The 6 Cases in Russian Grammar

The Russian language has six cases to show what function a noun has in a sentence: nominative, genitive, dative,  accusative, instrumental, and prepositional. The endings of Russian words change depending on the case they are in. It is best to learn the words and the way they sound in different cases by heart. Learning the cases is the fastest way to sound more fluent in Russian.   Russian Sentence Word Order Each Russian case has its own purpose and answers a particular set of questions. One of the reasons that cases are so important in the Russian language is the flexibility of the Russian sentence word order. As sentences can be put together in so many ways, cases help distinguish the sentences subject from its object. Example: In all the following sentences, Masha is in the nominative case while kasha is in the accusative case. Neutral: ÐÅ"Ð °Ã'ˆÐ ° Ð µÃ »Ã ° Ð ºÃ °Ã'ˆÃ'Æ' (MAsha YElah KAshu) - Masha was eating kasha. Emphasis on who was eating the porridge: КÐ °Ã'ˆÃ'Æ' Ð µÃ »Ã ° ÐÅ"Ð °Ã'ˆÐ ° (KAshu YElah Masha) - Masha was eating kasha.Emphasis on the action of eating: ÐÅ"Ð °Ã'ˆÐ ° Ð ºÃ °Ã'ˆÃ'Æ' Ð µÃ »Ã ° (MAsha YElah KAshu) - Masha was eating kasha.Emphasis on what Masha was eating: ЕÐ »Ã ° ÐÅ"Ð °Ã'ˆÐ ° Ð ºÃ °Ã'ˆÃ'Æ' (YElah MAsha KAshu) - Masha was eating kasha.Emphasis on Mashas action: ЕÐ »Ã ° Ð ºÃ °Ã'ˆÃ'Æ' ÐÅ"Ð °Ã'ˆÐ ° (YElah KAshu MAsha) - Masha was eating kasha.Emphasis on either the food that was being eaten or the action: КÐ °Ã'ˆÃ'Æ' ÐÅ"Ð °Ã'ˆÐ ° Ð µÃ »Ã ° (KAshu MAsha YElah) - Masha was eating kasha. All these phrases mean the same thing. As you can see, in Russian, each word can be used in any position in this sentence. While the general meaning remains the same, the word order changes the sentence’s register and adds subtle meanings that in English would be conveyed by intonation. It is the cases that allow this word order flexibility by pointing out that Masha in all these sentences is the subject and kasha is the object. These are the six Russian cases and examples of how to use them. Nominative Case (ИÐ ¼Ã µÃ ½Ã ¸Ã'‚Ð µÃ »Ã'Å'Ð ½Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ð ¿Ã °Ã ´Ã µÃ ¶) The nominative case answers the questions Ð ºÃ'‚Ð ¾/Ã'‡Ã'‚Ð ¾ (ktoh/chtoh), meaning who/what, and identifies the subject of a sentence. The nominative case exists in English, too. In Russian dictionaries, all nouns are given in the nominative case. Examples: Ð Ã °Ã'‚Ð °Ã'ˆÐ ° Ã' Ã ºÃ °Ã ·Ã °Ã »Ã °, Ã'‡Ã'‚Ð ¾ Ð ¿Ã'€Ð ¸Ã µÃ ´Ã µÃ'‚ Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã ¿Ã ¾Ã ·Ã ¶Ã µ.Pronunciation: naTAsha skaZAla shto priYEdyt paPOZzhe.Translation: Natasha said that she would come over later. In this example, Natasha is in the nominative case and is the subject of the sentence. Ð ¡Ã ¾Ã ±Ã °Ã ºÃ ° Ð ±Ã µÃ ¶Ã °Ã »Ã ° Ð ¿Ã ¾ Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã ¸Ã'†Ð µ, Ð ²Ã ¸Ã »Ã' Ã'  Ã'…Ð ²Ã ¾Ã' Ã'‚Ð ¾Ã ¼.Pronunciation: saBAka byZHAla pa OOlitse, vyLYAya hvasTOM.Translation: The dog was running