Russian Grammar

Due to complex Russian grammar, Russian is considered one of the more difficult European languages to learn. Russian sentence structure uses no less than 6 cases (падежи).

A common mistake in learning Russian is jumping straight into a bunch of vocabulary without taking the time to understand the basic principals of Russian Grammar and sentence structure. This works at the start, but leads to greater confusion as you progress.

To help you out, we give a very brief explanation of each case below. This may be particularly helpful to native English speakers who have never formerly studied grammar in the context of the genitive case, instrumental case, etc.

Russian Cases - Падежи

1. Nominative - Именительный

2. Genitive - Родительный

3. Dative - Дательный

4. Accusative - Винительный

5. Instrumental - Творительный

6. Prepositional - Предложный

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Free Russian Grammar Resources

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Russian Grammar

Explanations

Exercises

Russian Nouns
Nominative Case
Genitive Case
Dative Case
Accusative Case
Instrumental Case
Prepositional Case
Nouns Irregularities

Russian Pronouns
Nominative Case
Genitive Case
Dative Case
Accusative Case
Instrumental Case
Prepositional Case
Personal Pronouns
Possessive Pro.
Demonstrative Pro.
Pronoun: который
Indefinite Pronoun
Negative Pronouns
Reflexive Pronoun

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Russian Grammar

Explanations

Exercises

Russian Adjectives
Nominative Case
Genitive Case
Dative Case
Accusative Case
Instrumental Case
Prepositional Case
Short Forms
Comparatives

Russian Verbs
Present Tense
Past Tense
Verbs of Motion
Verbs of Position
Aspects
Reflexive Verbs
Imperatives
Participles

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DenverUniversity RussianLanguageMentor

Russian Grammar

Explanations

Exercises

Russian Adverbs

Conjunctions
Coordinating Conj.
Subordinating Conj.
Other Conjunctions
Conj. Modifiers

Time Expressions

Question Words

Spelling Rules

Russian Cases - Падежи

Nominative - Именительный

What is Nominative Case?

It's the subject in a sentence.
ie. The girl is smart. - Девушка умная.
learn more: Nouns in the nominative case.

Nominative Case Prepositions & Verbs

Nominative case is used in conjunction with a few prepositions, but in general, the subject of a sentence isn't influenced by prepositions or verbs.
learn more: Prepositions of nominative case.

Genitive - Родительный

What is Genitive Case?

Think of Genitive case as the "of " case (possession).
ie. The book of the girl. - Книга девушки.
Genitive case in Russian gets somewhat complicated. It's also used with numbers, negated verbs, and with a whole bunch of different prepositions and verbs.
learn more: Nouns in the genitive case.

Genitive Case: Prepositions & Verbs

There are so many (longest list of the 6 cases), that we will not list them all. Some of the major ones include:

from (since) - с
without - без
against - против
far from - далеко от
near (by) - возле
near - около
by - у
along - вдоль
around - вокруг
among - среди
through - сквозь
apart from - помимо
except - кроме
until - до
after - после
inside - внутри

for the purpose of - для
from (a person or place) - от
as - в качестве
in the direction of - в сторону
instead of - вместо
past (too far) - мимо
for the sake of - ради
as a result of - в результате
because of - из-за
concerning - по поводу
concerning - насчёт
as for - что касается
during - во время
during - в продолжение
during - в течение
etc., etc.

learn more: Prepositions of genitive case.

Dative - Дательный

What is Dative Case?

Dative case is the "to" case.
ie. We're going to the girl. - Мы идём к девушке.
learn more: Nouns in the dative case.

Dative Case: Prepositions & Verbs

Prepositions & verbs associated with dative case:

to - к
according to - по
on the subject of - по
thanks to - благодаря
to envy - завидовать
to phone to - звонить

to pass to - передавать
on (a certain time) - по
along (the surface of) - по
go visiting - идти в гости к
to remind - напоминать
to give help to - помочь

learn more: Prepositions of dative case.

Dative case is also used with "Auxiliary verbs".
Examples include:

I need ("to me is needed") - Мне нужно.

You can ("to you its possible") - Вам можно.

We're bored ("to us its boring") - Нам скучно.

Denis is hurt ("to Denis its hurting") - Денису больно.

I like ("to me it pleases") - Мне нравится.

Accusative - Винительный

What is Accusative Case?

It's the object of the sentence.
ie. I love Natasha. - Я люблю Наташу.
learn more: Nouns in the accusative case.

Accusative Case: Prepositions & Verbs

Accusative case is used in conjunction with:

for (in place of) - за
behind (motion) - за
under (motion) - под
about - про
for (time) - на
about - на
on to - на

to (a place - motion) - в
up to & including - по
through (across) - через
before - прежде чем
on (a day of the week) - в
during (in the space of) - за
in spite of - несмотря на

learn more: Prepositions of accusative case.

Instrumental - Творительный

What is Instrumental Case?

Instrumental case is the "with" case.
ie. Go to the cafe with Olga. - Иди в кафе с Ольгой.
learn more: Nouns in the instrumental case.

Instrumental Case: Prepositions & Verbs

Some prepositions & verbs associated with instrumental:

behind / beyond (place) - за
under (place) - под
over (place) - над
beside - рядом
with - с
together with - вместе с
between - между
for (to fetch) - за
in front of / before - перед
to be - быть
to be (serve as) - являться
to seem - казаться
to be proud of - гордиться
to become - становиться
to possess - обладать
to turn out (end up) - оказаться
to make use of - пользоваться
to be engaged in - заниматься
to be interested in - интересоваться

learn more: Prepositions of instrumental case.

Prepositional - Предложный

What is Prepositional Case?

Prepositional case is the "place" case.
ie. She is in London. - Она в Лондоне.
learn more: Nouns in the prepositional case.

Prepositions & Verbs

Prepositions associated with prepositional case:

in - в
on - на
at the time of - при

attached to - при
under (a ruler) - при
learn more: Prepositions of prepositional case.