{"id":1912,"date":"2017-12-09T18:31:13","date_gmt":"2017-12-09T18:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/?page_id=1912"},"modified":"2025-10-22T19:25:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:25:21","slug":"%d1%83%d1%80%d0%be%d0%ba-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/chapter-4\/%d1%83%d1%80%d0%be%d0%ba-1\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0423\u0440\u043e\u043a 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grammar<\/h3>\n

The Prepositional Case<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
What is Declension?<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\nYou may remember that Russian has free word order, but that it doesn\u2019t 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<\/strong> (together with words describing them such as adjectives and possessive pronouns) are declined<\/strong>, i.e. they change their endings depending on their role (function) in the sentence.
\nThere 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 \u2018build the case.\u2019
\nThe 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. <\/p>\n

As a matter of fact, you are already familiar with one of the six cases \u2013 nominative.<\/strong> All the nouns you have studied so far were in nominative, which is their basic \u201cdictionary form.\u201d This form is used when we name objects without a context – hence the term \u201cnominative.\u201d<\/strong> Within a context, the nominative case is used to denote the subject of the sentence, i.e. the person or thing performing the action.<\/strong> 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.\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 
\nSome exceptions: Non-declinable nouns<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s good to know that there are a number of words that are not declinable \u2013 they remain unchanged throughout all the six cases. They are mostly of foreign origin: <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\u043c\u0435\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0301<\/td>\n\u043a\u0430\u0444\u0435\u0301<\/td>\n\u043c\u0435\u043d\u044e\u0301<\/td>\n\u0440\u0430\u0301\u0434\u0438\u043e<\/td>\n\u043a\u0438\u043d\u043e\u0301<\/td>\n\u043f\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0442\u043e\u0301 (overcoat)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u0442\u0430\u043a\u0441\u0438\u0301<\/td>\n\u043a\u043e\u0301\u0444\u0435<\/td>\n\u0432\u0438\u0301\u0441\u043a\u0438<\/td>\n\u043a\u0435\u043d\u0433\u0443\u0440\u0443\u0301<\/td>\n\u043a\u0430\u043a\u0430\u0301\u043e<\/td>\n\u043f\u0438\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0301\u043d\u043e (piano)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

This list can be complemented by some foreign proper names whose endings do not fit into typical Russian endings\u2019 pattern (\u041a\u0440\u0438\u0301\u0441\u0442\u0438, \u041b\u043e\u0440\u0435\u0301\u0439\u043d, C\u044c\u044e\u0301\u0437\u0430\u043d,<\/strong> etc.) which do not end in feminine A or \u042f and geographical names like \u041f\u0435\u0440\u0443\u0301, \u0427\u0438\u0301\u043b\u0438, \u041a\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0443\u0301\u043a\u043a\u0438, \u0422\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0435\u0441\u0438,<\/strong> including some of those which end in \u201cO\u201d: \u041e\u043d\u0442\u0430\u0301\u0440\u0438\u043e, C\u0430\u043d-\u0424\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0446\u0438\u0301\u0441\u043a\u043e,<\/strong> \u0435tc. Abbreviations like \u0421\u0428\u0410<\/strong> (USA) are not declinable either.
\n 
\n&nbsp:<\/p>\n

The Prepositional (Locative) Case of Nouns<\/p>\n

What’s in a name?<\/h4?<\/p>\n
\n

The prepositional case owes its name to the fact it is the only case that cannot be used without prepositions<\/strong>. This case also has the name \u2018locative,\u2019<\/strong> owing to its most common function, denoting location.
\nHere is the general outline of this case.
\n <\/p>\n

I. Main Functions<\/h5>\n
    1. Denoting location<\/strong>, with such prepositions as \u0412<\/strong> (in, at) and \u041d\u0410<\/strong> (on, at).<\/ol>\n
      2. Denoting the objects of thought, conversation, writing, etc.<\/strong>, with the preposition \u041e\/\u041e\u0411\/\u041e\u0411\u041e<\/strong> (about).<\/ol>\n
        3. Denoting musical instruments that are played<\/strong>, with preposition HA<\/strong> (on).<\/ol>\n