down the street, wagging its tail. The noun Ã' Ã ¾Ã ±Ã °Ã ºÃ ° is in the nominative case and is the subject of the sentence. Genitive Case (Ð  Ã ¾Ã ´Ã ¸Ã'‚Ð µÃ »Ã'Å'Ð ½Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ð ¿Ã °Ã ´Ã µÃ ¶) The genitive case answers the questions Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ³Ã ¾ (kaVOH), meaning whom or of whom, and Ã'‡Ð µÃ ³Ã ¾ (chyVOH), which means what or of what. It shows possession, attribution, or absence (who, what, whose, or what/who is absent). It also answers the question Ð ¾Ã'‚Ð ºÃ'Æ'Ð ´Ã ° (atKOOda)—from where. In English, this function is fulfilled by the genitive, or the possessive, case. Examples: Ð £ Ð ¼Ã µÃ ½Ã'  Ð ½Ã µÃ'‚ Ð ½Ã ¸ Ã'‚Ð µÃ'‚Ã'€Ð °Ã ´Ã ¸, Ð ½Ã ¸ Ã'€Ã'Æ'Ã'‡Ð ºÃ ¸.Pronunciation: oo myNYA nyet ni tytRAdi, ni ROOCHki.Translation: I have neither a notebook nor a pen. In this sentence, the words Ã'‚Ð µÃ'‚Ã'€Ð °Ã ´Ã ¸ and Ã'€Ã'Æ'Ã'‡Ð ºÃ ¸ are both in the genitive case. Their endings have changed to Ð ¸: Ã'‚Ð µÃ'‚Ã'€Ð °Ã ´Ã'Å' (tytRAD) - a notebook - becomes Ã'‚Ð µÃ'‚Ã'€Ð °Ã ´Ã ¸ (tytRAdi) - (absence of) a notebookÃ'€Ã'Æ'Ã'‡Ð ºÃ ° (ROOCHka) - a pen - becomes Ã'€Ã'Æ'Ã'‡Ð ºÃ ¸ (ROOCHki) - (absence of) a pen Ð ¯ Ð ´Ã ¾Ã' Ã'‚Ð °Ã »Ã ° Ð ¸Ã · Ã' Ã'Æ'Ð ¼Ã ºÃ ¸ Ð ºÃ ½Ã ¸Ã ³Ã'Æ'.Pronunciation: ya dasTAla iz SOOMki KNIgu.Translation: I  took out a book out of the bag. The word Ã' Ã'Æ'Ð ¼Ã ºÃ ¸ is in the genitive case and answers the question from where: Ð ¸Ã · Ã' Ã'Æ'Ð ¼Ã ºÃ ¸Ã‚  - from the bag/out of the bag. The ending has changed to reflect the genitive case: Ã' Ã'Æ'Ð ¼Ã ºÃ ° (SOOMka) - a bag - becomes Ã' Ã'Æ'Ð ¼Ã ºÃ ¸ (SOOMki) - out of the bag. Dative Case (ДÐ °Ã'‚Ð µÃ »Ã'Å'Ð ½Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ð ¿Ã °Ã ´Ã µÃ ¶) The dative case answers the questions Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ¼Ã'Æ'/Ã'‡Ð µÃ ¼Ã'Æ' (kaMOO/chyMOO) – to whom/(to) what, and shows that something is given or addressed to the object. Example: Ð ¯ Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã ²Ã µÃ'€Ð ½Ã'Æ'Ð »Ã' Ã'  Ð º Ã'‡Ð µÃ »Ã ¾Ã ²Ã µÃ ºÃ'Æ', Ð ºÃ ¾Ã'‚Ð ¾Ã'€Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ã' Ã'‚Ð ¾Ã' Ã » Ã' Ã ¿Ã'€Ð °Ã ²Ã ° Ð ¾Ã'‚ Ð ¼Ã µÃ ½Ã' .Pronunciation: ya paverNOOLsya k chelaVYEkoo, kaTOryi staYAL SPRAva at myNYA.Translation: I turned to the person/man who was standing on my right. In this sentence, the word Ã'‡Ð µÃ »Ã ¾Ã ²Ã µÃ ºÃ'Æ' is in the dative case and answers the question to whom. Note the change in the ending: Ã'‡Ð µÃ »Ã ¾Ã ²Ã µÃ º (chelaVYEK) - a man/a person becomes Ã'‡Ð µÃ »Ã ¾Ã ²Ã µÃ ºÃ'Æ' (chelaVEkoo) - to a man/to a person. Accusative Case (Ð’Ð ¸Ã ½Ã ¸Ã'‚Ð µÃ »Ã'Å'Ð ½Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ð ¿Ã °Ã ´Ã µÃ ¶) The accusative case answers the questions Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ³Ã ¾/Ã'‡Ã'‚Ð ¾ (kaVOH/CHTO) – whom/what, and Ð ºÃ'Æ'Ð ´Ã ° (kooDAH) – where. Its equivalent in English is the accusative, or objective, case (him, her). Examples: Ð ¯ Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã