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Declension Patterns of Nouns in Russian
In Russian, declension refers to how nouns change their form depending on their case, gender, and number. Russian nouns are categorized into three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter, and they follow certain patterns of declension, which determine how their endings change in different grammatical cases.
In this article, we will explore the declension patterns for Russian nouns, breaking them down by gender and case. We will focus on how the endings of nouns change in the nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, and prepositional cases.
1. Masculine Nouns Declension
Masculine nouns can end in a consonant, -й, or -ь. The declension pattern depends on the final letter of the noun.
1.1. Masculine Nouns Ending in a Consonant
Case
Singular
Plural
Nominative
Стол (table)
Столы (tables)
Genitive
Стола (of the table)
Столов (of the tables)
Dative
Столу (to the table)
Столам (to the tables)
Accusative
Стол (table)
Столы (tables)
Instrumental
Столом (with the table)
Столами (with the tables)
Prepositional
Столе (in the table)
Столах (in the tables)
1.2. Masculine Nouns Ending in -й
Case
Singular
Plural
Nominative
Мальчик (boy)
Мальчики (boys)
Genitive
Мальчика (of the boy)
Мальчиков (of the boys)
Dative
Мальчику (to the boy)
Мальчикам (to the boys)
Accusative
Мальчика (boy)
Мальчиков (boys)
Instrumental
Мальчиком (with the boy)
Мальчиками (with the boys)
Prepositional
Мальчике (about the boy)
Мальчиках (about the boys)
1.3. Masculine Nouns Ending in -ь
Case
Singular
Plural
Nominative
Конь (horse)
Кони (horses)
Genitive
Коня (of the horse)
Коней (of the horses)
Dative
Коню (to the horse)
Коням (to the horses)
Accusative
Коня (horse)
Коней (horses)
Instrumental
Конём (with the horse)
Конями (with the horses)
Prepositional
Коне (about the horse)
Конях (about the horses)
2. Feminine Nouns Declension
Feminine nouns typically end in -а, -я, or -ь. Their declension pattern changes accordingly.
2.1. Feminine Nouns Ending in -а
Case
Singular
Plural
Nominative
Книга (book)
Книги (books)
Genitive
Книги (of the book)
Книг (of the books)
Dative
Книге (to the book)
Книгам (to the books)
Accusative
Книгу (book)
Книги (books)
Instrumental
Книгой (with the book)
Книгами (with the books)
Prepositional
Книге (about the book)
Книгах (about the books)
2.2. Feminine Nouns Ending in -я
Case
Singular
Plural
Nominative
Семья (family)
Семьи (families)
Genitive
Семьи (of the family)
Семей (of the families)
Dative
Семье (to the family)
Семьям (to the families)
Accusative
Семью (family)
Семьи (families)
Instrumental
Семьёй (with the family)
Семьями (with the families)
Prepositional
Семье (about the family)
Семьях (about the families)
2.3. Feminine Nouns Ending in -ь
Case
Singular
Plural
Nominative
Мать (mother)
Матери (mothers)
Genitive
Матери (of the mother)
Матерей (of the mothers)
Dative
Матери (to the mother)
Матерям (to the mothers)
Accusative
Мать (mother)
Матери (mothers)
Instrumental
Матерью (with the mother)
Матерями (with the mothers)
Prepositional
Матери (about the mother)
Матерях (about the mothers)
3. Neuter Nouns Declension
Neuter nouns usually end in -о or -е. The declension follows a regular pattern similar to that of masculine and feminine nouns.
3.1. Neuter Nouns Ending in -о
Case
Singular
Plural
Nominative
Окно (window)
Окна (windows)
Genitive
Окна (of the window)
Окон (of the windows)
Dative
Окну (to the window)
Окнам (to the windows)
Accusative
Окно (window)
Окна (windows)
Instrumental
Окном (with the window)
Окнами (with the windows)
Prepositional
Окне (about the window)
Окнах (about the windows)
3.2. Neuter Nouns Ending in -е
Case
Singular
Plural
Nominative
Молоко (milk)
Молока (milks)
Genitive
Молока (of the milk)
Молок (of the milks)
Dative
Молоку (to the milk)
Молокам (to the milks)
Accusative
Молоко (milk)
Молока (milks)
Instrumental
Молоком (with the milk)
Молоками (with the milks)
Prepositional
Молоке (about the milk)
Молоках (about the milks)
4. Key Points in Russian Noun Declension
Gender-specific changes: Nouns in Russian change according to their gender. Masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns follow different declension patterns, each with distinct endings.
Singular and plural forms: Russian declension not only changes based on case but also involves modifications for singular and plural forms. The endings in both singular and plural cases differ.
Irregular nouns: Some nouns have irregular forms in the genitive, dative, or prepositional cases. These forms do not always follow standard declension patterns.
5. Conclusion
Russian noun declension is an essential aspect of the language, allowing speakers to convey a wide range of meanings and relationships between objects and subjects. By understanding the declension patterns for masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns, you can form grammatically correct sentences in various cases. With practice, these patterns will become second nature.