         <\/p>\n

        II. Main Prepositions<\/h5>\n

        \u0412<\/strong> (in, at), \u041d\u0410<\/strong> (on, at), \u041e\/\u041e\u0411\/\u041e\u0411\u041e<\/strong> (about)
        \n <\/p>\n

        III. Endings<\/h5>\n

        E<\/strong> & \u0418<\/strong>
        \n <\/p>\n

        IV. Most Common Verbs<\/h5>\n

        \u0431\u044b\u0442\u044c<\/strong> – to be, \u0431\u044b\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044c<\/strong> – to be, to visit, \u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c<\/strong> – to live, \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0301\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/strong> – to work, \u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u0301\u0442\u044c<\/strong> \u2013 to stand, \u043b\u0435\u0436\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044c<\/strong> \u2013 to be lying, \u0441\u0438\u0434\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044c<\/strong> \u2013 to be sitting + B<\/strong> or HA<\/strong> (in, on, at)
        \n\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/strong> – to know, \u0434\u0443\u0301\u043c\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/strong> – to think, \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0301\u0442\u044c<\/strong> – to speak + O\/\u041e\u0411\/\u041e\u0411\u041e<\/strong> (about)
        \n\u0438\u0433\u0440\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044c<\/strong> – to play + HA<\/strong> + musical instrument
        \n 
        \nDon\u2019t 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\u2019ll deal with only one function of the prepositional case: its ability to denote the place (whereabouts, location) of the subject. The prepositions \u201cB\u201d<\/strong> (in, at) and \u201cHA\u201d<\/strong> (on, at) are always active participants performing this function.
        \nSince 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.<\/strong>
        \n <\/p>\n

        How to construct the prepositional case<\/h3>\n

        \u0415-ending<\/h4>\n
        \n

        The \u201cE\u201d\u2013ending is adopted by a vast majority of nouns in the Prepositional case.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
        Nominative case:<\/strong><\/td>\nc\u0442\u043e\u043b_<\/td>\n\u043c\u0443\u0437\u0435\u0301\u0439\u2193<\/strong><\/td>\n\u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0440\u044c\u2193<\/strong>(m)<\/td>\n\u043a\u043d\u0438\u0301\u0433\u0430\u2193<\/strong><\/td>\n\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c\u044f\u0301\u2193<\/strong><\/td>\n\u043e\u043a\u043d\u043e\u0301\u2193<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Prepositional case:<\/strong><\/td>\n\u043d\u0430 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u043b\u0415\u0301<\/strong><\/td>\n\u0432 \u043c\u0443\u0437\u0435\u0301\u0415<\/strong><\/td>\n\u0432 \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0415\u0301<\/strong><\/td>\n\u0432 \u043a\u043d\u0438\u0301\u0433\u0415<\/strong><\/td>\n\u0432 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0415\u0301<\/strong><\/td>\n\u043d\u0430 \u043e\u043a\u043d\u0415\u0301<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

         
        \nHere is how you decline prepositional case: add “E”<\/strong> to words which end in a hard consonant (they are all masculine by definition): \u0443\u043d\u0438\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0441\u0438\u0442\u0435\u0301\u0442 – \u0432 \u0443\u043d\u0438\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0441\u0438\u0442\u0435\u0301\u0442E<\/strong> (at\/in the university), \u0441\u0442\u043e\u043b – \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u043bE\u0301<\/strong> (on the table). Masculine endings “\u0419” and \u201c\u042c,\u201d as well as vowel endings of feminine and neuter nouns are dropped before \u201cE\u201d is added:<\/strong> \u043c\u0443\u0437\u0435\u0301\u0439<\/strong> – \u0432 \u043c\u0443\u0437\u0435\u0301E<\/strong> (in the museum), c\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0440\u044c<\/strong> (m) – \u0432 \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0440E\u0301<\/strong> (in the dictionary), \u043a\u043d\u0438\u0301\u0433\u0430<\/strong> – \u0432 \u043a\u043d\u0438\u0301\u0433E<\/strong> (in the book), \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c\u044f\u0301<\/strong> – \u0432 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044cE\u0301<\/strong> (in the article), \u043e\u043a\u043d\u043e\u0301<\/strong> \u2013 \u043d\u0430 \u043e\u043a\u043dE\u0301<\/strong> (on the window).<\/p>\n

