Lesson 5 of 24

Where? The Prepositional Case

The first real case. Answer Где? with в or на plus a changed ending, sort places into the в-list and the на-list, and say where you live, where you work and where you study.

⏱ About 60 minutes 26 phrases 34 exercises

Map of a Russian city district with location pins reading «в банке», «в школе», «на почте» and «на работе», and a thinker asking «Где?» under the heading «Где? — Prepositional case».

What you will learn

Ask where something or someone is with «Где?» and answer with a full prepositional phrase
Apply the prepositional endings -е, -и, -ах and -ях to masculine, feminine, neuter and plural nouns
Choose between в and на for any place by recalling the closed на-list rather than guessing
Use the three fixed locatives — дома, на работе, в школе — as whole chunks
Put жить, работать, учиться and находиться in front of a place and keep the noun unchanged
Say what you are thinking or talking about with о plus the prepositional

Quick review

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

Э́то Москва́. This is Moscow. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Э́то Москва́.
Я студе́нт. I am a student. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я студе́нт.
Где ты живёшь? Where do you live? Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Где ты живёшь?
У меня́ есть кни́га. I have a book. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: У меня́ есть кни́га.
Мне нра́вится Москва́. I like Moscow. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мне нра́вится Москва́.
Я хочу́ ко́фе. I want a coffee. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я хочу́ ко́фе.

Theory

Где? — the question that opens the case system

Everything you have built until now has lived in a single case. «Я студе́нт», «Э́то Москва́», «У меня́ есть кни́га» — in all of them the noun keeps the shape it has in the dictionary. From this lesson onwards Russian starts doing the thing it is famous for, and it starts in the gentlest possible place, with one question: Где? "Where?"

To say where something is, Russian keeps the preposition you would expect — в or на — and changes the END of the noun. «дом» becomes «в до́ме». «шко́ла» becomes «в шко́ле». That changed ending is a case, and the case that answers Где? is the prepositional, «предло́жный паде́ж». It is the first of the six, and by a wide margin the easiest, because for the overwhelming majority of nouns the ending is simply -е.

Notice what has NOT changed: the word order. «Где ты живёшь?» — «Я живу́ в Москве́». The question word goes first, the answer keeps subject, verb, place, in that order. Russian does its grammar in the endings, so it does not need to do it in the arrangement of the words. Everything you learnt about sentence shape in Lesson 2 still holds.

Я живу́ в Москве́. I live in Moscow. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я живу́ в Москве́.
Он рабо́тает в ба́нке. He works in a bank. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Он рабо́тает в ба́нке.
Мы у́чимся в университе́те. We study at university. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мы у́чимся в университе́те.
А́нна сейча́с в метро́. Anna is on the metro now. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А́нна сейча́с в метро́.

The endings: -е almost everywhere, -и in two groups, -ах and -ях in the plural

-е is the ending, and it does not care about gender. Masculine, feminine and neuter nouns all take it: «в па́рке», «в шко́ле», «в теа́тре», and — once you meet a neuter noun that actually declines — «в окне́». That is worth pausing on, because it is the opposite of what you had to do in Lesson 3, where an adjective ending depended entirely on the gender of its noun. Here one ending covers everything, which is why the prepositional singular is the cheapest case in the language to learn. The three neuter nouns you know so far — «метро́», «кино́», «кафе́» — are indeclinable borrowings and take no ending at all, so they look identical in every case.

Two groups take -и instead. The first is nouns whose nominative ends in -ия, -ий or -ие: «Росси́я» becomes «в Росси́и», «А́нглия» becomes «в А́нглии», «Ита́лия» becomes «в Ита́лии». At this level that group is mostly countries, and you already know three of them. The second is the third declension — feminine nouns in -ь — which take -и in every oblique case: «пло́щадь» becomes «на пло́щади». One small point of spelling to finish with: when the stem itself ends in a soft sign, the ending is written after it as ье, so «семья́» gives «в семье́».

In the plural the ending depends on one thing only — whether the consonant in front of it is hard or soft. Hard takes -ах: «в города́х», «в шко́лах», «в дома́х», «на у́лицах», since ц is always hard. Soft takes -ях: «в музе́ях», «на площадя́х», «в семья́х». If you are not sure whether a consonant is hard or soft, look at the nominative plural you already know: whatever letter stands before the -ы or the -и there also stands before the ending here.

