Lesson 10 of 24

With Whom and As What: The Instrumental Case

The last of the six cases, and the best shortcut in Russian: one set of endings covers "with a friend", "with a pen" and "as a doctor", and eight frozen forms tell you when anything happens — утром, вечером, зимой.

⏱ About 55 minutes 26 phrases 34 exercises

Three panels for the instrumental case: two friends walking under «Я гуляю с другом», a hand writing with a pen under «Я пишу ручкой», and a doctor with a stethoscope under «Я работаю врачом», headed «Творительный — with / as what».

What you will learn

Recognise the instrumental as the case of company, means and role, and know the two questions it answers: Кем? Чем?
Form the instrumental singular and plural of masculine, feminine and neuter nouns, including the -ом / -ем spelling rule after ж, ш, щ, ч and ц
Use с + instrumental for "with" and keep it apart from the с + genitive of Lesson 8 that means "off, from"
Name the tool with a bare instrumental — писать ручкой, резать ножом — and never add the с that would change the meaning
Say what somebody is with работать and быть + instrumental: Я работаю врачом, Он был учителем
Use the eight time adverbs утром, днём, вечером, ночью, зимой, весной, летом and осенью, and the five position prepositions над, под, перед, между and рядом с

Quick review

Say these aloud before you start. They come from earlier lessons.

Я живу́ в Москве́. I live in Moscow. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я живу́ в Москве́.
У меня́ есть брат. I have a brother. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У меня́ есть брат.
Вчера́ я не ра́ботал. Yesterday I did not work. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Вчера́ я не ра́ботал.
Мы идём в парк. We are walking to the park. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мы идём в парк.
У меня́ нет вре́мени. I have not got any time. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У меня́ нет вре́мени.
Я ду́маю о рабо́те. I am thinking about work. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я ду́маю о рабо́те.

Theory

Кем? Чем? — the case of the tool, the company and the role

The instrumental answers two questions, Кем? and Чем?, and it is the last of the six cases this course teaches. After today you will have met every case Russian needs for ordinary conversation, which is worth pausing on: the genitive plural was the hard part, and you are through it. The instrumental endings are the most regular in the whole noun system.

Three meanings cover almost everything you will say. Company, always with the preposition с: «Я иду в кино с другом». The tool or the means, with no preposition at all: «Я пишу ручкой», «Он режет хлеб ножом». And the role or profession, after быть and работать: «Я работаю врачом», «Он был учителем». English needs three different constructions for those three ideas — "with", "with" and "as" — and Russian uses one set of endings for all of them.

There is a fourth use that pays for itself immediately and costs eight words. A handful of instrumental forms have frozen into plain adverbs of time: утром, днём, вечером, ночью, зимой, весной, летом, осенью. No preposition, no noun to decline, nothing to agree with. Learn those eight and you can say when anything happens for the rest of the course.

Я иду́ в кино́ с дру́гом. I am going to the cinema with a friend. (с + instrumental = company) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я иду́ в кино́ с дру́гом.
Она́ пи́шет ру́чкой. She writes with a pen. (bare instrumental = the tool) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Она́ пи́шет ру́чкой.
Он рабо́тает инжене́ром. He works as an engineer. (instrumental = the role) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Он рабо́тает инжене́ром.
У́тром я пью ко́фе. In the morning I drink coffee. (a frozen instrumental = an adverb of time) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У́тром я пью ко́фе.

The endings: -ом / -ем, -ой / -ей, -ами / -ями

Masculine and neuter nouns add -ом after a hard consonant and -ем after a soft one: стол → столом, стакан → стаканом, дом → домом, окно → окном; учитель → учителем, музей → музеем. Feminine nouns in -а add -ой or -ей by exactly the same logic: мама → мамой, чашка → чашкой; Россия → Россией, семья → семьёй. Third-declension feminines in a soft sign add -ью: ночь → ночью, жизнь → жизнью. The plural is the same for all three genders: -ами after a hard consonant or a sibilant, -ями after a soft one — стаканами, вилками, ножами, ночами, but семьями and музеями.

One spelling rule decides between the о and the е variants, and it is the general Russian rule for о after a sibilant: after ж, ш, щ, ч or ц write -ом and -ой when the ending carries the stress and -ем and -ей when it does not. Every sibilant-stem noun you have met is end-stressed in the instrumental, so for now that rule always gives you о: ножо́м, врачо́м, ключо́м, карандашо́м. The unstressed half — това́рищем, ме́сяцем — is worth recognising rather than producing. Nothing here has to be memorised word by word: once you know where the stress falls, the vowel follows.

Stress behaves the way you now expect, which is to say it moves. стол has no mark at all in the nominative because it is one syllable, but every oblique form is stressed on the ending: стола́, столу́, столо́м, столе́. вода́ does the same: водо́й. дом keeps its stem stress and gives до́мом. Learn the instrumental as part of the noun rather than as a rule you apply to it — but be encouraged, because of the six paradigms this is the one that misbehaves least.

стол — стола́ — столо́м table — of the table — with the table (stress moves into the ending) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: стол — стола́ — столо́м
учи́тель — учи́телем teacher — as a teacher (soft stem, so -ем) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: учи́тель — учи́телем
ча́шка — ча́шкой cup — with the cup (feminine in -а, so -ой) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ча́шка — ча́шкой
нож — ножо́м knife — with the knife (stressed ending after ж, so -ом, not -ем) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: нож — ножо́м

с + instrumental: with whom, and with what inside it

This is the second life of a preposition you already own. In Lesson 8 с took the genitive and meant "off, from": с работы, с вокзала. Here it takes the instrumental and means "with": с другом, с молоком, с братом. Same three letters, different case, unrelated meaning — and Russian tells them apart by the ending of the noun alone. «Я иду с работы» is "I am coming back from work"; «Я иду с братом» is "I am walking with my brother".

с covers two kinds of "with" that English also keeps together: the person you are with, and the thing that is inside the food, the drink or the object. «Кофе с молоком», «хлеб с сыром», «я иду в парк с подругой». All three are the same construction, none of them needs a verb, and neither kind takes any other preposition.

Two mechanical details finish it off. In front of a word that begins with с, з, ш or щ plus another consonant, с lengthens to со — со стола́, со сне́га, со сту́лом — and the same happens before a handful of other clusters Russian will not pronounce, of which the only one you need today is со мной. Second, after a preposition the third-person pronouns pick up an н, exactly as they did for у него and к ней: с ним, с ней, с ними. The whole set of instrumental pronouns is short enough to swallow at one go — мной, тобой, ним, ней, нами, вами, ими.

