Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Problem with the Accusative

  1. #1
    Почтенный гражданин Misha Tal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Tehran, Iran
    Posts
    154
    Rep Power
    10

    Problem with the Accusative

    Take a look at this, please:
    — Вы довольно пошлый человек, — возражал Бендер, — вы любите деньги больше, чем надо.
    — А вы не любите денег? — взвыл Ипполит Матвеевич голосом флейты.

    From "Двенадцать стульев".
    The problem is clear enough: "You like money"/"Don't you like money?". In both cases, "money" is the direct object, whereas it is expressed in both nominative and genitive in the passage above.
    I have already had the same problem with other inanimate masculine nouns. With feminine nouns, it's easy. But the animacy rule makes the declension of masculine nouns kinda topsy-turvy.
    Could anyone please elaborate?!
    Thanks.
    "If in the end, Misha, you are destined to lose this game, there is no need for the reason to be cowardice!"

  2. #2
    Почтенный гражданин
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    510
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: Problem with the Accusative

    Quote Originally Posted by Misha Tal
    Take a look at this, please:
    — Вы довольно пошлый человек, — возражал Бендер, — вы любите деньги больше, чем надо.
    — А вы не любите денег? — взвыл Ипполит Матвеевич голосом флейты.

    From "Двенадцать стульев".
    The problem is clear enough: "You like money"/"Don't you like money?".
    I have a gut feeling that I.M.'s phrase is constructed (by authors) deliberately with wrong grammar, to resemble "нет денег" case with negation. it should be "а вы не любите деньги?"
    Russian is tough, let’s go shopping!

  3. #3
    Подающий надежды оратор
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Russia
    Posts
    11
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Problem with the Accusative

    "Вы не любите денег?" sounds to me a bit outdated or regional.

    (Corrections are appreciated)

  4. #4
    Завсегдатай chaika's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Чапелхилловка, NC USA
    Posts
    1,986
    Rep Power
    19

    Re: Problem with the Accusative

    Take out your grammar and read about the direct objects of negated verbs. Hint: the genitive is used. It applies to feminine nouns as well: Я читал книгу. Я не читал книги. (I did not read the book.) Usage is in a bit of a state of flux, has been for a few decades, but there you go.

  5. #5
    Почётный участник
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    102
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Problem with the Accusative

    "Вы не любите денег?" sounds quite regional. Both authors of "The 12 Chairs" were from Odessa, Ukraine, and their language is under strong Jewish "Odessit" influence.

    "Вы-таки не любите денег? Та шо вы-таки ховорите?"

  6. #6
    Увлечённый спикер mudrets's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    США - моя родина.
    Posts
    50
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: Problem with the Accusative

    Quote Originally Posted by chaika
    Usage is in a bit of a state of flux, has been for a few decades, but there you go.
    Which way is the usage going these days? Is it leaning toward the accusative case or toward the genitive in negative sentences?

    K какому образу словоупотребление ныне идёт? Склоняется к винительному падежу или к родительному в отрицательных предложениях?


    Please correct my mistakes.
    Пожалуйста исправьте мои ошибки.

  7. #7
    Почётный участник
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    102
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Problem with the Accusative

    I believe accusative is more common now, as uniform in positive and negative sentences. I would say "я не люблю колбасу" ("я не люблю колбасы" now sounds a bit weird). There is some fluctuancy, however, e.g. "принес воду" (acc.) - "не принес воды" (gen.)

  8. #8
    Почтенный гражданин Misha Tal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Tehran, Iran
    Posts
    154
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Problem with the Accusative

    Thanks everyone! Indeed, I still have much to learn in the way of grammar. Russian grammar never fails to surprise me!
    "If in the end, Misha, you are destined to lose this game, there is no need for the reason to be cowardice!"

  9. #9
    Завсегдатай sperk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    США
    Posts
    2,285
    Rep Power
    16

    Re: Problem with the Accusative

    the gen. & acc. can be used after a negated transitive verb. The gen. is preferred in generalized statements:
    Я не вижу стола - I don't see a table (any table, not a specific one.)

    Hence, Я не люблю денег would be alright as it's a general item, money in general.

    Compare:
    - Меня ограбили.
    - Мы что, не найдем эти деньги? The money they're talking about
    Кому - нары, кому - Канары.

Similar Threads

  1. Accusative case page
    By sapien in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: November 21st, 2009, 12:28 PM
  2. Accusative case
    By pberardi in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: January 8th, 2009, 07:41 AM
  3. some questions about the accusative case
    By луна in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: January 13th, 2006, 12:28 PM
  4. с + genitive, с + accusative, с + intstrumental
    By kwatts59 in forum Grammar and Vocabulary
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: April 22nd, 2005, 02:19 PM
  5. why so much accusative?
    By Dogboy182 in forum Translate This!
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: November 21st, 2003, 12:25 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  


Russian Lessons                           

Russian Tests and Quizzes            

Russian Vocabulary