The examples in the question are neither in Genitive case, nor in Accusative case. They are in a lesser know *Partitive case.* Please see this excellent answer: [What are the lesser known Russian cases?](https://russian.stackexchange.com/a/405/4903) Sometimes nouns in Partitive case coincide with their forms in Genitive case, but sometimes they have their own form. Here are some examples: > **Чай / tea** — Genitive: *Нет чая;* Accusative: *Я люблю чай;* Partitive: *Налейте стакан чаю.* > **Сахар / sugar** — Genitive: *Нет сахара;* Accusative: *Я люблю сахар;* Partitive: *Насыпьте ложку сахару.* > **Воздух / air** — Genitive: *Без воздуха;* Accusative: *Мне нужен воздух;* Partitive: *Хочу хоть глоток воздуха.* > **Вода/ water** — Genitive: *Из воды;* Accusative: *Включите воду;* Partitive: *Плесните немного воды.* > **Горчица / mustard** — Genitive: *Нет горчицы;* Accusative: *Купите горчицу;* Partitive: *Возьмите ложку горчицы.* In such examples where in English one would say: "I want *some water/some tea/some sugar/some peace/etc.*", in Russian one would use Partitive case.