Я иду́ в парк с дру́гом. I am going to the park with a friend. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я иду́ в парк с дру́гом.
Ко́фе с молоко́м, пожалу́йста. Coffee with milk, please. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Ко́фе с молоко́м, пожалу́йста.
Она́ гуля́ет с подру́гой. She is walking with her friend. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Она́ гуля́ет с подру́гой.
Мы гу́ляем с ни́ми. We are walking with them. (с ними, never *с они) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мы гу́ляем с ни́ми.

The bare instrumental: the tool, and what somebody is

When the instrumental means "by means of", there is no preposition. English always says "with"; Russian never does. «Я пишу ручкой», «Он режет хлеб ножом», «Он ест ложкой, а не вилкой». This is the place where English speakers systematically add a с that does not belong, and it changes the meaning: «девушка с сумкой» is "a girl carrying a bag", so «я пишу с ручкой» would be "I write while in possession of a pen".

The same ending says what somebody is. After работать, быть and — later — стать the profession goes into the instrumental while the subject stays in the nominative: «Я работаю врачом», «Он был учителем», «Она хочет быть актрисой». You have been saying «Я врач» since Lesson 1, and that zero-copula nominative is still the normal way to state a profession in the present. The instrumental is what the past, the future and работать ask for.

The distinction is worth getting right, because in the past there is no choice at all: «Он был учителем» is the norm, and «Он был учитель» sounds unfinished to a Russian ear. A small group of verbs governs the instrumental directly, with no быть anywhere near them: интересоваться, заниматься and увлекаться. «Он интересуется музыкой» — the thing you are interested in, busy with or keen on takes the bare case and nothing else, and all three work identically. They are -ся verbs, which Lesson 18 explains properly; for now learn each one as a chunk with its case attached, the way you learnt у меня есть.

Я пишу́ ру́чкой. I write with a pen. (no preposition — the bare instrumental) Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я пишу́ ру́чкой.
Он ре́жет хлеб ножо́м. He is cutting the bread with a knife. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Он ре́жет хлеб ножо́м.
Я рабо́таю врачо́м. I work as a doctor. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я рабо́таю врачо́м.
Она́ была́ учи́тельницей. She was a teacher. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Она́ была́ учи́тельницей.

Time and place: eight adverbs and five prepositions

The eight time adverbs are the cheapest large win in the course: утром, днём, вечером, ночью, зимой, весной, летом, осенью. Each one is the frozen instrumental of a noun — утро, день, вечер, ночь, зима, весна, лето, осень — but you never decline the noun yourself and you never add a preposition. English "in the morning" and "in winter" are three words and two; Russian утром and зимой are one each. The nouns themselves arrive in Lessons 11, 12 and 17; these eight forms are all you need in order to say when anything happens.

For place, five prepositions govern the instrumental and all five answer Где?: над "above", под "under", перед "in front of", между "between" and рядом с "next to". Learn them as chunks with a noun attached — над городом, под столом, перед домом, между домами, рядом с домом — and the ending arrives with the chunk, exactly as it did for в Москве and на работе in Lesson 5.

Three of them need a note. под also takes the accusative when something moves to a position under something else, which is the same где? / куда? split you met with в and на in Lesson 6; that half is Lesson 12, so today learn only под + instrumental for "where". перед becomes передо in front of a handful of words, and the only one you need today is передо мной. And рядом is an adverb first — «Они живут рядом» — and turns into a preposition only when с follows it. One more preposition, за "behind", governs the instrumental too; it belongs to Lesson 12.

У́тром я пью ко́фе, а ве́чером — чай. In the morning I drink coffee, in the evening tea. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У́тром я пью ко́фе, а ве́чером — чай.
Зимо́й здесь хо́лодно. It is cold here in winter. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Зимо́й здесь хо́лодно.
Су́мка под столо́м. The bag is under the table. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Су́мка под столо́м.
Магази́н ря́дом с до́мом. The shop is next to the house. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Магази́н ря́дом с до́мом.

The instrumental: five noun classes, four shapes

Form	студе́нт (m, hard)	нож (m, sibilant)	учи́тель (m, soft)	ча́шка (f, -а)	ночь (f, 3rd declension)
Кто? Что? — Nominative	студе́нт	нож	учи́тель	ча́шка	ночь
Кем? Чем? — Instrumental singular	студе́нтом	ножо́м	учи́телем	ча́шкой	но́чью
Instrumental plural	студе́нтами	ножа́ми	учи́телями	ча́шками	ноча́ми
The ending you add	-ом after a hard consonant	-ом (stressed after ж)	-ем after a soft one	-ой / -ей	-ью

Four shapes cover every noun in the language. -ом after a hard masculine or neuter consonant, -ем after a soft one, -ой or -ей for feminines in -а, -ью for third-declension feminines, and -ами or -ями for every plural. After ж, ш, щ, ч and ц the choice between о and е is decided by stress alone — ножо́м and врачо́м, but учи́телем and ме́сяцем. ночь itself is Lesson 12 vocabulary; it is here because но́чью, its frozen instrumental, is one of the eight time adverbs.

Three jobs, one case: with / by means of / as

Form	с + Instrumental — "with"	Instrumental alone — "by means of"	Instrumental after быть / работать — "as"
The question it answers	С кем? С чем?	Чем?	Кем?
A sentence	Я иду́ в кино́ с дру́гом.	Я пишу́ ру́чкой.	Я рабо́таю врачо́м.
Another one	Ко́фе с молоко́м, пожалу́йста.	Он ре́жет хлеб ножо́м.	Она́ была́ учи́тельницей.
The trap	с + Genitive is a different meaning: с работы = "from work"	no с at all — с ручкой means "carrying a pen"	the subject stays in the Nominative: я, она

One ending, three jobs, and only the first of them keeps its preposition. Notice that the tool never takes с: Russian names the instrument in the bare case form. Add с and you change the meaning from "with a pen" to "with a pen on you".

Time in the instrumental: eight adverbs that need no preposition

Form	у́тро	день	ве́чер	ночь	зима́	весна́	ле́то	о́сень
The adverb (Instrumental)	у́тром	днём	ве́чером	но́чью	зимо́й	весно́й	ле́том	о́сенью
English	in the morning	in the afternoon	in the evening	at night	in winter	in spring	in summer	in autumn
In a sentence	У́тром я пью ко́фе.	Днём я рабо́таю.	Ве́чером мы смо́трим фильм.	Но́чью идёт дождь.	Зимо́й здесь хо́лодно.	Весно́й мы е́дем в Москву́.	Ле́том мы гу́ляем в па́рке.	О́сенью я чита́ю до́ма.

Eight words, no preposition, no agreement and nothing to decline — the frozen instrumental of each noun, hardened into a plain adverb. The nouns in the top row arrive in Lessons 11, 12 and 17; you only ever need these eight forms to say when something happens. днём keeps its ё, which is always stressed and so never takes a mark.

