GrammatikInstrumental
Alles über den Russischen Instrumental.
Instrumental
Hinweis: Die Grammatikartikel sind noch neu und wir arbeiten teilweise noch daran. Zurzeit sind sie nur auf Englisch verfügbar, in circa zwei Monaten dann aber auch in Deutsch.
In Russian the Instrumental is the case of "tools and professions." While it is frequently used with the preposition с (with), many of the most important verbs in Russian demand the Instrumental case without any preposition at all.
When to use Instrumental
| Context | Example |
|---|---|
| Tool/Instrument | Я пишу карандашом. - I write with a pencil. |
| Profession | Быть учителем - to be a teacher |
| Season Time of day | Зимой холодно. - It's cold in winter. Утром холодно. - It's cold in the morning. |
| Prepostion с - with | с другом - with a friend |
| Some spatial prepositions | под столом - under the table над диваном - above the sofa за облаком - behind the cloud перед домом - in front of the house между мамой и папой - between mom and dad рядом с банком - next to the bank |
| Some advanced verbs | for hobbies for management and control for emotions and attitudes |
| Passive agent | Сделано роботом - Made by a robot |
| Route | Ехать полем - To drive through/via the field |
1. Instruments and Means (The "Tool" Use)
This is the most literal use of the case. When you use an object to perform an action, that object goes into the Instrumental.
- Я пишу карандашом. - I write with a pencil.
- Мы едим суп ложкой. - We eat soup with a spoon.
- Он приехал поездом. - He arrived by train.
2. Identity, Status, and Professions
These are the most frequent verbs. Use the Instrumental to describe what someone is, becomes, or works as.
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| быть to be | Он хочет быть врачом. He wants to be a doctor. |
| станови́ться / стать to become | Она стала актрисой. She became an actress. |
| рабо́тать / порабо́тать to work as | Я работаю инженером. I work as an engineer. |
| явля́ться / яви́ться to be - formal | Это является проблемой. This is [constitutes] a problem. |
| каза́ться / показа́ться to seem | Он кажется умным человеком. He seems like a smart person. |
3. Time and Seasons
When describing parts of the day or seasons as a general timeframe (answering "When?"), use the Instrumental.
Seasons:
- летом - in summer
- зимой - in winter
- осенью - in autumn
- весной - in spring
Times of day:
- утром - in the morning
- днём - during the day
- вечером - in the evening
- ночью - at night
4. Prepostion с - with
This is the most common preposition for the Instrumental case. It indicates accompaniment or "togetherness."
Examples:
- Кофе с молоком. - Coffee with milk.
- Я иду в кино с другом. - I am going to the cinema with a friend.
Important: Do not use "с" when you are using a tool. Correct: Я пишу ручкой. - I write with/using a pen - no preposition. Wrong: Я пишу с ручкой. - I am writing together with my pen - as if it's your companion.
4. Some spatial prepositions
These prepositions answer the question где? (where?). But note that the most important spatial preposition is в (in) and takes prepositional, not instrumental.
| Preposition | Example |
|---|---|
| под under | под столом under the table |
| над above | над диваном above the sofa |
| за behind | за облаком behind the cloud |
| перед in front of | перед домом in front of the house |
| между between | между мамой и папой between mom and dad |
A few of these, specifically за (behind) and под (under), can take either the Accusative or the Instrumental depending on whether there is movement. Meaning Example Case Motion towards Я кладу книгу под стол. - I put the book under the table. Accusative Static location Книга лежит под столом. - The book is under the table. Instrumental
5. Verbs for Interests and Activities
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| заниматься to do / to study / to practice | Мы занимаемся спортом. We do sports. |
| интересоваться to be interested in | Я интересуюсь историей. I'm interested in history. |
| увлекаться to be keen on / fond of | Она увлекается музыкой. She is into music. |
| пользоваться to use / to make use of | Он пользуется компьютером. He uses a computer. |
6. Verbs for Management and Control
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| управлять to manage / to drive | Кто управляет компанией? Who manages the company? |
| руководить to lead / to direct | Он руководит отделом. He leads the department. |
| командовать to command | Генерал командует армией. The general commands the army. |
| владеть to own / to master a language | Вы владеете русским языком? Do you have command of the Russian language? |
7. Verbs for Emotions and Attitudes
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| гордиться to be proud of | Мы гордимся сыном. We are proud of our son. |
| восхищаться to admire / be delighted by | Я восхищаюсь вашим талантом. I admire your talent. |
| жертвовать to sacrifice | Он пожертвовал карьерой. He sacrificed his career. |
8. Passive Voice (The Agent)
In passive constructions, the person or thing performing the action is put into the Instrumental case.
