Introduction to Russian Prepositions and Their Cases

Russian prepositions play a critical role in sentence structure, linking nouns, adjectives, and pronouns to convey precise meanings. Their usage is intricately tied to grammatical cases, which dictate the form these words take. Each preposition can shift in meaning depending on its case context, complicating their application. A thorough examination of these relationships reveals essential patterns. Understanding these nuances can enhance one’s command of the language, prompting further exploration of specific case usages.

 

Understanding Prepositions in Russian

Prepositions in Russian, called предлоги (prehd-LOH-gee), are small words that connect other words in a sentence and show relationships such as place, time, direction, or cause. These words are essential because they clarify how different parts of a sentence relate to each other. Unlike English, Russian prepositions always determine the grammatical case of the noun, pronoun, or adjective that follows them, which means the ending of those words changes depending on the preposition’s requirements. For example, the preposition в (v), which means “in” or “into,” can take either the Prepositional or Accusative case. If you say в школе (v SHKO-le), you are using the Prepositional case and talking about location, as in “in school.” If you say в школу (v SHKO-lu), you are using the Accusative case and talking about movement, as in “into school.” This difference is important because using the wrong case can completely change your meaning.

Some of the most common Russian prepositions include в (v, “in” or “into”), на (na, “on” or “onto”), с or со (s/so, which can mean “with” or “from”), к (k, “to” a person or object), от (ot, “from”), для (dlya, “for”), and по (po), which can mean “along,” “by,” or “according to.” Each preposition usually pairs with a specific case. For example, с другом (s DROO-gom) means “with a friend” using the Instrumental case, while от друга (ot DROO-ga) means “from a friend” using the Genitive case. The preposition к always takes the Dative case as in к маме (k MA-me), meaning “to mom,” and для тебя (dlya tee-BYA) uses the Genitive case to mean “for you.” The preposition по most often requires the Dative case but can also use the Accusative in some situations.

Russian prepositions matter because they make sentences clear and specific and because the meaning of a sentence can shift dramatically depending on which preposition and case you use. It’s also important to remember that Russian prepositions can be more flexible in meaning than their English counterparts, so context plays a big role in understanding them. Some interesting facts about Russian prepositions include their tendency to change form before certain words—such as в becoming во before words starting with two consonants, like во дворе (vo dva-REH), meaning “in the yard.” Some prepositions are always written together with the next word, such as из-за (eez-ZA), which means “because of” or “from behind.” Additionally, Russian sometimes uses prepositions in ways that do not match English logic; for example, “I am going by bus” translates as я еду на автобусе (ya YEH-doo na av-TO-boo-se), which literally means “I go on [the] bus.”

Examples of Russian prepositional usage include phrases like о городе (o GO-ro-de), meaning “about the city” in the Prepositional case; без тебя (bez tee-BYA), meaning “without you” in the Genitive case; and под столом (pod sta-LOM), meaning “under the table” in the Instrumental case. Understanding how Russian prepositions interact with cases is one of the biggest steps in learning to speak and write Russian well. It’s not just about memorizing which preposition goes with which case but also knowing how these choices change meaning and make your speech more precise. Practicing these patterns helps you sound more natural and avoids confusion. The more you use prepositions in context, the more naturally they will come to you.

Understanding these nuances allows speakers and writers to articulate thoughts with clarity, ensuring freedom of expression within the constraints of grammatical structure. Consequently, mastering prepositions enhances overall fluency and comprehension in the Russian language.

The Importance of Cases

Cases are a fundamental part of Russian grammar. In Russian, cases (паде́жи, pronounced: pa-deh-ZHI) are endings added to nouns, pronouns, and adjectives to show their role in a sentence. Unlike English, where word order tells us who is doing what, Russian uses cases to clarify these relationships. This system allows for more flexible word order and helps avoid confusion.