Где? — the five prepositions that take the instrumental

Form	над	под	пе́ред	ме́жду	ря́дом с
Meaning	above, over	under, below	in front of	between	next to
Где? + дом (m)	над до́мом	под до́мом	пе́ред до́мом	ме́жду дома́ми	ря́дом с до́мом
Где? + стол (m)	над столо́м	под столо́м	пе́ред столо́м	ме́жду стола́ми	ря́дом со столо́м
The trap	no accusative partner at this level	под + Accusative = movement "to under" (Lesson 12)	передо мной — the о appears before мной	между + Genitive is bookish and survives in set phrases	рядом on its own is an adverb: Они живут рядом

All five answer Где? and all five take the instrumental, so the ending is the one you have just learnt. Store them as chunks with a noun attached — над городом, под столом, перед домом, между домами, рядом с домом — the way you stored в Москве and на работе. Note со столом: с lengthens to со before a cluster built on с, з, ш or щ. за, "behind", governs the instrumental too, and it is Lesson 12.

Vocabulary

Learn each word with its stress mark and its pronunciation. Nouns are given with their gender, animacy and their full six-case declension; verbs are given with their aspect and, where one exists, their partner verb.

Russian	English	Gender / aspect	Pronunciation	Audio
ви́лка feminine · inanimate	fork	feminine · inanimate	/ˈvʲilkə/ VEEL-kuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: вилка
ло́жка feminine · inanimate	spoon	feminine · inanimate	/ˈloʂkə/ LOH-shkuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ложка
нож masculine · inanimate	knife	masculine · inanimate	/noʂ/ NOHSH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: нож
таре́лка feminine · inanimate	plate, dish	feminine · inanimate	/tɐˈrʲelkə/ tuh-RYEL-kuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: тарелка
ча́шка feminine · inanimate	cup	feminine · inanimate	/ˈtɕaʂkə/ CHAH-shkuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: чашка
стака́н masculine · inanimate	glass, tumbler	masculine · inanimate	/stɐˈkan/ stuh-KAHN	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: стакан
ключ masculine · inanimate	key	masculine · inanimate	/klʲutɕ/ KLYOOCH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ключ
дождь masculine · inanimate	rain	masculine · inanimate	/doʂtʲ/ DOHCH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: дождь
снег masculine · inanimate	snow	masculine · inanimate	/sʲnʲek/ SNYEKH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: снег
ве́тер masculine · inanimate	wind	masculine · inanimate	/ˈvʲetʲɪr/ VYEH-tihr	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ветер
со́лнце neuter · inanimate	sun	neuter · inanimate	/ˈsontsə/ SOHN-tsih	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: солнце
пого́да feminine · inanimate	weather	feminine · inanimate	/pɐˈɡodə/ puh-GOH-duh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: погода
у́тром adverb	in the morning	adverb	/ˈutrəm/ OO-trum	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: утром
днём adverb	in the afternoon, during the day	adverb	/dnʲom/ duh-NYOHM	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: днём
ве́чером adverb	in the evening	adverb	/ˈvʲetɕɪrəm/ VYEH-chih-rum	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: вечером
но́чью adverb	at night	adverb	/ˈnotɕjʊ/ NOH-choo	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ночью
зимо́й adverb	in winter	adverb	/zʲɪˈmoj/ zih-MOY	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: зимой
весно́й adverb	in spring	adverb	/vʲɪˈsnoj/ vih-SNOY	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: весной
ле́том adverb	in summer	adverb	/ˈlʲetəm/ LYEH-tum	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: летом
о́сенью adverb	in autumn, in the fall	adverb	/ˈosʲɪnʲjʊ/ OH-sih-nyoo	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: осенью
над preposition	above, over	preposition	/nat/ NAHT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: над
под preposition	under, below	preposition	/pot/ POHT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: под
пе́ред preposition	in front of, before	preposition	/ˈpʲerʲɪt/ PYEH-rit	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: перед
ме́жду preposition	between, among	preposition	/ˈmʲeʐdʊ/ MYEH-zhdoo	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: между
ря́дом adverb	close by; рядом с + instrumental = next to	adverb	/ˈrʲadəm/ RYAH-dum	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: рядом
ре́зать imperfective	to cut	imperfective	/ˈrʲezətʲ/ RYEH-zyut	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: резать
с preposition	off, from (a surface or an event)	preposition	/s/ S	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: с
ру́чка feminine · inanimate	pen, biro	feminine · inanimate	/ˈrutɕkə/ ROO-chkuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ручка
стол masculine · inanimate	table	masculine · inanimate	/stol/ STOHL	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: стол
окно́ neuter · inanimate	window	neuter · inanimate	/ɐˈkno/ uk-NOH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: окно
быть imperfective	to be	imperfective	/bɨtʲ/ BIHT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: быть
учи́тель masculine · animate	teacher (male, or generic)	masculine · animate	/ʊˈtɕitʲɪlʲ/ oo-CHIH-til	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: учитель
врач masculine · animate	doctor	masculine · animate	/vratɕ/ VRAHCH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: врач
писа́ть imperfective	to write	imperfective	/pʲɪˈsatʲ/ pih-SYAT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: писать

Full six-case declension of the 17 nouns in this lesson

Each case is listed with the question word that selects it. Find the question you are answering and the ending follows.

Singular

Form	ви́лка (f)	ло́жка (f)	нож (m)	таре́лка (f)	ча́шка (f)	стака́н (m)	ключ (m)	дождь (m)	снег (m)	ве́тер (m)	со́лнце (n)	пого́да (f)	ру́чка (f)	стол (m)	окно́ (n)	учи́тель (m)	врач (m)
nom · Кто? Что?	ви́лка	ло́жка	нож	таре́лка	ча́шка	стака́н	ключ	дождь	снег	ве́тер	со́лнце	пого́да	ру́чка	стол	окно́	учи́тель	врач
gen · Кого? Чего?	ви́лки	ло́жки	ножа́	таре́лки	ча́шки	стака́на	ключа́	дождя́	сне́га	ве́тра	со́лнца	пого́ды	ру́чки	стола́	окна́	учи́теля	врача
dat · Кому? Чему?	ви́лке	ло́жке	ножу́	таре́лке	ча́шке	стака́ну	ключу́	дождю́	сне́гу	ве́тру	со́лнцу	пого́де	ру́чке	столу́	окну́	учи́телю	врачу
acc · Кого? Что?	ви́лку	ло́жку	нож	таре́лку	ча́шку	стака́н	ключ	дождь	снег	ве́тер	со́лнце	пого́ду	ру́чку	стол	окно́	учи́теля	врача
instr · Кем? Чем?	ви́лкой	ло́жкой	ножо́м	таре́лкой	ча́шкой	стака́ном	ключо́м	дождём	сне́гом	ве́тром	со́лнцем	пого́дой	ру́чкой	столо́м	окно́м	учи́телем	врачом
prep · О ком? О чём?	ви́лке	ло́жке	ноже́	таре́лке	ча́шке	стака́не	ключе́	дожде́	сне́ге	ве́тре	со́лнце	пого́де	ру́чке	столе́	окне́	учи́теле	враче