One genuine exception, so that it does not ambush you later. A small set of masculine nouns has kept an older locative form in -у, used only after в or на and only for location: «в лесу́», «в саду́», «в шкафу́», «в аэропорту́». For «аэропо́рт» both forms are correct, and «в аэропорту́» is at least as common in speech as the regular «в аэропо́рте». You are not expected to produce these today. Recognise them and move on.

в Москве́, в па́рке, в теа́тре in Moscow, in the park, in the theatre — the default -е Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: в Москве́, в па́рке, в теа́тре
в Росси́и, в А́нглии, в Ита́лии in Russia, in England, in Italy — nouns in -ия take -и Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: в Росси́и, в А́нглии, в Ита́лии
на пло́щади, в библиоте́ке on the square, in the library — a third-declension -ь noun takes -и Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: на пло́щади, в библиоте́ке
в города́х, в шко́лах, в музе́ях in cities, in schools, in museums — -ах after a hard consonant, -ях after a soft one Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: в города́х, в шко́лах, в музе́ях

в or на? Two lists, not a rule

The choice of preposition is the part of this lesson that English speakers find most infuriating, and the honest answer is that it is not derivable. Russian has two lists. Most enclosed spaces, buildings, institutions, towns and countries take в: «в го́роде», «в шко́ле», «в магази́не», «в Москве́», «в Росси́и». A much smaller and closed group takes на: «на по́чте», «на вокза́ле», «на заво́де», «на стадио́не», «на у́лице», «на пло́щади», «на ры́нке», «на рабо́те». That is the whole of the second list for today.

Learn the на-list as a set rather than trying to reason your way into it. Its historical logic is real — surfaces, events, open spaces, and places thought of as an activity rather than as a building — but it is not reliable enough to predict a word you have never met. The exception that proves the point sits in entertainment: you are «в теа́тре» and «в кино́», but a concert and an exhibition take на. A closed list of eight beats a rule that leaks.

Whichever preposition you choose, the case that follows is identical. в and на both govern the prepositional when the question is Где?, and both will govern the accusative when the question is Куда́?, which is the whole of Lesson 6. Learn them now as pairs — «в шко́ле / в шко́лу», «на по́чте / на по́чту» — and half of next lesson is already installed before you get there.

в шко́ле, в магази́не, в ба́нке at school, in the shop, in the bank — the в-list Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: в шко́ле, в магази́не, в ба́нке
на по́чте, на вокза́ле, на заво́де at the post office, at the station, at the factory — the на-list Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: на по́чте, на вокза́ле, на заво́де
на у́лице, на пло́щади, на стадио́не in the street, on the square, at the stadium — open and public spaces Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: на у́лице, на пло́щади, на стадио́не
в теа́тре, но на конце́рте in the theatre, but at a concert — the exception worth remembering Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: в теа́тре, но на конце́рте

Three locatives that are not cases, and the verbs that carry a place

Before you build anything, memorise three whole chunks. «до́ма» means "at home" and is a single adverb with no preposition at all: «Я до́ма». «на рабо́те» means "at work". «в шко́ле» means "at school". These arrive as frozen units; you do not need to be able to explain them to use them, and Russians do not think of them as grammar when they say them.

Four verbs do most of the work in this lesson, and all four take the same construction: verb, then в or на, then the prepositional. «жить в Москве́», «рабо́тать в ба́нке», «учи́ться в университе́те», «находи́ться на пло́щади». Nothing about the place changes according to which verb introduces it, so learning «в шко́ле» once buys you four sentences.

Two of those verbs end in -ся: «учи́ться» and «находи́ться». Do not try to analyse that suffix today. -ся carries five different meanings and gets a lesson of its own, Lesson 18. For now they are fixed tools: «учи́ться» is "to study" and takes в plus the institution, and «находи́ться» is "to be situated". The second one is what you reach for when you are lost — «Где находи́тся апте́ка?» is more precise and slightly more polite than a bare «Где апте́ка?», and it is the sentence that gets you an answer rather than a shrug. In practice you will only ever need its third person, «находи́тся».

Я живу́ в Москве́. I live in Moscow. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я живу́ в Москве́.
Она́ у́чится в университе́те. She studies at university. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Она́ у́чится в университе́те.
Мы рабо́таем в рестора́не. We work in a restaurant. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мы рабо́таем в рестора́не.
Где находи́тся вокза́л? Where is the railway station? Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Где находи́тся вокза́л?

