The Prepositional Case in Russian: Functions and Usage

The Prepositional Case is one of the six grammatical cases in Russian and is often used to express location or state of being in a certain place. It answers the questions «Where?» (Где?) and «About whom/what?» (О чём/о ком?). It is mainly used with prepositions, which guide the meaning of the sentence.
In this article, we will explore the functions, forms, and usage of the prepositional case with clear examples, tables, and detailed explanations.
1. Function of the Prepositional Case
The prepositional case is used in contexts involving location, discussion, or thought. It often expresses the idea of being in or on a place, as well as talking about or thinking about something or someone.
Primary Uses of the Prepositional Case:
- Location: Indicating where something is or where an action takes place (often with prepositions like в (in), на (on), etc.).
- About: Expressing the idea of thinking, talking, or writing about something or someone (using prepositions like о (about)).
2. Nouns in the Prepositional Case
The form of nouns in the prepositional case depends on gender and number. The endings for each gender and number are slightly different, so let’s explore how nouns change in the prepositional case.
Masculine Nouns (Singular)
For masculine nouns, the prepositional case typically ends in -е or -и, depending on the consonant at the end of the noun.
Singular (Masculine) | Prepositional (Masculine) | Translation |
---|---|---|
Стол | Столе | Table (in/on the table) |
Музей | В музее | Museum (in the museum) |
Город | В городе | City (in the city) |
Брат | О брате | Brother (about the brother) |
Feminine Nouns (Singular)
For feminine nouns, the prepositional case typically ends in -е or -и, depending on the noun’s final letter.
Singular (Feminine) | Prepositional (Feminine) | Translation |
---|---|---|
Книга | В книге | Book (in the book) |
Девочка | О девочке | Girl (about the girl) |
Учительница | В учительнице | Teacher (female, in the teacher) |
Мать | О матери | Mother (about the mother) |
Neuter Nouns (Singular)
For neuter nouns, the prepositional case typically ends in -е or -и.
Singular (Neuter) | Prepositional (Neuter) | Translation |
---|---|---|
Окно | В окне | Window (in the window) |
Молоко | О молоке | Milk (about the milk) |
Письмо | О письме | Letter (about the letter) |
Plural Nouns (All Genders)
For plural nouns, the prepositional case typically ends in -ах or -ях, depending on the word.
Plural (All Genders) | Prepositional (Plural) | Translation |
---|---|---|
Столы | На столах | Tables (on the tables) |
Книги | В книгах | Books (in the books) |
Окна | В окнах | Windows (in the windows) |
Дети | О детях | Children (about the children) |
3. Adjectives in the Prepositional Case
Adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case. In the prepositional case, adjectives change depending on the gender and number of the noun they are describing.
Masculine Adjectives (Singular)
Adjective | Noun | Prepositional | Translation |
---|---|---|---|
Красивый | Стол (Table) | В красивом столе | Beautiful table |
Большой | Город (City) | В большом городе | Big city |
Feminine Adjectives (Singular)
Adjective | Noun | Prepositional | Translation |
---|---|---|---|
Красная | Книга (Book) | В красной книге | Red book |
Большая | Девочка (Girl) | О большой девочке | Big girl |
Plural Adjectives (All Genders)
Adjective | Noun | Prepositional | Translation |
---|---|---|---|
Красивые | Столы (Tables) | На красивых столах | Beautiful tables |
Большие | Книги (Books) | В больших книгах | Big books |
4. Pronouns in the Prepositional Case
Pronouns also change in the prepositional case. Here are the prepositional forms of the personal pronouns:
Pronoun | Prepositional | Translation |
---|---|---|
Я | Обо мне | About me |
Ты | О тебе | About you (informal) |
Он | О нём | About him |
Она | О ней | About her |
Оно | О нём | About it (neuter) |
Мы | О нас | About us |
Вы | О вас | About you (formal/plural) |
Они | О них | About them |
Example Sentences:
- Мы говорим о тебе. (We are talking about you.)
- Она думает о нас. (She is thinking about us.)
5. Common Uses of the Prepositional Case
Here are some of the most frequent situations in which the prepositional case is used:
- Location (In, On):
- Я живу в Москве. (I live in Moscow.)
- Книга на столе. (The book is on the table.)
- Talking or Thinking About:
- Я думаю о моих друзьях. (I am thinking about my friends.)
- Он пишет о путешествиях. (He is writing about travel.)
- Discussing or Referring to:
- Мы говорим о фильмах. (We are talking about films.)
- Она мечтает о будущем. (She is dreaming about the future.)
6. Conclusion
The prepositional case is crucial for expressing location and discussion in Russian. It is used to indicate where something or someone is located and to express thoughts, discussions, and considerations about people or things. By mastering this case, you will be able to form more complex and meaningful sentences in Russian, enhancing your communication skills.complement, definition, circumstance, or predicate.