
книга |
книгу |
Я читаю книгу. – I read/am reading a book. |
мужчина |
мужчину |
Я знаю этого мужчину, – I know this man. |
соня |
соню |
Разбуди этого соню! – Wake this sleepyhead up! |
It is simple: if the noun ends in а it becomes у, if the noun ends in я it becomes ю.
II declension:
Nominative case (dictionary form) |
Accusative case |
In a sentence |
поле |
поле |
Я вижу поле. – I see a field. |
конь |
коня |
Я седлаю коня. – I saddle up a horse. |
остров |
остров |
Я хочу собственный остров. – I want my own island. |
кот |
кота |
Я глажу кота. – I stroke the cat. |
As you can see, there is no changes
III declension:
Nominative case (dictionary form) |
Accusative case |
In a sentence |
дочь |
дочь |
Я люблю свою дочь. – I love my daughter. |
ночь |
ночь |
Я помню ту ночь. – I remember that night. |
лошадь |
лошадь |
Я седлаю лошадь. – I saddle up a horse. |
Here is a good news: no changes in accusative case for the III declension, whew!
To see all case endings, check the lesson about noun cases.