Plural

Form	ви́лка (f)	ло́жка (f)	нож (m)	таре́лка (f)	ча́шка (f)	стака́н (m)	ключ (m)	дождь (m)	снег (m)	ве́тер (m)	со́лнце (n)	пого́да (f)	ру́чка (f)	стол (m)	окно́ (n)	учи́тель (m)	врач (m)
nom · Кто? Что?	ви́лки	ло́жки	ножи́	таре́лки	ча́шки	стака́ны	ключи́	дожди́	снега́	ве́тры	со́лнца	пого́ды	ру́чки	столы́	о́кна	учи́тели	врачи́
gen · Кого? Чего?	ви́лок	ло́жек	ноже́й	таре́лок	ча́шек	стака́нов	ключе́й	дожде́й	снего́в	ве́тров	солнц	пого́д	ру́чек	столо́в	о́кон	учи́телей	враче́й
dat · Кому? Чему?	ви́лкам	ло́жкам	ножа́м	таре́лкам	ча́шкам	стака́нам	ключа́м	дождя́м	снега́м	ве́трам	со́лнцам	пого́дам	ру́чкам	стола́м	о́кнам	учи́телям	врача́м
acc · Кого? Что?	ви́лки	ло́жки	ножи́	таре́лки	ча́шки	стака́ны	ключи́	дожди́	снега́	ве́тры	со́лнца	пого́ды	ру́чки	столы́	о́кна	учи́телей	враче́й
instr · Кем? Чем?	ви́лками	ло́жками	ножа́ми	таре́лками	ча́шками	стака́нами	ключа́ми	дождя́ми	снега́ми	ве́трами	со́лнцами	пого́дами	ру́чками	стола́ми	о́кнами	учи́телями	врача́ми
prep · О ком? О чём?	ви́лках	ло́жках	ножа́х	таре́лках	ча́шках	стака́нах	ключа́х	дождя́х	снега́х	ве́трах	со́лнцах	пого́дах	ру́чках	стола́х	о́кнах	учи́телях	врача́х

Ready-to-use phrases

Я пишу́ ру́чкой.

I write with a pen.

IPA /ja pʲɪˈʂu ˈrutɕkəj/

Say it YAH pih-SHOO ROO-chkuy.

The sentence the whole case exists for. The tool takes the bare instrumental, with no preposition at all: «с ручкой» would mean "carrying a pen", which is a different idea.

neutral instrumental objects study

Чем ты пи́шешь?

What are you writing with?

IPA /tɕem tɨ ˈpʲiʂɨʂ/

Say it CHEM TIH PEE-shish?

Чем? is the instrumental of что, and it is the question the case answers. The reply comes back in the same case: «Чем ты пишешь?» — «Ручкой». Drill these pairs aloud; they build the case system faster than any table.

informal instrumental questions objects

Он ре́жет хлеб ножо́м.

He is cutting the bread with a knife.

IPA /on ˈrʲeʐɨt xlʲep nɐˈʐom/

Say it OHN RYEH-zhit KHLYEP nuh-ZHOHM.

Two things at once: резать mutates its з to ж in the present tense (режет), and нож takes the stressed -ом ending because the stress has moved off the stem (ножо́м).

neutral instrumental food objects

Он ест ло́жкой, а не ви́лкой.

He eats with a spoon, not with a fork.

IPA /on jesʲtʲ ˈloʂkəj a nʲe ˈvʲilkəj/

Say it OHN YEST LOH-shkuy, AH NYEH VEEL-kuy.

а here is the contrastive "and/whereas" of Lesson 3, and не negates only the word after it. Both instrumentals are feminine -ой forms, and neither has a preposition in front of it.

neutral instrumental food objects negation

Ко́фе с молоко́м, пожалу́йста.

Coffee with milk, please.

IPA /ˈkofʲe s məlɐˈkom pɐˈʐalujstə/

Say it KOH-fyuh s muh-luh-KOHM, puh-zhuh-LUY-stuh.

с + instrumental also covers what is inside the food or drink, not only who is with you. кофе is masculine and indeclinable, so it never changes; only молоком carries the case. The opposite is без + genitive: «кофе без молока» (Lesson 8).

polite instrumental food drinks restaurant

Я люблю́ хлеб с сы́ром.

I like bread with cheese.

IPA /ja lʲʊˈblʲu xlʲep s ˈsɨrəm/

Say it YAH lyoo-BLYOO KHLYEP s SIH-rum.

The same с, now meaning "with something in it". любить takes the accusative for the thing liked — хлеб — and the cheese simply rides along in the instrumental.

neutral instrumental food

Я иду́ в кино́ с дру́гом.

I am going to the cinema with a friend.

IPA /ja ɪˈdu f kʲɪˈno s ˈdruɡəm/

Say it YAH ih-DOO f kih-NOH z DROO-gum.

Three cases in seven words: в + accusative for the destination (кино, indeclinable), с + instrumental for the company (другом), and the nominative subject. идти is the one-way, on-foot verb of Lesson 7.

neutral instrumental motion hobbies

Она́ гуля́ет с подру́гой.

She is walking with her friend.

IPA /ɐˈna ɡʊˈlʲajɪt s pɐˈdruɡəj/

Say it uh-NAH goo-LYAH-yit s puh-DROO-guy.

подруга keeps its stress on the у in every form, so the instrumental is подру́гой and not *подруго́й. Compare сестра́, which does move: сестро́й.

neutral instrumental family

Я рабо́таю врачо́м.

I work as a doctor.

IPA /ja rɐˈbotəjʊ vrɐˈtɕom/

Say it YAH ruh-BOH-tuh-yoo vruh-CHOHM.

The role use of the instrumental. In the present tense «Я врач» is the normal way to state the fact; «я работаю врачом» says which job you actually do. The subject stays in the nominative and only the profession changes case.

neutral instrumental professions work

Он был учи́телем.

He was a teacher.

IPA /on bɨl ʊˈtɕitʲɪlʲɪm/

Say it OHN BIHL oo-CHIH-tih-lim.

Once a tense appears, the instrumental is the norm: был учителем, будет учителем. A soft stem takes -ем, so учителем and never *учителом — the same о/е rule that gives ножом under stress.

neutral instrumental professions past

Кем ты хо́чешь быть?