Russian has six main cases:

• Nominative (Именительный падеж, ee-meh-NEE-teel-ny pah-DYEZH): Used for the subject of a sentence.
• Genitive (Родительный падеж, rah-DEET-el-ny pah-DYEZH): Often shows possession or absence.
• Dative (Дательный падеж, DAHT-el-ny pah-DYEZH): Indicates the indirect object (to whom or for whom something is done).
• Accusative (Винительный падеж, vee-NEET-el-ny pah-DYEZH): Marks the direct object of an action.
• Instrumental (Творительный падеж, tvah-REET-el-ny pah-DYEZH): Shows the means by which something happens or with whom.
• Prepositional (Предложный падеж, preed-LOZH-ny pah-DYEZH): Used mainly after prepositions, often indicating location or topic.

 

Why do cases matter? Cases shape the meaning of sentences. For example:

• Мама любит дочь. (MAH-mah LYOO-beet doch) — Mother loves daughter.
• Дочь любит маму. (Doch’ LYOO-beet MAH-moo) — Daughter loves mother.

 

Even if you switch their order, the endings tell you who is the subject and who is the object:

• Маму любит дочь. — The daughter loves mother (same as above).

 

Some key Russian words related to this topic:

• Слово (SLOH-vuh) — word
• Форма (FOR-mah) — form
• Склонение (sklah-NYEN-ee-ye) — declension, the way words change form
• Окончание (ah-kuhn-CHAN-ee-ye) — ending

 

Russian cases add depth to communication. For example, the genitive case can show not just possession but also absence or quantity:

• Нет воды. (Nyeht vah-DEE) — There is no water.

 

With cases, you can put the same words in different orders without changing the meaning, just by changing their endings. This gives Russian speakers flexibility and allows them to emphasize different parts of a sentence.

Learning how each case works and practicing their endings will make your Russian sound natural and help you understand others more easily. Cases aren’t just a grammar rule—they are the key to expressing yourself clearly and understanding all the nuances of Russian.

Knowing why cases matter is essential for learners because it directly affects your ability to build correct and meaningful sentences. Mastering cases gives you greater flexibility and confidence in using the language.

Common Russian Prepositions

Understanding common Russian prepositions is essential for building correct sentences and expressing relationships between objects, people, and places. Prepositions in Russian act as connectors between nouns and often show relationships of place, direction, or accompaniment.

Unlike English, Russian prepositions require the noun that follows to be in a specific grammatical case, which changes the noun’s ending. This can be challenging for English speakers because English prepositions do not affect the form of the noun.

Some of the most frequently used Russian prepositions include:

• “в” (v) — means “in” or “to.”
  • Used with the accusative case to show direction (e.g., “в город” [v gorod] – to the city)
  • Used with the prepositional case to show location (e.g., “в городе” [v gorode] – in the city)
• “на” (na) — means “on” or “to.”
  • Similar to “в”, it uses different cases depending on whether you mean movement or location.
• “с” (s) — means “with” or “from.”
  • Case usage depends on the specific meaning.
• “к” (k) — means “to” (a person or an object).
  • Usually followed by the dative case.
• “от” (ot) — means “from.”
  • Usually followed by the genitive case.

 

Here are some examples to illustrate their use:

• Я иду в школу. (Ya idu v shkolu) – I am going to school.
• Книга лежит на столе. (Kniga lezhit na stole) – The book is on the table.
• Я говорю с другом. (Ya govoryu s drugom) – I am speaking with a friend.
• Мы идём к врачу. (My idem k vrachu) – We are going to the doctor.
• Письмо от друга. (Pismo ot druga) – A letter from a friend.

 

Below, is a list of these common Russian prepositions and some related vocabulary to help you practice their usage.

