If you’re studying Russian, you’ve probably noticed that verbs often “govern” certain cases. One common verb that can be tricky for learners is боя́ться (to be afraid of).
🔹 In standard Russian, боя́ться is followed by the genitive case:
- Я бою́сь ма́мы.
- Мы бои́мся темноты́.
🔹 In colloquial Russian, you may also hear the accusative case:
- Я бою́сь ма́му.
- Мы бои́мся темноту́.
Both forms exist, but the genitive case is what you’ll want to use in writing, formal speech, and tests.
💡 Tip for learners of Russian: If in doubt, choose the genitive case. It will always sound natural and correct.
