Explaining Russian Cases

To anyone learning or starting to learn Russian, I am sure they have encountered this monster of a chart at some point (and if you have not, welcome). 

This is the chart for how to conjugate Russian cases. While the differences between the я дом and я в доме may look very small, it is the difference between saying I’m a house and I am in a house. 

So, let’s explain what each case means, what it does, and how to use them!

Nominative Case Именительный падеж

Answers: кто/что [ktoh/chtoh] → who/what 

The Nominative case can be thought of as the “Normal” case, the form in which all nouns are given in a Russian dictionary. In premise, this case identifies the subject of the sentence, without any additional meaning added to the noun.

Example: 

Russian: мне нравится этот дом

Pronunciation: [mne nravitsya etot dom]

Translation: I like this house 

In this case, the subject is дом [dom], house in a form the same as the dictionary 

Genitive Case Родительный падеж

Answers: кого [kavoh] → whom/of whome

чего [chyvoh] → what/of what

aоткуда [atkooda] → from where 

The Genitive case displays the cat of attribution, absence, and most important possession. 

Example: Absence

Russian: у меня нет дома

Pronunciation: [u menya net doma]

Translation: I don’t have a home

Because you are stating that there is an “absence” of the house (aka you don’t have one) then the Genetive case is activated 

Example: Possesion

Russian: Дом моего брата очень большой

Pronunciation: [dom moyego brata ochen’ bol’shoy]

Translation: My brother’s house is very big 

In this sentence, the word брат [brat], brother is motivated to be брата [brata] displaying that my brother is the one possessing the big house. 

Additionally, the Genetive case answers the question from where? As in, from where are you from? → Откуда ты? [otkuda ty]

If you were from Англия [angliya](England) then you would respond to the question by saying я из Англии [ya iz Anglii](I am from England)

As you can see, Англия became Англии

Dative Case Дательный падеж

Answers: кому [kamoo] → to whom 

чему [chymoo] → to what 

The Dative case essentially focuses upon the person/thing that is being given something or is being addressed. 

Example: 

Russian: Я купил его для моей подруги

Pronunciation: [ya kupil yego dlya moyey podrugi]

Translation: I bought it for my girlfriend  

In this case, the word подруга [podruga] becomes подруги [podrugi] to signify that the girlfriend is the receiver of the action of buying. 

Accusative Case Винительный падеж

Answers: кого [kavoh] → whom

что [chto] → what

куда [koodah] → where

The Accusative case is essentially the object of the sentence that is receiving the object directing; whether that is a buying, having, doing, etc event.

Example: 

Russian: Мой папа купил мне камеру

Pronunciation: [moy papa kupil mne kameru]

Translation: My dad bought me a camera 

In this sentence, because камера [kamera] is the focus of the sentence, and the one that is receiving the action of buying, it becomes камеру [kameru] in the accusative case. 

Instrumental Case Творительный падеж

Answers: кем [kyem] → with whom 

чем [chem] → with what

As the name implies, this case focuses on the instrument that is used to do something or anytime that you would use the word “with” in English

Example: 

Russian: Я написал сочинение карандашом

Pronunciation: [ya napisal sochineniye karandashom]

Translation: I wrote an essay with a pencil 

Prepositional Case Предложный падеж

Answers: о ком [ah kom] → about whom

о чем [ah chom] → about what 

The final Russian cases correspond with position and prepositions. Simply, if you are attributing something to a certain space, you need to use the prepositional case. 

Example: 

Russian: Мяч на столе

Pronunciation: [Myach na stole]

Translation: The ball is on the table 

In this case, стол is conjugated into the столе to reflect that something is being placed upon it. 

Learn to Speak Russian Online

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Whether you need extra practice mastering the chart above, or want to put your new skills to the test, contact us today and get the attention you deserve!