Common Russian Prepositions

Cyrillic	Phonetic	English Definition	Typical Case Used	Example	Example Translation
в	v	in, into, to	Accusative/Prepositional	в школу / в школе	to school / in school
на	na	on, onto, at	Accusative/Prepositional	на работу / на работе	to work / at work
с	s	with, from, off	Instrumental/Genitive	с другом / с работы	with a friend / from work
к	k	to, towards	Dative	к врачу	to the doctor
от	ot	from, away from	Genitive	от сестры	from sister
у	u	at, by, near	Genitive	у окна	by the window
для	dlya	for	Genitive	для мамы	for mom
без	byez	without	Genitive	без сахара	without sugar
про	pro	about	Accusative	про книгу	about a book
о/об	o/ob	about, concerning	Prepositional	о друге	about a friend
под	pod	under	Instrumental/Accusative	под столом / под стол	under the table
над	nad	above, over	Instrumental	над городом	above the city

Notes for English Speakers

• Russian prepositions are almost always tied to a specific grammatical case. The meaning of a preposition can change depending on which case is used.
• Some prepositions have different forms before certain words for easier pronunciation. For example, “о” becomes “об” before words starting with vowels: “об этом” (about this).
• Practice by substituting different nouns into example sentences and noticing how their endings change based on the preposition and required case.

 

Mastery of these prepositions enhances clarity in communication and enriches understanding of the Russian language.

Prepositions With the Nominative Case

In Russian, prepositions usually work with specific grammatical cases—most commonly the accusative, genitive, dative, instrumental, or prepositional cases. The nominative case (именительный падеж: ee-meh-NEE-teel-ny pah-DEZH), which is the basic, dictionary form of a noun, rarely appears after prepositions. This is because the nominative is typically used to state the subject of a sentence, such as “The cat sleeps” (Кот спит, kot speet), rather than to show location, direction, possession, or other relationships.

 

Unusual Use of Prepositions With the Nominative

There are a few exceptions in which a preposition is followed by a noun in the nominative case. These exceptions are not common in everyday speech, but they do exist and are important for understanding certain set phrases and stylistic constructions in Russian.

One example involves the preposition “на” (na: nah), which usually means “on” or “at.” Normally, “на” is followed by the prepositional case to indicate location (e.g., на столе — na stah-LYEH — on the table) or the accusative case to indicate direction (e.g., на стол — na stohl — onto the table). However, in rare and often archaic or literary constructions, “на” can be followed by a nominative noun to emphasize a state of existence or identity rather than movement or position.

 

Examples and Phrases

• “На то пошло” (na toh pahsh-LOH) — literally “if it comes to that,” where “то” is in the nominative. This set phrase is used to introduce a justification or to make a point.
• “На то и щука, чтобы карась не дремал” (na toh ee SHOO-kah, shtob-eh kah-RAHS’ nyeh dryeh-MAHL) — “That’s why there is a pike, so that the carp does not sleep.” In this proverb, “то” is nominative.

Another example can be seen in older or more poetic Russian:

• “На миру и смерть красна” (na mee-ROO ee smyert’ kras-NAH) — “In front of everyone, even death looks good.” Here, “мир” (“world,” “people,” or “society”) is used in the nominative after “на.”

These constructions are mostly fixed phrases (устойчивые выражения: oos-TOY-chee-vye vee-rah-ZHEN-ee-ya), and you will not find them being created spontaneously in modern speech. Instead, they are inherited from older forms of the language and are preserved in proverbs, sayings, and idiomatic expressions.

 

Why Does This Happen?

The use of the nominative case after prepositions often goes back to Old Russian or Church Slavonic language patterns, where case usage was less rigid or had different rules. Over time, Russian developed stricter rules about which prepositions take which cases. But some phrases became so fixed in usage that they preserved their older grammatical structure.

 

Key Takeaways:

• The nominative case almost never follows prepositions in modern standard Russian.
• When it does happen, it’s usually in fixed expressions or proverbs.
• Learning these exceptions helps you understand Russian idioms and recognize literary or historical uses of language.