        Memorize one important exception: \u0434\u043e\u0301\u043c\u0430.<\/span><\/strong> The word denotes “being at home” and no preposition is used with it.<\/span> \u201c\u0412 \u0434\u043e\u0301\u043c\u0435\u201d means “in the house\u201d or \u201cin the building” but not “at home.\u201d
        \nPlease note: The subject<\/span><\/strong> of the sentence, i.e. things or people whose location is indicated in the sentence remains in nominative!<\/span><\/strong>
        \n 
        \n <\/p>\n

        Reading Practice<\/h3>\n

        I. Read the following dialog from an elementary school class. Study any new words. Pay attention to the verb \u201c\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c\u201d which can be translated here as \u201cis\u201d or \u201cthere is.\u201d<\/h4>\n
        \n

        \u0412 \u0448\u043a\u043e\u0301\u043b\u0435<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
        \n\u0423\u0447\u0438\u0301\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0430:<\/span> – \u0420\u0435\u0431\u044f\u0301\u0442\u0430, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u043a\u043b\u0430\u0301\u0441\u0441\u0435?
        \n\u0422\u0430\u0301\u043d\u044f:<\/span> – \u0414\u043e\u0441\u043a\u0430\u0301.
        \n\u0423\u0447\u0438\u0301\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0430:<\/span> – \u0427\u0442\u043e \u0435\u0449\u00eb?
        \n\u041f\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044f:<\/span> – \u0427\u0430\u0441\u044b\u0301 \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u043a\u043b\u0430\u0301\u0441\u0441\u0435, \u043e\u043d\u0438\u0301 \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u0442\u0435\u043d\u0435\u0301.
        \n\u0423\u0447\u0438\u0301\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0430:<\/span> – \u0425\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e\u0301! \u0427\u0442\u043e \u0435\u0449\u00eb?
        \n\u041a\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044f:<\/span> – \u041a\u043d\u0438\u0301\u0433\u0430 \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u043a\u043b\u0430\u0301\u0441\u0441\u0435, \u043e\u043d\u0430\u0301 \u043b\u0435\u0436\u0438\u0301\u0442 \u0443 \u0432\u0430\u0441 \u043d\u0430 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u043b\u0435\u0301.
        \n\u0423\u0447\u0438\u0301\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0430:<\/span> – \u041c\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u0435\u0301\u0446, \u041a\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044f! \u0420\u0435\u0431\u044f\u0301\u0442\u0430, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0435\u0449\u00eb \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u043a\u043b\u0430\u0301\u0441\u0441\u0435?
        \n\u042e\u0301\u0440\u0430:<\/span> – \u0412\u044b \u0432 \u043a\u043b\u0430\u0301\u0441\u0441\u0435, \u0412\u0435\u0301\u0440\u0430 \u0418\u0432\u0430\u0301\u043d\u043e\u0432\u043d\u0430!
        \n\u0423\u0447\u0438\u0301\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0430:<\/span> – \u0420\u0435\u0431\u044f\u0301\u0442\u0430, \u044f \u043d\u0435 \u00ab\u0447\u0442\u043e\u00bb, \u0430 \u00ab\u043a\u0442\u043e\u00bb!
        \n <\/p>\n

        \u041d\u043e\u0301\u0432\u044b\u0435 \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0301<\/h3>\n

        \u0440\u0435\u0431\u044f\u0301\u0442\u0430 \u2013 children, kids<\/span>
        \n\u0447\u0442\u043e \u0435\u0449\u00eb? \u2013 what else?<\/span>
        \n\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c – is, are (the present tense of \u201cto be\u201d)<\/span>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