Active: Пушкин написал эту поэму. - Pushkin wrote this poem.
Passive: Эта поэма написана Пушкиным. - This poem was written by Pushkin.
9. Using with routes
When the Instrumental case is used for a route, it describes the space or path through which an action moves. In English, we usually translate this as "by," "through," "via," or "along."
This usage is unique because it doesn't require a preposition like "through" (через). The noun itself, in its Instrumental form, acts as the path.
Common Spatial Routes
You use this when movement occurs across or through a specific type of terrain.
| Route | Example |
|---|---|
| Полем through/via the field | Мы шли полем. We walked through the field. |
| Лесом through/via the forest | Тропинка идёт лесом. The path goes through the forest. |
| Берегом along the shore | Они гуляли берегом реки. They strolled along the riverbank. |
| Дорогой by way of the road | Поедем другой дорогой. Let's go by/via a different road. |
Using "Parts" of a Route
It is often used to describe moving through specific architectural or geographical features.
| Route | Example |
|---|---|
| Коридором through the corridor | Он прошёл длинным коридором. He walked through the long corridor. |
| Лестницей via the stairs | Поднимайтесь черной лестницей. Go up via the back stairs. |
Abstract or "Method" Routes
Sometimes the "route" isn't a physical path, but a method of travel or a metaphorical direction.
| Route | Example |
|---|---|
| Воздухом by air | Груз отправили морем. The cargo was sent by sea. |
| Морем by sea | Груз отправили морем. The cargo was sent by sea. |
| Путем by way of | Мы решили проблему мирным путём. We solved the problem by peaceful means/way. |
While you can use prepositions like через (through) or по (along), the Instrumental case on its own often sounds more poetic or natural for "wandering" or "following a path. Usage Instrumental With preposition Route Шли лесом.
(Focus on the path itself.) Шли через лес.
(Focus on entering/exiting.) Surface Ехали полем.
(Moving across the expanse.) Ехали по полю.
(Moving along the surface.)
A common idiom: Иди лесом! Literally: Go through the forest! Actual meaning: "Get lost!" or "Go away!".
10. Some fixed expressions
С Новым годом! - Happy New Year! - literally "With the New Year!"
между прочим - by the way / incidentally
перед сном - before sleep/bedtime
Instrumental Case - Declension Overview
Quick reference for nouns full rules and tables
| Noun | Instrumental Singular | Instrumental Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | -ом / -ем (-ём) стол → столо́м учи́тель → учи́телем | -ами / -ями столы́ → стола́ми учителя́ → учителя́ми |
| Feminine | -ой / -ей / -ью кни́га → кни́гой ночь → но́чью | -ами / -ями кни́ги → кни́гами но́чи → ноча́м |
| Neuter | -ом / -ем окно́ → окно́м мо́ре → мо́рем | -ами / -ями о́кна → о́кнами моря́ → моря́ми |
Optional Endings: In formal or poetic Russian, you might see -ою or -ею for feminine nouns (e.g., книгою), but -ой/-ей is the standard in modern Russian.
Quick reference for adjectives full rules and tables
| Adjective Type | Instrumental Singular | Instrumental Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | -ым / -им но́вый → но́вым си́ний → си́ним | -ыми / -ими но́вые → но́выми си́ние → си́ними |
| Feminine | -ой / -ей но́вая → но́вой си́няя → си́ней | -ыми / -ими но́вые → но́выми си́ние → си́ними |
| Neuter | -ым / -им но́вое → но́вым си́нее → си́ним | -ыми / -ими но́вые → но́выми си́ние → си́ними |
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