 

Useful Words On This Topic:

• Именительный падеж (nominative case) — ee-meh-NEE-teel-ny pah-DEZH
• Предлог (preposition) — preed-LOHK
• Устойчивое выражение (set phrase, idiom) — oos-TOY-chee-vuh-ye vee-rah-ZHEN-ee-ye
• Пример (example) — pree-MYER

 

Understanding these rare exceptions will deepen your grasp of how Russian works and help you appreciate its rich history and nuance.

Prepositions With the Accusative Case

In Russian, certain prepositions always require the accusative case, especially when indicating direction, destination, or the goal of an action. This usage is crucial because it helps the listener or reader understand not just what is happening, but also where the action is headed or what the intention is.

Key Prepositions with the Accusative Case

1. В (v) — “to, into”
This preposition is used when someone or something is moving into a place or space. For example:

• “Я иду в магазин.” (Ya idu v magazin.) — “I am going to the store.”
  Here, “в” plus the accusative form of “магазин” (store) shows movement toward a specific destination.

2. На (na) — “to, onto”
“На” is used similarly to “в,” but it often refers to open spaces, events, or activities.

• “Она пошла на работу.” (Ona poshla na rabotu.) — “She went to work.”
  The word “работа” (work) changes to “работу” in the accusative case after “на,” signaling direction or purpose.

3. За (za) — “for, after”
When used with the accusative, “за” expresses going somewhere with a purpose, often to fetch or get something.

• “Мы едем за хлебом.” (My yedem za khlebom.) — “We are going for bread.”
  The noun “хлеб” (bread) becomes “хлебом” here, indicating the goal of the trip.

Why Use the Accusative Case with Prepositions?

These prepositions are not just about location—they show intention and movement. For example:

• в школу (v shkolu) — to school
• на стадион (na stadion) — to the stadium
• за другом (za drugom) — to pick up a friend

Without switching the noun to the accusative case, the meaning can change completely. For instance:

• в школе (v shkole, prepositional) — in school (location)
• в школу (v shkolu, accusative) — to school (direction)

Common Verbs Used with These Prepositions

Some verbs frequently appear with these prepositions and the accusative case:

• идти (idti) — to go (on foot)
• ехать (yekhat’) — to go (by vehicle)
• бежать (bezhat’) — to run
• лететь (letet’) — to fly
• пойти (poyti) — to set off (on foot)

Patterns in Pronunciation and Spelling

Russian nouns often change their endings in the accusative case. For masculine animate nouns, you may see -а or -я endings. Feminine nouns often use -у or -ю. Neuter nouns usually look like their nominative form.

Examples:

• город (gorod, city) → в город (v gorod, to the city)
• мама (mama, mom) → на маму (na mamu, onto mom)
• друг (drug, friend) → за другом (za drugom, for a friend)

Useful Russian Phrases

• в кино (v kino) — to the movies
• на урок (na urok) — to the lesson
• за доктором (za doktorom) — to get the doctor

 

Understanding which prepositions require the accusative case and how they affect nouns allows you to clearly express movement and intention in Russian. It’s one of the building blocks for forming natural-sounding and precise sentences.

Prepositions With the Genitive Case

In Russian, certain prepositions always require the noun that follows them to be in the genitive case. The genitive case is most often used to show possession, absence, or a part of something. It’s also used to express quantity and to answer questions like “of whom?” or “of what?” (кого? чего?). Understanding which prepositions require the genitive case helps you form sentences that sound natural and correct.

Common Prepositions That Use the Genitive Case

• у (u) — means “at” or “by” and is often used to show possession, similar to “have” in English.
  • Example: У меня есть собака (u menya yest’ sobaka) — “I have a dog.”
    Literally: “At me (there) is a dog.”
• без (bez) — means “without.”
  • Example: без сахара (bez sakhara) — “without sugar.”
• для (dlya) — means “for” (to indicate purpose or beneficiary).
  • Example: для мамы (dlya mamy) — “for mom.”
• от (ot) — means “from” or “away from.”
  • Example: от друга (ot druga) — “from a friend.”
• до (do) — means “up to” or “until.”
  • Example: до дома (do doma) — “up to the house.”
• из (iz) — means “from” or “out of,” usually with places or origins.
  • Example: из школы (iz shkoly) — “from school.”
• нет (net) — used to show absence, similar to “there is no…”
  • Example: нет времени (net vremeni) — “there is no time.”