         <\/p>\n

        II. Read the next dialog out loud a few times. Study the new words and expressions<\/h4>\n

        \u041b\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0430 \u0438 \u0414\u0438\u0301\u043c\u0430<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
        \n\u041b\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0430:<\/span> – \u0414\u0438\u0301\u043c\u0430, \u0443 \u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f\u0301 \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u043c\u0430\u0448\u0438\u0301\u043d\u0430?
        \n\u0414\u0438\u0301\u043c\u0430:<\/span> – \u041a\u043e\u043d\u0435\u0301\u0447\u043d\u043e, \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c. \u0410 \u0447\u0442\u043e?
        \n\u041b\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0430:<\/span> – \u041f\u0440\u043e\u0301\u0441\u0442\u043e \u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0301\u0441\u043d\u043e. \u0410 \u0433\u0434\u0435 \u043e\u043d\u0430\u0301 \u0441\u0435\u0439\u0447\u0430\u0301\u0441, \u043d\u0430 \u0443\u0301\u043b\u0438\u0446\u0435?
        \n\u0414\u0438\u0301\u043c\u0430:<\/span> – \u041d\u0435\u0442, \u043d\u0435 \u043d\u0430 \u0443\u0301\u043b\u0438\u0446\u0435, \u043e\u043d\u0430 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u0438\u0301\u0442 \u0432 \u0433\u0430\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435\u0301.
        \n\u041b\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0430:<\/span> – \u0410 \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0435\u0449\u00eb \u0443 \u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f\u0301 \u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u0433\u0430\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435\u0301?
        \n\u0414\u0438\u0301\u043c\u0430:<\/span> – \u0423 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f\u0301 \u0435\u0449\u00eb \u0432 \u0433\u0430\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435\u0301 \u0432\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0441\u0438\u043f\u0435\u0301\u0434. \u0410 \u0447\u0442\u043e?
        \n\u041b\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0430:<\/span> – \u0422\u0430\u043a, \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0301\u0441\u0442\u043e \u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0301\u0441\u043d\u043e.
        \n\u0414\u0438\u043c\u0430:<\/span> – \u041a\u0430\u043a\u0430\u0301\u044f \u0442\u044b \u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e\u043f\u044b\u0301\u0442\u043d\u0430\u044f!
        \n <\/p>\n

        \u041d\u043e\u0301\u0432\u044b\u0435 \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0301:<\/h3>\n
        \n

        \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0301\u0441\u0442\u043e \u0438\u043d\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0301\u0441\u043d\u043e (adv.) \u2013 Lit: simply interesting. Here: just curious.<\/span>
        \n\u0435\u0449\u00eb \u2013 here: also<\/span>
        \n\u0432\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0441\u0438\u043f\u0435\u0301\u0434 – bike<\/span>
        \n\u0442\u0430\u043a \u2013 so; here: \u2018no particular reason\u2019<\/span>
        \n\u0430 \u0447\u0442\u043e? \u2013 lit: and what? In contexts like this it means: Why?<\/span>
        \n\u043b\u044e\u0431\u043e\u043f\u044b\u0301\u0442\u043d\u0430\u044f – curious<\/span>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

         
        \n <\/p>\n

        Survival Kit<\/h3>\n

        Asking About Location<\/h3>\n
        \n\n\n\n
        \n\u0418\u0437\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0301\u0442\u0435, \u0433\u0434\u0435 \u043d\u0430\u0445\u043e\u0301\u0434\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0411\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u043e\u0301\u0439 \u0442\u0435\u0430\u0301\u0442\u0440? \u2013 Where is the Bolshoi Theater (located)?<\/span>
        \n\u0412 \u0446\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0442\u0440\u0435. \u2013 In the center (of the city).<\/span><\/p>\n

        \u042d\u0301\u0442\u043e \u0411\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u043e\u0301\u0439 \u0442\u0435\u0430\u0301\u0442\u0440. \u041e\u043d \u043d\u0430\u0445\u043e\u0301\u0434\u0438\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0432 \u0446\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0442\u0440\u0435.\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Grammar The Prepositional Case What is Declension? You may remember that Russian has free word order, but that it doesn\u2019t 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2300,"featured_media":0,"parent":1896,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"coauthors":[5],"class_list":["post-1912","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2300"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1912"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1912\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2123,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1912\/revisions\/2123"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.charlotte.edu\/friendly-russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=1912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}