Sound focus

Sound focus: the ending is almost never where the stress is

Here is the phonetic point that makes this case easy to say and hard to hear. In nearly every prepositional form you will produce today, the stress sits somewhere in the middle of the word and the ending is unstressed: «в шко́ле», «в магази́не», «на по́чте», «в теа́тре». An unstressed е in Russian is not [e] at all. It reduces to [ɪ], a short sound much closer to the i of English "kit". So «в шко́ле» is [f ˈʂkolʲɪ], and if you say it with a clear final -eh you will sound foreign even though every letter is right.

The preposition reduces too, and in two different ways. «на» is never [na] inside a phrase — it is [nə]: «на по́чте» is [nə pɐˈtɕtʲɪ]. And «в» devoices to [f] before a voiceless consonant, exactly as you saw with «вчера́» in Lesson 2: «в па́рке» is [f ˈparkʲɪ], «в теа́тре» is [f tʲɪˈatrʲɪ]. Before a vowel or a voiced consonant it stays [v]: «в Москве́», «в го́роде».

The third thing to listen for is the softening. The -е of the ending palatalises the consonant in front of it, which is the same soft/hard contrast you met in Lesson 1. Compare the nominative «дом» [dom], where the м is hard, with «в до́ме» [v ˈdomʲɪ], where it is not. Say the two out loud one after the other and you will hear the case ending doing its job — you will hear the case ending doing its job — not as a letter, but as a change in the consonant before it.

в шко́ле at school — [f ˈʂkolʲɪ]: the ending is [ɪ], not [e] Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: в шко́ле
на по́чте at the post office — [nə pɐˈtɕtʲɪ]: на is never [na] in a phrase Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: на по́чте
в па́рке in the park — [f ˈparkʲɪ]: в devoices to [f] before п Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: в па́рке
в до́ме in the house — [v ˈdomʲɪ]: the -е softens the м Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: в до́ме

Где? — the prepositional singular: one ending for every gender

Form	парк (m)	шко́ла (f)	метро́ (n)	музе́й (m in -й)	пло́щадь (f in -ь)
Nominative (Кто? Что?)	парк	шко́ла	метро́	музе́й	пло́щадь
Где? — в / на + Prepositional	в па́рке	в шко́ле	в метро́	в музе́е	на пло́щади
Ending added	-е	-е	no change	-е	-и

Gender, which you had to know for the nominative, stops mattering here: the singular ending is -е for masculine, feminine and neuter alike. Only two groups break the pattern. Nouns in -ия, -ий and -ие take -и (в Росси́и, в А́нглии), and third-declension feminines in -ь also take -и (на пло́щади). Indeclinable borrowings — метро́, кино́, кафе́ — simply do not change at all.

Two lists, not a rule: where в goes and where на goes

Form	в + Prepositional (the default)	на + Prepositional (a short, closed list)
Towns and countries	в го́роде, в Москве́, в Ло́ндоне, в Росси́и, в А́нглии, в Ита́лии	— never на
Buildings and institutions	в шко́ле, в университе́те, в больни́це, в апте́ке, в библиоте́ке, в ба́нке, в музе́е, в гости́нице, в о́фисе	на по́чте, на вокза́ле, на заво́де
Food, shopping and entertainment	в магази́не, в рестора́не, в кафе́, в теа́тре, в кино́	на ры́нке
Open and public spaces	в па́рке, в метро́, в аэропо́рте	на у́лице, на пло́щади, на стадио́не

There is no rule to derive this from, and no amount of reasoning will produce it. What you can do is learn the на-list, because it is short and closed: на по́чте, на вокза́ле, на заво́де, на стадио́не, на у́лице, на пло́щади, на ры́нке, на рабо́те. Its historical logic — surfaces, events, open spaces, places thought of as an activity rather than a building — is real, but it will not predict a new word for you. Everything else in this lesson takes в. One word on the в-side has a spoken rival: alongside the regular в аэропо́рте you will constantly hear в аэропорту́, an older locative ending. Both are correct; produce the regular one and recognise the other.