Why These Prepositions Use Genitive

These prepositions direct the action away from or indicate a relationship involving separation, lack, origin, or possession. For example:

• у implies that something belongs to someone.
• без shows something is missing.
• для points out who will benefit.

Words and Phrases With Genitive Prepositions

• у врача (u vracha) — at the doctor’s
• без работы (bez raboty) — without a job
• для детей (dlya detey) — for children
• от сестры (ot sestry) — from (my) sister
• до станции (do stantsii) — up to the station
• из России (iz Rossii) — from Russia

How the Genitive Case Changes Nouns

When a noun is used after these prepositions, it changes its ending based on gender and number. For example:

• Masculine: стол (stol, “table”) → без стола (bez stola, “without a table”)
• Feminine: машина (mashina, “car”) → у машины (u mashiny, “at the car”)
• Neuter: молоко (moloko, “milk”) → без молока (bez moloka, “without milk”)
• Plural: дети (deti, “children”) → для детей (dlya detey, “for children”)

Quantity and Absence

The genitive is also used with words of quantity:

• много воды (mnogo vody) — “a lot of water”
• немного хлеба (nemnogo khleba) — “a little bread”
• больше книг (bol’she knig) — “more books”

 

And with absence:

• нет денег (net deneg) — “there is no money”

 

Understanding the application of these prepositions enhances one’s grasp of the nuances within Russian syntax, facilitating clearer communication and comprehension in various contexts. The genitive case consequently plays a critical role in articulating meaning effectively.

Prepositions With the Dative Case

In Russian, certain prepositions always require the dative case for the noun or pronoun that follows. The dative case (дательный падеж, [DAH-tyel-ny pah-DEZH]) often answers the questions “to whom?” or “for whom?” and is used to indicate the recipient of an action, direction toward someone or something, or the purpose of an action.

Let’s look at some of the most important prepositions that take the dative:

к (k) – “to, towards”
This preposition is used when you are moving towards a person or a living entity, rather than a place. For example:

• Я иду к врачу. ([ya ee-DOO k vra-CHOO]) – I am going to the doctor.
• Она подходит к двери. ([a-NA pat-KHO-deet k dve-REE]) – She is approaching the door.
  Notice that after “к,” the following noun changes to the dative case. The preposition “к” is not used for physical locations like buildings or cities; those require “в” (to/in) or “на” (to/on).

 

по (po) – “along, by, according to”
“По” has several uses, but when followed by a noun in the dative, it often means movement along a surface, distribution, or according to something:

• Мы гуляли по парку. ([MY goo-LYA-lee po PAR-koo]) – We walked through/along the park.
• Расписание по дням. ([ras-pee-SAH-nee-ye po dnyam]) – A schedule by days.
  It can also mean “according to”:
• По правилам ([po PRAH-vee-lam]) – According to the rules.

 

для (dlya) – “for”
This preposition is usually learned as meaning “for,” but it actually takes the genitive case, not the dative. Be careful with this one! For example:

• Подарок для мамы ([pa-DAH-rak dlya MAH-my]) – Gift for mom.
  So, although “для” is commonly listed with “for,” it is not a dative preposition.

 

с (s) – “with”
This preposition usually takes the instrumental case in most situations. For example:

• Я иду с другом ([ya ee-DOO s DROO-gam]) – I am going with a friend.
  But in certain set expressions, “с” can be used with the dative. For instance:
• С праздником! ([s PRAZ-neek-am]) – (Happy) holiday to you! (literally “with holiday,” but used as a greeting).