What do you want to be?

IPA /kʲem tɨ ˈxotɕɪʂ bɨtʲ/

Say it KYEM TIH KHOH-chish BIHT?

Кем? is the instrumental of кто — the question for a person in this case, exactly as чем? is the question for a thing. хотеть is the irregular modal from Lesson 4 and is followed by the bare infinitive быть.

informal instrumental questions professions

Она́ хо́чет быть актрисо́й.

She wants to be an actress.

IPA /ɐˈna ˈxotɕɪt bɨtʲ ɐˈktrʲisəj/

Say it uh-NAH KHOH-chit BIHT uk-trih-SOY.

The feminine form актриса becomes актрисой. Note that after быть the profession is always instrumental whatever the tense — она была актрисой, она будет актрисой.

neutral instrumental professions

Кем вы рабо́таете?

What do you do for a job?

IPA /kʲem vɨ rɐˈbotəɪtʲɪ/

Say it KYEM VIH ruh-BOH-tuh-yih-tyuh?

The polite вы form of the same question, used between adults who do not know each other well. «Кто вы?» asks who you are; «Кем вы работаете?» asks what job you do, and the instrumental is what makes the difference.

formal instrumental questions professions work register

У́тром я пью ко́фе.

In the morning I drink coffee.

IPA /ˈutrəm ja pʲju ˈkofʲe/

Say it OO-trum YAH PYOO KOH-fyuh.

One Russian word for English "in the morning". The eight adverbs of this kind — утром, днём, вечером, ночью, зимой, весной, летом, осенью — are frozen instrumentals and never take a preposition.

neutral instrumental time food drinks

Днём я рабо́таю.

In the afternoon I work.

IPA /dnʲom ja rɐˈbotəjʊ/

Say it duh-NYOHM YAH ruh-BOH-tuh-yoo.

днём is a single syllable with an ё in it, so it carries no acute — ё is always stressed and never takes an extra mark. It covers the middle of the day, roughly noon to evening.

neutral instrumental time work

Ве́чером мы смо́трим фильм.

In the evening we watch a film.

IPA /ˈvʲetɕɪrəm mɨ ˈsmotrʲɪm fʲilʲm/

Say it VYEH-chih-rum MIH SMOH-trim FEELM.

смотреть takes the accusative for the thing watched, and фильм is inanimate, so it looks exactly like the nominative. The time adverb normally comes first, but Russian word order is free and «мы смотрим фильм вечером» is equally correct.

neutral instrumental time hobbies

Но́чью идёт дождь.

It rains at night.

IPA /ˈnotɕjʊ ɪˈdʲot doʂtʲ/

Say it NOH-choo ih-DYOHT DOHCH.

идёт дождь is the fixed way to say "it is raining" — literally "rain is walking". The subject of the sentence is дождь, in the nominative, and there is no impersonal "it" anywhere. идёт снег works the same way.

neutral instrumental time weather

Зимо́й здесь хо́лодно.

It is cold here in winter.

IPA /zʲɪˈmoj zdʲesʲ ˈxolədnə/

Say it zih-MOY ZDYES KHOH-lud-nuh.

Two constructions you already know, side by side: the frozen instrumental зимо́й for "when", and the impersonal state хо́лодно from Lesson 4, which needs no subject and no verb. Add «мне» if you want to say who is cold.

neutral instrumental time weather impersonal

Ле́том мы гу́ляем в па́рке.

In summer we walk in the park.

IPA /ˈlʲetəm mɨ ɡʊˈlʲajɪm f ˈparkʲɪ/

Say it LYEH-tum MIH GOO-lyuh-yim f PAHR-kyuh.

One sentence, two cases and no preposition you have not met: летом is the frozen instrumental for "when", в парке is the prepositional for "where".

neutral instrumental time weather city

О́сенью мы е́дем в Москву́.

In autumn we are going to Moscow.

IPA /ˈosʲɪnʲjʊ mɨ ˈjedʲɪm f mɐˈskvu/

Say it OH-sih-nyoo MIH YEH-dim v muh-SKVOO.

ехать is the by-vehicle verb of Lesson 7, so this is a journey by train, car or plane, not on foot. в + accusative for the destination, and Москва́ is feminine in -а, so the accusative is Москву́.

neutral instrumental time weather travel

Самолёт над го́родом.

A plane over the city.

IPA /səmɐˈlʲot nad ˈɡorədəm/

Say it suh-muh-LYOHT nud GOH-ruh-dum.

No verb, because the present tense of быть is invisible — the zero copula of Lesson 1. над + instrumental says where, and город keeps its stem stress: го́родом, not *городо́м.

neutral instrumental place transport city

Су́мка под столо́м.

The bag is under the table.

IPA /ˈsumkə pɐt stɐˈlom/

Say it SOOM-kuh put stuh-LOHM.

под + instrumental for position. Listen to what happens to the two prepositions: the д of под devoices to [т] before the voiceless с, giving [pɐt stɐˈlom]. стол pushes its stress into the ending in every oblique form.

neutral instrumental place objects

Маши́на пе́ред до́мом.

A car in front of the house.

IPA /mɐˈʂɨnə ˈpʲerʲɪt ˈdoməm/

Say it muh-SHIH-nuh PYEH-rit DOH-mum.

перед + instrumental, and the stress stays put: до́мом, unlike its plural дома́ми. Say передо мной, not *перед мной — the о appears before that particular pronoun.

neutral instrumental place transport

Магази́н ря́дом с до́мом.

The shop is next to the house.

IPA /məɡɐˈzʲin ˈrʲadəm z ˈdoməm/

Say it muh-guh-ZEEN RYAH-dum z DOH-mum.

рядом is an adverb that only becomes a preposition when с follows it. The с voices to [з] before the д of домом, which is why the respelling says Z.

neutral instrumental place city shopping

Ме́жду дома́ми — парк.

Between the houses there is a park.

IPA /ˈmʲeʐdʊ dɐˈmamɪ park/

Say it MYEH-zhdoo duh-MAH-mih — PAHRK.

"Between" implies more than one, so this is the plural instrumental дома́ми. The plural ending -ами is the same for masculine, feminine and neuter, and the dash stands where the missing "is" would be.

neutral instrumental place city

Он интересу́ется му́зыкой.

He is interested in music.

IPA /on ɪntʲɪrʲɪˈsujɪtsə ˈmuzɨkəj/

Say it OHN in-tih-rih-SOO-yih-tsyuh MOO-zih-kuy.

