Below are the most common prefixes for verbs of motion in Russian.

в- - in

вы- - out

до- - as far as, reach

за- - drop in, stop by

об- - around

от- - away

пере- - across

под- - approach

при- - arrival

про- - through, pass

с- - down from

у- - from

The Instrumental has several different uses.

When to Use the Instrumental

1) To indicate the instrument that was used to perform an action.

Example:

We ate ice cream with a spoon.

2) To show the manner in which something is done.

Example:

The man spoke in a quiet voice.

3) With time expressions (e.g. parts of the day or parts of the year) to express “in” or “at.”

Example:

The nurse works at night.

4) To indicate the complement of a verb of being or condition.

Examples:

Казаться                    to seem

Оказывается,            to turn out to be

Оставаться                to remain

Становиться             to become

Считать                     to consider someone something

5) With the verb “to be”

The verb “to be” either takes a nominative or an instrumental complement.  In the present tense, when the verb is not expressed, the complement is always in the Nominative case, as we saw in Chapter 1.

Он - студент.

He is a student.

Она - преподаватель.

She is a teacher.

 

To express a condition of being in the past, use the instrumental.  Consider this sentence and notice how the instrumental and nominative are both used.

В прошлом году мой сын был студентом; теперь он преподаватель.

Last year my son was a student; now he is a teacher.

This week our blog posts will focus on how to use the Instrumental properly in Russian. 

Today's lesson is "This" (and "these") in the Instrumental.  The chart below should be memorized. 

 

“This” and “These” in the Instrumental

For those who are participating in EmpowerMost's Russian language class devoted to the cases, the following list of verbs that require the Accusative Case may be helpful.

 

хотеть	to want
видеть	to see
читать	to read
писать	to write
услышать	to hear
есть	to eat
давать	to give
любить	to love
пить	to drink
носить	to wear
купить	to buy
продавать	to sell
знать	to know
Готовить	to prepare
готовить	to cook

 

 

 

This video is a great tool to for students who need a reminder on the body parts in Russian.

The Genitive Case is typically the most difficult case for English speakers to master.  Here is a quick chart to help explain the adjectives in the Genitive Case.

 

Adjectives in the Genitive

 

Gender/Number	Ending	Examples
Masculine Мужской род	ого/его	высокого нового
Feminine Женский род	ой/ ей	новой
Neuter Средний род	ого/его	нового
Plural Множественное число	ых/ их	новых

 

 

 

If you are interested in learning Russian, sign up for EmpowerMost's spring semester.  Classes last 10-16 weeks, and are customized for the student's individual needs.  Email info@empowermost.com for more information and a brochure.

Topics include: 

• Proper pronunciation
• Spelling rules
• Conversational skills
• Improving vocabulary
• Reading short Russian novels
• Grammar.

Кататься на...
	коньках	skating
	лыжах	skiing
	роликах	roller skating
	велосипеде	bycicling
	мотоцикле	motocycling
	машине	car driving

The following are the most common uses of the Dative Case in Russian.

1. As the direct object in a sentence.

2. It is used after the Russian verbs "Помогать" ("to help") and "Советоват" ("to advise").

3. With "Нравиться" ("to like").  

4. It is also used in conjuction with some other reflexive verbs (-ся).

5. When using the word "Нужен" (to need).  

6. To represent the concept of sending or communicating something.  

7. To express one's age.

Meaning	Verb 1	Я	Ты	Past
To Go (on foot)	Идти	иду	идёшь	шёл, шла, шли
To Go (by vehicle)	Ехать	еду	едешь	ехал, ехала, ехали
To Run	Бежать	бегу	бежишь	бежал, бежала, бежали
To Wander, Stroll	Брести	бреду	бредёшь	брёл, брела, брели
To Carry (by vehicle), Deliver	Везти	везу	везёшь	вёз, везла, везли
To Lead, Conduct	Вести	веду	ведёшь	вёл, вела, вели
To Chase, Drive	Гнать	гоню	гонишь	гнал, гнала, гнали
To Climb	Лезть	лезу	лезeшь	лeз, лезла, лезли
To Fly	Лететь	лечу	летишь	летeл, летeла, летeли
To Carry	Нести	несу	несёшь	нёс, несла, несли
To Swim, Sail	Плыть	плыву	плывёшь	плыл, плыла, плыли
To Crawl	Ползти	ползу	ползёшь	полз, ползла, ползли
To Drag	Тащить	тащу	тащишь	тащил, тащила, тащили