ºÃ'Æ'Ð ¿Ã °Ã'Ž Ð ½Ã ¾Ã ²Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ã'‚Ð µÃ »Ã µÃ'„Ð ¾Ã ½.Pronunciation: ya pakooPAyu NOvyi teleFON.Translation: I am buying a new phone. The word Ã'‚Ð µÃ »Ã µÃ'„Ð ¾Ã ½ is in the accusative case and is the object of the sentence. Note that the ending does not change in this example: Ã'‚Ð µÃ »Ã µÃ'„Ð ¾Ã ½ (teleFON) - a phone - remains the same. КÐ °Ã ºÃ'Æ'Ã'Ž Ð ºÃ ½Ã ¸Ã ³Ã'Æ' Ã'‚Ã'‹ Ã' Ã µÃ ¹Ã'‡Ð °Ã'  Ã'‡Ð ¸Ã'‚Ð °Ã µÃ'ˆÃ'Å'?Pronunciation: kaKOOyu KNEEgu ty syCHAS chiTAyesh?Translation: What book are you reading right now? The word Ð ºÃ ½Ã ¸Ã ³Ã'Æ' is in the dative case and is the object of the sentence. The ending of the word has changed: Ð ºÃ ½Ã ¸Ã ³Ã ° (KNEEga) - a book -  becomes Ð ºÃ ½Ã ¸Ã ³Ã'Æ' (KNEEgoo). Instrumental Case (Ð ¢Ã ²Ã ¾Ã'€Ð ¸Ã'‚Ð µÃ »Ã'Å'Ð ½Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ð ¿Ã °Ã ´Ã µÃ ¶) Answers the questions  Ã ºÃ µÃ ¼/Ã'‡Ð µÃ ¼ (kyem/chem) – with whom/with what. This case shows which instrument is used to do or make something, or with whom/with the help of what an action is completed. It can also be used to talk about something that you are interested in. Example: ИÐ ²Ã °Ã ½ Ð ¸Ã ½Ã'‚Ð µÃ'€Ð µÃ' Ã'Æ'Ð µÃ'‚Ã' Ã'  Ð ºÃ ¸Ã'‚Ð °Ã ¹Ã' Ã ºÃ ¾Ã ¹ Ð ºÃ'Æ'Ð »Ã'Å'Ã'‚Ã'Æ'Ã'€Ð ¾Ã ¹.Pronunciation: iVAN intyeryeSOOyetsa kiTAYSkay koolTOOray.Translation: Ivan is interested in Chinese culture. КÃ'Æ'Ð »Ã'Å'Ã'‚Ã'Æ'Ã'€Ð ¾Ã ¹ is in the instrumental case and shows Ivans interest. The ending has changed here: Ð ºÃ'Æ'Ð »Ã'Å'Ã'‚Ã'Æ'Ã'€Ð ° (koolTOOra) becomes Ð ºÃ'Æ'Ð »Ã'Å'Ã'‚Ã'Æ'Ã'€Ð ¾Ã ¹ (koolTOOray). Prepositional Case (ПÃ'€Ð µÃ ´Ã »Ã ¾Ã ¶Ã ½Ã'‹Ð ¹ Ð ¿Ã °Ã ´Ã µÃ ¶) Answers the questions Ð ¾ Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ¼/Ð ¾ Ã'‡Ð µÃ ¼ (ah KOM/ah CHOM) – about whom/about what, and the question Ð ³Ã ´Ã µ (GDYE) – where. Example: Ð ¯ Ð ¿Ã ¾Ã' Ã'‚Ð °Ã'€Ð °Ã'ŽÃ' Ã'Å' Ð ¿Ã'€Ð ¾Ã' Ã ½Ã'Æ'Ã'‚Ã'Å'Ã' Ã'  Ð ½Ã ° Ã'€Ð °Ã' Ã' Ã ²Ã µÃ'‚Ð µ.Pronunciation: ya pastaRAyus prasNOOTtsa na rasSVYEtye.Translation: I will try to wake up at dawn. Ð Ã ° Ã'€Ð °Ã' Ã' Ã ²Ã µÃ'‚Ð µ is in the prepositional case. The ending has changed: Ð  Ã °Ã' Ã' Ã ²Ã µÃ'‚ (rassVYET) - dawn - becomes Ð ½Ã ° Ã'€Ð °Ã' Ã' Ã ²Ã µÃ'‚Ð µ (na rassVYEtye) - at dawn. Endings in Russian Cases Ð ¡Ã ºÃ »Ã ¾Ã ½Ã µÃ ½Ã ¸Ã µ (sklaNYEniye) means declension. All Russian nouns belong to one of the three declension groups. First Declension Includes all feminine and masculine nouns ending in Ð ° and Ã'  (plural Ã'‹ and Ð ¸). Case Singular Example Plural Example Nominative Ð °, Ã'  Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã ° (MAma) - mom Ã'‹, Ð ¸ Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã'‹ (MAmy) - moms Genitive Ã'‹, Ð ¸ Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã'‹ (MAmy) - ofmom --, Ð µÃ ¹ Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼ (mam) - of moms Dative Ð µ, Ð ¸ Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã µ (MAmye) - to mom Ð °Ã ¼, Ã' Ã ¼ Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã °Ã ¼ (Mamam) - to moms Accusative Ã'Æ', Ã'Ž Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã'Æ' (MAmoo) - mom --, Ã'‹, Ð ¸, Ð µÃ ¹ Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼ (mam) - moms Instrumental Ð ¾Ã ¹, Ð ¾Ã'Ž, Ð µÃ ¹, Ð µÃ'Ž Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã ¾Ã ¹ (Mamay) - by mom Ð °Ã ¼Ã ¸, Ã' Ã ¼Ã ¸ Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã ¸ (Mamami) - by moms Prepositional Ð µ, Ð ¸ Ð ¾ Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã µ (a MAmye) - about mom Ð °Ã'…, Ã' Ã'… Ð ¾ Ð ¼Ã °Ã ¼Ã °Ã'… (a MAmakh) - about moms Second Declension Includes all other masculine and neutral words. Case Singular Example Plural Example Nominative -- (masculine), o, e (neutral) Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã'Å' (KON') - a horse Ð °, Ã' , Ã'‹, Ð ¸ Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã ¸ (KOni) - horses Genitive Ð °, Ã'  Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã'  (kaNYA) - of a horse --, Ð ¾Ã ², Ð µÃ ², Ð µÃ ¹ Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã µÃ ¹ (kaNYEY) - of horses Dative Ã'Æ', Ã'Ž Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã'Ž (kaNYU) - to a horse Ð °Ã ¼, Ã' Ã ¼ Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã' Ã ¼ (kaNYAM) - to horses Accusative -- (masculine), Ð ¾, Ð µ (neutral) Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã'  (kaNYA) - a horse Ð °, Ã' , Ã'‹, Ð ¸ Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã µÃ ¹ (kaNYEY) - horses Instrumental Ð ¾Ã ¼, Ð µÃ ¼ Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã'‘Ð ¼ (kaNYOM) - by a horse Ð °Ã ¼Ã ¸ Ã' Ã ¼Ã ¸ Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã' Ã ¼Ã ¸ (kaNYAmi) - by horses Prepositional Ð µ, Ð ¸ Ð ¾ Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã µ (a kaNYE) - about a horse Ð °Ã'…, Ã' Ã'… Ð ¾ Ð ºÃ ¾Ã ½Ã' Ã'… (a kaNYAKH) - about horses Third Declension Includes all other feminine words. Case Singular Example Plural Example Nominative -- Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÃ'Å' (MYSH') - a mouse Ð ¸ Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ ¸ (MYshi) - mice Genitive Ð ¸ Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ ¸ (MYshi) - of a mouse Ð µÃ ¹ Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ µÃ ¹ (mySHEY) - of mice Dative Ð ¸ Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ ¸ (MYshi) - to a mouse Ð °Ã ¼, Ã' Ã ¼ Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ °Ã ¼ (mySHAM) - to mice Accusative -- Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÃ'Å' (MYsh) - a mouse Ð ¸ Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ µÃ ¹ (mySHEY) - mice Instrumental Ã'Ž Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÃ'Å'Ã'Ž (MYSHyu) - by a mouse Ð °Ã ¼Ã ¸ Ã' Ã ¼Ã ¸ Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ °Ã ¼Ã ¸ (mySHAmi) - by mice Prepositional Ð ¸ Ð ¾ Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ ¸ (a MYshi) - about a mouse Ð °Ã'… Ã' Ã'… Ð ¾ Ð ¼Ã'‹Ã'ˆÐ °Ã'… (a mySHAKH) - about mice