Grammar
The Prepositional Case
| What is Declension? |
|
You may remember that Russian has free word order, but that it doesn’t interfere with concise expression. Why? The Russian language is rich in inflections, i.e., various word endings; many words adopt endings or change according to their function in the sentence. Thus, nouns (together with words describing them such as adjectives and possessive pronouns) are declined, i.e. they change their endings depending on their role (function) in the sentence. There are six cases of declension in Russian and each of them has its own functions and endings. Certain prepositions and verbs are also very important tools: together with the endings they help to ‘build the case.’ The six cases in Russian are: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, and prepositional. We will deal with each case one at a time, and you will gradually learn how declension works. Attention: to grasp the declension system is to grasp a huge chunk of Russian grammar. As a matter of fact, you are already familiar with one of the six cases – nominative. All the nouns you have studied so far were in nominative, which is their basic “dictionary form.” This form is used when we name objects without a context – hence the term “nominative.” Within a context, the nominative case is used to denote the subject of the sentence, i.e. the person or thing performing the action. This case is a good starting point in learning Russian. You use it to name things. Now, with the introduction of the Prepositional Case, you will begin to learn how to express the relations between objects, people and places. |
Some exceptions: Non-declinable nouns
It’s good to know that there are a number of words that are not declinable – they remain unchanged throughout all the six cases. They are mostly of foreign origin:
| метро́ | кафе́ | меню́ | ра́дио | кино́ | пальто́ (overcoat) |
| такси́ | ко́фе | ви́ски | кенгуру́ | кака́о | пиани́но (piano) |
This list can be complemented by some foreign proper names whose endings do not fit into typical Russian endings’ pattern (Кри́сти, Лоре́йн, Cью́зан, etc.) which do not end in feminine A or Я and geographical names like Перу́, Чи́ли, Кенту́кки, Теннеси, including some of those which end in “O”: Онта́рио, Cан-Франци́ско, еtc. Abbreviations like США (USA) are not declinable either.
 :
The Prepositional (Locative) Case of Nouns
What’s in a name?</h4?
The prepositional case owes its name to the fact it is the only case that cannot be used without prepositions. This case also has the name ‘locative,’ owing to its most common function, denoting location.
Here is the general outline of this case.
I. Main Functions
- 1. Denoting location, with such prepositions as В (in, at) and НА (on, at).
- 2. Denoting the objects of thought, conversation, writing, etc., with the preposition О/ОБ/ОБО (about).
- 3. Denoting musical instruments that are played, with preposition HA (on).
II. Main Prepositions
В (in, at), НА (on, at), О/ОБ/ОБО (about)
III. Endings
E & И
IV. Most Common Verbs
быть – to be, быва́ть – to be, to visit, жить – to live, рабо́тать – to work, стоя́ть – to stand, лежа́ть – to be lying, сиде́ть – to be sitting + B or HA (in, on, at)
знать – to know, ду́мать – to think, говори́ть – to speak + O/ОБ/ОБО (about)
игра́ть – to play + HA + musical instrument
Don’t feel overwhelmed with all this information: we will deal with these various features of the case over the course of several lessons. In this lesson we’ll deal with only one function of the prepositional case: its ability to denote the place (whereabouts, location) of the subject. The prepositions “B” (in, at) and “HA” (on, at) are always active participants performing this function.
Since you can start using this case without verbs (the verb “to be” is usually omitted in the present tense, remember?), try to focus on the endings first.
How to construct the prepositional case
Е-ending
The “E”–ending is adopted by a vast majority of nouns in the Prepositional case.
| Nominative case: | cтол_ | музе́й↓ | слова́рь↓(m) | кни́га↓ | статья́↓ | окно́↓ |
| Prepositional case: | на столЕ́ | в музе́Е | в словарЕ́ | в кни́гЕ | в статьЕ́ | на окнЕ́ |
Here is how you decline prepositional case: add “E” to words which end in a hard consonant (they are all masculine by definition): университе́т – в университе́тE (at/in the university), стол – на столÉ (on the table). Masculine endings “Й” and “Ь,” as well as vowel endings of feminine and neuter nouns are dropped before “E” is added: музе́й – в музе́E (in the museum), cлова́рь (m) – в словарÉ (in the dictionary), кни́га – в кни́гE (in the book), статья́ – в статьÉ (in the article), окно́ – на окнÉ (on the window).
Memorize one important exception: до́ма. The word denotes “being at home” and no preposition is used with it. “В до́ме” means “in the house” or “in the building” but not “at home.”
Please note: The subject of the sentence, i.e. things or people whose location is indicated in the sentence remains in nominative!
Reading Practice
I. Read the following dialog from an elementary school class. Study any new words. Pay attention to the verb “есть” which can be translated here as “is” or “there is.”
В шко́ле
|
Учи́тельница: – Ребя́та, что есть в кла́ссе? Та́ня: – Доска́. Учи́тельница: – Что ещë? Пе́тя: – Часы́ есть в кла́ссе, они́ на стене́. Учи́тельница: – Хорошо́! Что ещë? Ка́тя: – Кни́га есть в кла́ссе, она́ лежи́т у вас на столе́. Учи́тельница: – Молоде́ц, Ка́тя! Ребя́та, что ещë есть в кла́ссе? Ю́ра: – Вы в кла́ссе, Ве́ра Ива́новна! Учи́тельница: – Ребя́та, я не «что», а «кто»! Но́вые слова́ребя́та – children, kids |
II. Read the next dialog out loud a few times. Study the new words and expressions
Ле́на и Ди́ма
|
Ле́на: – Ди́ма, у тебя́ есть маши́на? Ди́ма: – Коне́чно, есть. А что? Ле́на: – Про́сто интере́сно. А где она́ сейча́с, на у́лице? Ди́ма: – Нет, не на у́лице, она стои́т в гараже́. Ле́на: – А что ещë у тебя́ есть в гараже́? Ди́ма: – У меня́ ещë в гараже́ велосипе́д. А что? Ле́на: – Так, про́сто интере́сно. Дима: – Кака́я ты любопы́тная! Но́вые слова́:про́сто интере́сно (adv.) – Lit: simply interesting. Here: just curious. |
Survival Kit
Asking About Location
|
Извини́те, где нахо́дится Большо́й теа́тр? – Where is the Bolshoi Theater (located)? В це́нтре. – In the center (of the city). Э́то Большо́й теа́тр. Он нахо́дится в це́нтре. |