интересоваться governs the instrumental directly — no preposition and no быть anywhere. заниматься does the same. Both are -ся verbs, which Lesson 18 unpacks; learn them here as chunks with their case attached.

neutral instrumental government hobbies reflexives

Dialogues

Breakfast at Anna’s

Tom is having breakfast at Anna’s flat. They are friends, so they use ты.

Tom
Доброе утро, Анна!

Good morning, Anna!
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Доброе утро, Анна!
Anna
Доброе утро! Ты хочешь кофе?

Good morning! Do you want coffee?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Доброе утро! Ты хочешь кофе?
Tom
Да, пожалуйста. Кофе с молоком.

Yes, please. Coffee with milk.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Да, пожалуйста. Кофе с молоком.
Anna
Вот кофе и хлеб с сыром. Ложка на столе.

Here is the coffee, and bread with cheese. The spoon is on the table.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Вот кофе и хлеб с сыром. Ложка на столе.
Tom
Спасибо! А где нож? Я режу хлеб ножом.

Thank you! And where is the knife? I cut the bread with a knife.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Спасибо! А где нож? Я режу хлеб ножом.
Anna
Нож рядом с тарелкой, вот.

The knife is next to the plate, here.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Нож рядом с тарелкой, вот.
Tom
А чашка? Она под столом?

And the cup? Is it under the table?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А чашка? Она под столом?
Anna
Нет, твоя чашка здесь, рядом со мной.

No, your cup is here, next to me.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Нет, твоя чашка здесь, рядом со мной.

A new colleague

Ivan and Marina have only just met at the office, so they use вы.

Ivan
Здравствуйте! Меня зовут Иван. Вы работаете здесь?

Hello! My name is Ivan. Do you work here?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Здравствуйте! Меня зовут Иван. Вы работаете здесь?
Marina
Здравствуйте! Очень приятно. Да, я работаю здесь. А вы?

Hello! Pleased to meet you. Yes, I work here. And you?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Здравствуйте! Очень приятно. Да, я работаю здесь. А вы?
Ivan
Я тоже. Кем вы работаете?

So do I. What do you do?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я тоже. Кем вы работаете?
Marina
Я работаю журналисткой. А вы?

I work as a journalist. And you?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я работаю журналисткой. А вы?
Ivan
Я работаю инженером, а мой брат работает врачом.

I work as an engineer, and my brother works as a doctor.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я работаю инженером, а мой брат работает врачом.
Marina
Вы интересуетесь музыкой?

Are you interested in music?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Вы интересуетесь музыкой?
Ivan
Да. Вечером я слушаю музыку, а утром читаю.

Yes. In the evening I listen to music, and in the morning I read.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Да. Вечером я слушаю музыку, а утром читаю.
Marina
А я вечером смотрю фильм. До свидания!

And I watch a film in the evening. Goodbye!
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А я вечером смотрю фильм. До свидания!

The weather today

Tom and Anna are looking out of the window at home. They are friends, so they use ты.

Tom
Анна, сегодня идёт дождь?

Anna, is it raining today?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Анна, сегодня идёт дождь?
Anna
Да, идёт дождь. И холодно.

Yes, it is raining. And it is cold.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Да, идёт дождь. И холодно.
Tom
А зимой здесь тоже холодно?

And is it cold here in winter too?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А зимой здесь тоже холодно?
Anna
Зимой очень холодно и идёт снег.

In winter it is very cold and it snows.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Зимой очень холодно и идёт снег.
Tom
А летом?

And in summer?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А летом?
Anna
Летом хорошо. Солнце, и дождя нет.

In summer it is nice. Sun, and no rain.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Летом хорошо. Солнце, и дождя нет.
Tom
А осенью?

And in autumn?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А осенью?
Anna
Осенью дождь и ветер. Но вечером мы гуляем в парке.

In autumn there is rain and wind. But in the evening we walk in the park.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Осенью дождь и ветер. Но вечером мы гуляем в парке.
Tom
Хорошо! Вечером я тоже гуляю.

Good! In the evening I walk too.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Хорошо! Вечером я тоже гуляю.

Exercises

Answer actively — try to recall the Russian before you look at any hint.

Case Choice Exercise 1

Choose the correct form of ручка.

Я пишу ___ . (ручка)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: ру́чка ру́чки ру́чку ру́чкой

ру́чкой

Hint: feminine -а → -ой

The tool takes the bare instrumental, with no preposition: писать ручкой. ручка is a feminine noun in -а, so -а becomes -ой. The accusative ручку is the thing you pick up, not the thing you write with, and ручки is genitive, dative or prepositional.

Case Choice Exercise 2

Choose the correct form of молоко.

Кофе с ___ , пожалуйста. (молоко)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: молоко́ молока́ молоку́ молоко́м

молоко́м

Hint: neuter -о → -ом

с meaning "with" governs the instrumental, and a neuter noun in -о adds -ом: молоком. With the genitive the same с means "off, from" (Lesson 8), so «с молока» would be "from the milk" — not what you want in a café. кофе itself never changes: it is indeclinable.

Case Choice Exercise 3

Choose the correct form of учительница.

Она была ___ . (учительница)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: учи́тельница учи́тельницы учи́тельницу учи́тельницей

учи́тельницей

Hint: feminine -а → -ой, and the stress does not move

After быть the profession goes into the instrumental: она была учительницей. In the present tense Russian normally drops the verb and keeps the nominative — «Она учительница» — so the instrumental is the form the past and the future need.

Case Choice Exercise 4

Choose the correct form of стол.

Сумка под ___ . (стол)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: стол стола́ столо́м столе́

столо́м

Hint: masculine hard consonant → -ом

под "under" governs the instrumental when it says where something is, and стол is a hard masculine: столом. The prepositional столе belongs to на столе, "on the table". стол also pushes its stress into the ending in every oblique form — стола́, столу́, столо́м, столе́.

Case Choice Exercise 5

Choose the correct plural form of дом.

Парк между ___ . (дом, plural)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: до́ма дома́м дома́ми дома́х

дома́ми

Hint: the plural instrumental ending is -ами

между takes the instrumental, and "between" needs more than one house, so this is the plural instrumental домами. The plural ending -ами is the same for masculine, feminine and neuter. Watch the two stress patterns in the options: до́ма is the genitive singular, while дома́м, дома́ми and дома́х all stress the ending.

Case Choice Exercise 6

Choose the correct form of музыка.

Он интересуется ___ . (музыка)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: му́зыка му́зыки му́зыку му́зыкой

му́зыкой

Hint: the verb governs the instrumental on its own

интересоваться governs the instrumental directly — no preposition and no быть anywhere: интересоваться музыкой. заниматься behaves the same way. Both are -ся verbs, which Lesson 18 unpacks; learn them here as chunks with their case attached.

Ending Choice Exercise 7

Choose the ending.