 

Other common dative prepositions:

• благодаря (blagadarya) – thanks to
  • Благодаря тебе ([bla-ga-da-RYA tee-BYE]) – Thanks to you.
• навстречу (navstrechu) – towards, to meet
  • Он шёл навстречу другу ([on shol nav-STREH-choo DROO-goo]) – He walked towards his friend.
• вопреки (vopreki) – despite, contrary to
  • Вопреки совету ([va-pre-KEE sa-VYE-tu]) – Contrary to advice.

Russian dative pronouns (for reference):

• мне ([mnye]) – to me
• тебе ([tee-BYE]) – to you
• ему ([ye-MOO]) – to him
• ей ([yay]) – to her
• нам ([nam]) – to us
• вам ([vam]) – to you (plural/formal)
• им ([eem]) – to them

Key points:

• The dative is often about giving, telling, or moving towards someone.
• Many verbs and expressions use these prepositions with the dative case.
• The endings of nouns and adjectives change in the dative case—this must be memorized as part of learning Russian grammar.

 

Understanding which prepositions require the dative case helps you form natural sentences and clearly show direction, purpose, and recipient in Russian conversation. Examples such as “Я звоню бабушке” (“I am calling grandma”) demonstrate how the dative works in real speech.

Prepositions With the Instrumental Case

The instrumental case in Russian (творительный падеж, pronounced: tva-REE-teel-ny pah-DYEZH) is one of the six grammatical cases and plays a crucial role in forming meaningful sentences. It answers questions like “With what?” or “By whom?” and is mainly used to show the instrument, means, or company involved in an action.

Main Prepositions Used With the Instrumental Case

Some prepositions always require the instrumental case for the noun that follows. Here are the most important ones:

• с (with)
  Pronounced: [s]
  This preposition is used to show accompaniment. For example:
  • с другом (with a friend) — друг (friend) changes to другом in instrumental.
  • с мамой (with mom) — мама (mom) changes to мамой.
• над (over, above)
  Pronounced: [nad]
  Used to indicate something located above or over another object:
  • над городом (over the city) — город (city) changes to городом.
  • над столом (above the table).
• под (under, below)
  Pronounced: [pod]
  Used for something under another object:
  • под кроватью (under the bed) — кровать (bed) changes to кроватью.
  • под дождём (under the rain).
• за (behind, at, beyond)
  Pronounced: [za]
  This preposition can be tricky because its meaning changes depending on the case used. With instrumental, it often means “behind” or “at (a table, desk)”:
  • за домом (behind the house).
  • за столом (at the table).
• между (between, among)
  Pronounced: [MYEZH-doo]
  Always uses instrumental:
  • между друзьями (between friends).
  • между деревьями (among trees).

Other Useful Facts

• The instrumental case can also be used without prepositions to indicate the means of doing something:
  • писать ручкой (to write with a pen).
  • ехать поездом (to go by train).
• Prepositions like перед (“in front of”) and рядом с (“next to”) also take the instrumental:
  • перед домом (in front of the house).
  • рядом с парком (next to the park).

Why It Matters

Learning how each preposition works with the instrumental case helps you describe relationships in space and companionship, as well as specify tools and means. It opens up ways to talk about how and with whom things are done—something vital for everyday conversation.

Key Russian Words Related to Instrumental Case

• другом (with a friend) — друг in instrumental
• городом (over the city) — город in instrumental
• книгой (with a book) — книга in instrumental
• машиной (by car/with a car) — машина in instrumental

The endings for nouns will change depending on gender and number, but the prepositions listed above will always require you to use these forms. Mastery of these patterns is a big step toward sounding natural and precise in Russian.

Tips for Mastering Russian Prepositions

Mastering Russian prepositions can be challenging because they almost always require you to use a specific grammatical case. This means you not only need to memorize the prepositions themselves, but also remember which case they “control” (like accusative, genitive, etc.). Below you’ll find expanded tips and practical examples to help you gain better command over Russian prepositions.

1. Focused Preposition Practice

• Do exercises that only test prepositions.
• Fill-in-the-blank worksheets, matching games, or writing short sentences can help.
• Regular repetition is key; don’t just practice once and move on.

