Prepositions with Cases: Usage and Meanings in Russian

In Russian, prepositions are words that indicate relationships between objects, actions, or states in terms of time, place, direction, and other abstract connections. Russian prepositions are always followed by a specific case, which determines the relationship between the preposition and the noun or pronoun it governs.

Understanding prepositions and their associated cases is crucial for forming correct and meaningful sentences in Russian. In this article, we’ll explore the usage and meanings of various prepositions with their corresponding cases.

1. Prepositions with the Nominative Case

The nominative case is rarely used with prepositions, as it typically indicates the subject of a sentence. However, there are a few situations where the nominative case can follow certain prepositions.

Common Prepositions with the Nominative Case:

Это (this) — used in sentences like Это моя книга («This is my book»).
Вот (here is, here are) — used to introduce something or someone.
- Вот мой друг. (Here is my friend.)

2. Prepositions with the Genitive Case

The genitive case is commonly used with prepositions to indicate possession, negation, quantity, direction, and time. Prepositions that require the genitive case often express the absence of something, relationships involving «of,» or movement towards something.

Common Prepositions with the Genitive Case:

Без (without)
- Я не могу жить без тебя. (I can’t live without you.)
Для (for)
- Это подарок для тебя. (This is a gift for you.)
От (from)
- Я получил письмо от друга. (I received a letter from a friend.)
Из (from, out of)
- Он приехал из Москвы. (He came from Moscow.)
После (after)
- После урока мы пойдем в кафе. (After the lesson, we will go to a café.)
Мимо (past)
- Он прошел мимо меня. (He walked past me.)
С (with) — when indicating possession or movement from a place.
- Я с ним говорю. (I am talking with him.)
У (by, at, near)
- Мы сидим у окна. (We are sitting by the window.)

3. Prepositions with the Dative Case

The dative case is used with prepositions that indicate direction, recipient, or purpose. It is often used with verbs implying movement towards someone or something, as well as with certain prepositions expressing benefits, aims, or actions directed to a specific person.

Common Prepositions with the Dative Case:

К (to, towards, with)
- Я иду к дому. (I am going towards the house.)
- Она подошла к учителю. (She approached the teacher.)
По (along, according to, by)
- Мы гуляем по парку. (We are walking along the park.)
- Он поехал по дороге. (He drove along the road.)
Для (for)
- Это письмо для тебя. (This letter is for you.)
Навстречу (towards, to meet)
- Я иду навстречу другу. (I am going to meet my friend.)

4. Prepositions with the Accusative Case

The accusative case is used with prepositions that indicate direction, movement, and location in certain contexts. Prepositions with the accusative case typically express where an action is directed or where something is moving towards.

Common Prepositions with the Accusative Case:

В (into, to)
- Мы идем в магазин. (We are going to the store.)
- Она поехала в Москву. (She went to Moscow.)
На (onto, to)
- Он идет на работу. (He is going to work.)
- Поставь книгу на стол. (Put the book on the table.)
За (for, behind, to pick up)
- Он зашел за хлебом. (He went for bread.)
- Я жду за дверью. (I am waiting behind the door.)
Через (through, across, in)
- Мы поехали через мост. (We drove across the bridge.)
- Через неделю будет экзамен. (The exam will be in a week.)
Про (about, concerning)
- Я расскажу про книгу. (I will tell you about the book.)

5. Prepositions with the Instrumental Case

The instrumental case is used with prepositions to express means, tools, accompaniment, or the agent of an action. It also indicates the manner or condition in which an action takes place.

Common Prepositions with the Instrumental Case:

С (with)
- Я говорю с другом. (I am talking with a friend.)
- Она пришла с сестрой. (She came with her sister.)
Под (under, beneath)
- Мы сидим под деревом. (We are sitting under the tree.)
Перед (in front of)
- Он стоит перед дверью. (He is standing in front of the door.)
За (behind, for)
- Я спрятался за деревом. (I hid behind the tree.)
- Я работаю за компьютером. (I work at the computer.)
Между (between)
- Между нами ничего нет. (There is nothing between us.)
Только (only, just)
- Он работает только с нами. (He works only with us.)

6. Prepositions with the Prepositional Case

The prepositional case is used with prepositions that indicate location, place, or time. These prepositions describe where something or someone is located or where an action takes place. The prepositional case is also used to express the idea of “about” or “concerning.”

Common Prepositions with the Prepositional Case:

В (in, at)
- Я живу в Москве. (I live in Moscow.)
- Мы говорим в классе. (We are speaking in the classroom.)
На (on, at, in)
- Он сидит на стуле. (He is sitting on the chair.)
- Мы находимся на улице. (We are on the street.)
О (about)
- Я думаю о тебе. (I am thinking about you.)
- Мы поговорим о книге. (We will talk about the book.)
При (at, in the presence of)
- При мне этого не было. (It wasn’t there in my presence.)
- При враче он чувствует себя лучше. (He feels better with the doctor.)

7. Conclusion

Prepositions are key to understanding the structure and meaning of sentences in Russian. They indicate relationships in terms of time, place, direction, and manner. Each preposition is tied to a specific case, and mastering the combinations of prepositions with their cases is essential for fluent communication.

By paying attention to the meanings and functions of prepositions with different cases, you can form more precise and grammatically correct sentences in Russian.