Instrumental singular of «стакан»: стакан___

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: -ом -ем -у -ой

-ом

A masculine noun in a hard consonant adds -ом: стаканом. -ем belongs to soft stems (учителем, музеем), -у is the dative and -ой is the feminine ending (чашкой).

Ending Choice Exercise 8

Choose the ending.

Instrumental singular of «чашка»: чашк___

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: -ой -ей -ом -у

-ой

Feminine nouns in -а add -ой after a hard consonant: чашкой. They add -ей after a soft a stem in -я — Россия gives Россией, семья gives семьёй. -ом is the masculine and neuter ending.

Ending Choice Exercise 9

Choose the ending.

Instrumental singular of «нож»: нож___

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: -ом -ем -у -е

-ом

After ж, ш, щ, ч and ц the vowel depends on the stress alone: write -ом when the ending is stressed and -ем when it is not. нож is stressed on the ending — ножа́, ножу́, ножо́м — so it takes -ом, like врачо́м. учитель is not, hence учи́телем.

Ending Choice Exercise 10

Choose the ending.

Instrumental singular of «учитель»: учител___

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: -ем -ом -ю -ью

-ем

A soft-stem masculine takes -ем: учителем. -ом would be the hard-stem ending (столом, стаканом), -ю is the dative, and -ью belongs to third-declension feminines such as ночью and жизнью.

Stress Choice Exercise 11

Choose the correctly stressed form.

Where does the stress fall in «погода»?

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Choose from: по́года пого́да

пого́да

On the second syllable: пого́да, [pɐˈɡodə]. The first о is unstressed and reduces to [ɐ], so it is never pronounced [o]. The instrumental keeps the stress in the same place — пого́дой — and so does every other form of the noun.

Pronoun Choice Exercise 12

Choose the correct form of я.

Я иду в кино со ___ .

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Choose from: меня́ мне мной я

мной

Hint: с becomes со before мной

с "with" governs the instrumental, and the instrumental of я is мной. Before мной the preposition lengthens to со, because Russian will not put с straight onto the мн cluster. The genitive меня belongs to у меня and the dative мне to «мне холодно».

Translate To Russian Exercise 13

Translate into Russian.

Coffee with milk, please.

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Ко́фе с молоко́м, пожалу́йста.

Hint: кофе + с + молоко (instr) + пожалуйста

с + instrumental for "with something in it": молоком. кофе is masculine and indeclinable, so it never changes form. пожалуйста goes at the end, as usual, and the whole thing needs no verb at all.

Translate To Russian Exercise 14

Translate into Russian.

I work as a doctor.

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Я рабо́таю врачо́м.

Hint: работать + врач (instr)

работать + instrumental for the job you do: врачом. The subject stays in the nominative, and only the profession changes case. If you simply want to state the fact, «Я врач» is the normal present-tense form — the instrumental is what работать, быть and стать ask for.

Translate To Russian Exercise 15

Translate into Russian.

In the evening we watch a film.

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Ве́чером мы смо́трим фильм.

Hint: вечером + мы + смотреть + фильм

вечером is a frozen instrumental and needs no preposition — English "in the evening" is one Russian word. смотреть takes the accusative for the thing watched, and фильм is inanimate, so the accusative looks exactly like the nominative.

Translate To Russian Exercise 16

Translate into Russian.

In winter it is cold here.

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Зимо́й здесь хо́лодно.

Hint: зима → зимой; холодно needs no subject

зимой is the frozen instrumental of зима, with the stress moved onto the ending. холодно is one of the impersonal states from Lesson 4 — no subject, no verb and nothing to agree with, so "it is cold" is simply холодно. Add «мне» if you want to say who feels it.

Translate To Russian Exercise 17

Translate into Russian.

She wants to be an actress.

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Она́ хо́чет быть актрисо́й.

Hint: хотеть + быть + актриса (instr)

Three pieces: хочет, the irregular хотеть of Lesson 4; the bare infinitive быть; and the profession in the instrumental, актрисой. After быть the role is always instrumental in any tense — она была актрисой, она будет актрисой.

Translate To English Exercise 18

Translate into English.

Он был учителем.

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He was a teacher

The instrumental after был is how Russian says what somebody was. English needs the article; Russian needs the ending. In the present tense the verb disappears altogether and the profession goes back to the nominative: «Он учитель».

Translate To English Exercise 19

Translate into English.

Утром я пью кофе, а вечером — чай.

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In the morning I drink coffee, and in the evening tea

утром and вечером are frozen instrumentals — one word each for "in the morning" and "in the evening". The dash stands in for the repeated verb пью, exactly as an English comma does. а here is the contrastive "and/whereas" of Lesson 3, not и.

Fill Gap Exercise 20

Fill the gap with the adverb for "at night".

___ идёт дождь. (at night)

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Но́чью

Hint: ночь → ноч___

ночью is the frozen instrumental of ночь, a third-declension feminine whose -ью ending is the instrumental of that class. No preposition is used: *в ночью is not Russian. Its partners are утром, днём and вечером.

Fill Gap Exercise 21

Fill the gap with the preposition for "under".

Книга ___ столом. (under)

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под

под + instrumental for position: под столом. The same preposition takes the accusative when something moves to a position under something else — that half is Lesson 12, and it is the same где? / куда? split you met with в and на.

Fill Gap Exercise 22

Fill the gap.

Магазин ___ с домом. (next to)

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ря́дом

рядом is an adverb on its own — «Они живут рядом» — and becomes a preposition only in the combination рядом с + instrumental. Note the со in «рядом со столом»: before a cluster built on с, з, ш or щ the с lengthens, exactly as it does in со мной.

Multiple Choice Exercise 23

Choose the correct preposition.

Which preposition means "in front of"?

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Choose from: над под пе́ред ме́жду

пе́ред

перед + instrumental: перед домом, перед окном, перед нами. Before мной it becomes передо — передо мной. над is "above", под is "under" and между is "between"; all four govern the instrumental.

Multiple Choice Exercise 24

Choose the correct meaning.

What does «Кем вы работаете?» mean?

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Choose from: What do you do for a job? Who do you work with? Where do you work? When do you work?

What do you do for a job?

Кем? is the instrumental of кто, and after работать it asks which profession you hold. "Who with" would be «С кем вы работаете?», "where" would be «Где вы работаете?» and "when" would be «Когда вы работаете?». The вы form marks this as a question between adults who do not know each other well.

True False Exercise 25

Answer true or false.

To say "I write with a pen" you put с in front of the instrumental: «Я пишу с ручкой».