Example:
Choose the right preposition and case:
Я иду ___ школу.
Correct answer: в (accusative) → Я иду в школу. (I am going to school.)

2. Contextual Learning

• Read Russian stories, articles, or listen to real conversations.
• Pay attention to how native speakers use prepositions.
• Underline or write down sentences that use prepositions, then try to create your own similar examples.

Example:
Original: Я живу на улице Ленина. (I live on Lenin Street.)
Your sentence: Я учусь на курсе русского языка. (I study in a Russian language course.)

3. Case Exercises

• Russian prepositions are almost always followed by a noun in a specific case.
• Make lists of prepositions with their required case and practice changing the noun ending accordingly.

Example:
The preposition “с” (with) takes the instrumental case:
с другом (with a friend)
с мамой (with mom)

4. Flashcards and Mnemonics

• Create flashcards with the preposition on one side, and the required case and a sample phrase on the other.
• Use memory tricks to remember which case goes with each preposition.
  For example: “В” (in/to) uses accusative when talking about movement (“в школу” – going to school) and prepositional when talking about location (“в школе” – in school).

Common Russian Prepositions Table

Cyrillic	English Phonetic	English Definition	Case Used	Example (Cyrillic)	Example (English)
в	v	in, into	Accusative/Prepositional	в школу / в школе	to school / in school
на	na	on, onto, at	Accusative/Prepositional	на стол / на столе	onto the table / on the table
с	s	with, from	Instrumental/Genitive	с другом / с работы	with a friend / from work
к	k	to, towards	Dative	к другу	to (a) friend
от	ot	from, away from	Genitive	от мамы	from mom
у	u	at, by (someone’s place)	Genitive	у друга	at a friend’s (house)
для	dlya	for	Genitive	для тебя	for you
о / об	o / ob	about, concerning	Prepositional	о книге	about the book
без	bez	without	Genitive	без сахара	without sugar
под	pod	under, below	Instrumental/Accusative	под столом	under the table
перед	pered	in front of, before	Instrumental	перед домом	in front of the house
из	iz	out of, from	Genitive	из школы	out of school

Use this table for reference as you study. Practice forming your own sentences using each preposition and remember to check which case is required!

Test Your Knowledge on Russian Prepositions

Question 1

Which preposition in Russian is used with the genitive case to mean “without”?

A) на (na)
B) без (bez)
C) по (po)

Correct Answer:
B) без (bez)

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Question 2

Choose the correct form to say “to school” in Russian, showing direction (movement):

A) в школу (v shkolu)
B) в школе (v shkole)
C) на школе (na shkole)

Correct Answer:
A) в школу (v shkolu)

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Question 3

Which case must follow the preposition “к” (k), meaning “to” or “towards” a person?

A) Accusative
B) Dative
C) Instrumental

Correct Answer:
B) Dative

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do Russian Prepositions Differ From English Prepositions?

Russian prepositions exhibit distinct structures compared to English, emphasizing case importance. In Russian, the preposition’s meaning alters based on the case of the following noun, showcasing a complexity absent in English prepositional usage.

Are There Any Exceptions to Preposition-Case Rules?

Exceptions to preposition-case rules in Russian exist, particularly in colloquial usage. For example, certain prepositions may govern unexpected cases, illustrating variability in preposition usage that challenges strict grammatical expectations, enhancing linguistic freedom and expression.

Can Prepositions Change Meaning Based on Context?

The inquiry into whether prepositions can change meaning based on context reveals that preposition usage greatly influences contextual meanings. Variations often arise in different scenarios, underscoring the complexity of language and the nuances of interpretation.

How Do Regional Dialects Affect the Use of Prepositions?

Regional variations notably influence preposition usage, with dialect influences leading to distinct interpretations and applications. Such differences reflect cultural nuances, showcasing the dynamic nature of language and the importance of context in understanding regional linguistic practices.