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false

The tool takes the bare instrumental, with no preposition: «Я пишу ручкой». «С ручкой» is grammatical but means something different — "carrying a pen" or "with a pen attached" — the way «девушка с сумкой» means "a girl with a bag". с + instrumental is for company and for what is inside something, never for the tool.

True False Exercise 26

Answer true or false.

The same с means "with" in «с другом» and "from" in «с работы».

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false

It is the same word but not the same preposition. With the instrumental с means "with" — с другом, с молоком. With the genitive it means "off, from" — с работы, с вокзала. Only the ending of the noun tells you which one you are reading, and the two never overlap: другом is instrumental, работы is genitive.

Sentence Transform Exercise 27

Rewrite the sentence using работать and the instrumental.

Say this with работать: «Я врач.»

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Я рабо́таю врачо́м.

Hint: работать + врач (instr)

The zero-copula «Я врач» states the fact; «Я работаю врачом» describes the job you actually do, and the profession moves into the instrumental. The subject я stays in the nominative — only the complement changes case.

Sentence Transform Exercise 28

Rewrite the sentence with a different time adverb.

Say this about the evening instead of the morning: «Утром я пью кофе.»

Show answer and explanation

Ве́чером я пью ко́фе.

Hint: вечер → вечером

Only the adverb changes: утром becomes вечером. Neither needs a preposition, because both are frozen instrumentals — the noun and its case have hardened into a single word. Run the same drill over днём, ночью and all four seasons.

Word Order Exercise 29

Put the words in order.

Build the sentence: "In the evening we walk in the park."

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Ве́чером мы гу́ляем в па́рке.

Hint: the time adverb comes first

The neutral order puts the time adverb first, then subject, verb and place. The distractor утром is a perfectly good Russian word but belongs to the opposite sentence. Russian word order is freer than this — «Мы гуляем в парке вечером» is equally correct and puts slightly more weight on the time.

Match Pairs Exercise 30

Pair the prepositions.

Match each preposition with its meaning.

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над above, под under, пе́ред in front of, ме́жду between, ря́дом с next to, с with

All six govern the instrumental in these meanings, so one set of endings serves the whole group. с also takes the genitive, where it means "off, from" — the case, not the preposition, is what separates the two.

Listen And Type Exercise 31

Play the audio and type what you hear.

Listen and type the sentence.

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Я рабо́таю врачо́м.

Listen for the reduced vowels in работаю and for the stressed ending of врачом: [ja rɐˈbotəjʊ vrɐˈtɕom]. That -ом is the whole point of the sentence — it is what turns "I am a doctor" into "I work as a doctor".

Listen And Choose Exercise 32

Play the audio and pick the matching sentence.

Listen and choose what you hear.

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: У́тром я пью ко́фе. Ве́чером я пью ко́фе. У́тром я пью чай. Но́чью я пью ко́фе.

У́тром я пью ко́фе.

Three of the four options differ from what you hear by a single word. Listen first for the opening syllable: утром starts with a stressed у, [ˈutrəm], while вечером and ночью do not. Then listen for the end — кофе finishes on -е and чай on -й.

Conjugation Exercise 33

Give the present tense form for "я".

резать — я

Show answer and explanation

ре́жу

резать is conjugation I, but the з of the infinitive mutates to ж in every present form: режу, режешь, режет, режем, режете, режут. The past keeps the з — резал, резала, резали. The spelling rule means the я-form is режу and never *режю: after ж write у, not ю.

Flashcard Self Rating Exercise 34

Recall the English meaning, then rate how well you knew it.

вечером

Show answer and explanation

in the evening

A frozen instrumental of вечер, used with no preposition: «Вечером мы смотрим фильм». Its seven partners are утром, днём, ночью, зимой, весной, летом and осенью — eight words that let you say when anything happens.

Speak now

Say each sentence aloud three times: slowly, at normal speed, then from memory. Then swap the instrumental word for another one you know — ложкой for вилкой, учителем for врачом, ночью for утром — and say the sentence again. The ending is the whole lesson, so say it loudly.

Я пишу́ ру́чкой. I write with a pen. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я пишу́ ру́чкой.
Я рабо́таю врачо́м. I work as a doctor. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я рабо́таю врачо́м.
Ко́фе с молоко́м, пожалу́йста. Coffee with milk, please. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Ко́фе с молоко́м, пожалу́йста.
У́тром я пью ко́фе, а ве́чером — чай. In the morning I drink coffee, in the evening tea. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У́тром я пью ко́фе, а ве́чером — чай.
Зимо́й здесь хо́лодно. It is cold here in winter. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Зимо́й здесь хо́лодно.
Су́мка под столо́м, ря́дом со сту́лом. The bag is under the table, next to the chair. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Су́мка под столо́м, ря́дом со сту́лом.

Lesson checkpoint

Before you move on, make sure you can do all of this without looking:

Give the instrumental singular of these six nouns out loud, without looking: стол, нож, учитель, чашка, окно, ночь
Say three things you do with a tool, using the bare instrumental and no preposition
Say your job — or the job you would like — with «Я работаю …» and then with «Я хочу быть …»
Explain out loud the difference between «Я иду с работы» and «Я иду с братом», and say which case each noun is in
Take four sentences you already know and put each one into a different time of day or season using утром, днём, вечером, ночью, зимой, весной, летом or осенью
Say where five things in the room you are in are, using над, под, перед, между and рядом с

Remember this

The instrumental answers Кем? Чем? and does three jobs at this level: company after с, the tool or means with no preposition at all, and the role or profession after быть and работать.
Instrumental singular: -ом after a hard masculine or neuter consonant, -ем after a soft one, -ой or -ей for feminines in -а, -ью for third-declension feminines. Plural: -ами or -ями for every gender. After ж, ш, щ, ч and ц the vowel is о when the ending is stressed and е when it is not — ножо́м, врачо́м, ключо́м; -ем without a sibilant is simply the soft-stem ending, as in учи́телем and музе́ем.
с + instrumental means "with": с другом, с молоком, с сыром. The same с with the genitive means "off, from": с работы, с вокзала. The ending of the noun, not the preposition, tells you which is which.
The tool never takes с: писать ручкой, резать ножом, есть ложкой. «С ручкой» is grammatical but means "carrying a pen".
A profession after работать, быть and стать goes into the instrumental while the subject stays in the nominative: Я работаю врачом, Он был учителем, Она хочет быть актрисой. интересоваться, заниматься and увлекаться govern the instrumental directly.
Eight frozen instrumentals are adverbs of time and need no preposition: утром, днём, вечером, ночью, зимой, весной, летом, осенью. Five prepositions govern the instrumental for position: над, под, перед, между and рядом с.

Go deeper: The Instrumental Case · Verb government: which case each verb demands · The preposition map · Case questions: кто, чего, кому, кем · Telling the time and saying when

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