Где? — the whole question-and-answer frame

Form	жить (to live)	рабо́тать (to work)	учи́ться (to study)
Question — Где вы …?	Где вы живёте?	Где вы рабо́таете?	Где вы у́читесь?
Answer about yourself — Я …	Я живу́ в Москве́.	Я рабо́таю в ба́нке.	Я учу́сь в университе́те.
Answer about her — Она …	Она́ живёт в Ита́лии.	Она́ рабо́тает на по́чте.	Она́ у́чится в шко́ле.

One frame, three verbs, and the place never changes shape whichever verb introduces it. That is the payoff of the case system: learn в шко́ле once and it serves жить, рабо́тать, учи́ться, находи́ться and ду́мать о. Swap the question word out for ты and the verb ending changes with it — Где ты живёшь? — but the noun does not move at all.

The prepositional plural: -ах after a hard consonant, -ях after a soft one

Form	го́род (m, hard)	шко́ла (f, hard)	музе́й (m, soft)	пло́щадь (f, -ь)
Nominative plural	города́	шко́лы	музе́и	пло́щади
Prepositional plural — Где?	в города́х	в шко́лах	в музе́ях	на площадя́х

The plural ending depends on one thing only: whether the consonant before it is hard or soft. Hard takes -ах (в города́х, в шко́лах), soft takes -ях (в музе́ях, на площадя́х). Watch the stress too — it moves to the ending in города́х and площадя́х but stays put in шко́лах and музе́ях. The plural matters less than the singular at this level, because most talk about places is about one place.

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
шко́ла feminine · inanimate	school	feminine · inanimate	/ˈʂkolə/ SHKOH-luh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: школа
университе́т masculine · inanimate	university	masculine · inanimate	/ʊnʲɪvʲɪrsʲɪˈtʲet/ oo-nih-vihr-sih-TYET	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: университет
магази́н masculine · inanimate	shop, store	masculine · inanimate	/məɡɐˈzʲin/ muh-guh-ZEEN	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: магазин
апте́ка feminine · inanimate	pharmacy, chemist's	feminine · inanimate	/ɐpˈtʲekə/ up-TYEH-kuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: аптека
больни́ца feminine · inanimate	hospital	feminine · inanimate	/bɐlʲˈnʲitsə/ bul-NEE-tsih	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: больница
библиоте́ка feminine · inanimate	library	feminine · inanimate	/bʲɪblʲɪəˈtʲekə/ bih-blih-uh-TYEH-kuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: библиотека
музе́й masculine · inanimate	museum	masculine · inanimate	/mʊˈzʲej/ moo-ZEY	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: музей
теа́тр masculine · inanimate	theatre	masculine · inanimate	/tʲɪˈatr/ tih-AHTR	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: театр
кино́ neuter · inanimate	cinema; film	neuter · inanimate	/kʲɪˈno/ kih-NOH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: кино
вокза́л masculine · inanimate	railway station	masculine · inanimate	/vɐɡˈzal/ vug-ZAHL	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: вокзал
аэропо́рт masculine · inanimate	airport	masculine · inanimate	/ɐɛrɐˈport/ uh-ih-ruh-POHRT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: аэропорт
по́чта feminine · inanimate	post office; post, mail	feminine · inanimate	/ˈpotɕtə/ POH-chtuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: почта
банк masculine · inanimate	bank	masculine · inanimate	/bank/ BAHNK	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: банк
рестора́н masculine · inanimate	restaurant	masculine · inanimate	/rʲɪstɐˈran/ rih-stuh-RAHN	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: ресторан
кафе́ neuter · inanimate	café, coffee shop	neuter · inanimate	/kɐˈfɛ/ kuh-FYEH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: кафе
парк masculine · inanimate	park	masculine · inanimate	/park/ PAHRK	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: парк
у́лица feminine · inanimate	street	feminine · inanimate	/ˈulʲitsə/ OO-lih-tsih	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: улица
пло́щадь feminine · inanimate	square	feminine · inanimate	/ˈploɕːɪtʲ/ PLOH-shchut	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: площадь
ры́нок masculine · inanimate	market	masculine · inanimate	/ˈrɨnək/ RIH-nuk	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: рынок
гости́ница feminine · inanimate	hotel	feminine · inanimate	/ɡɐˈsʲtʲinʲitsə/ guh-STEE-nih-tsih	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: гостиница
о́фис masculine · inanimate	office	masculine · inanimate	/ˈofʲɪs/ OH-fis	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: офис
заво́д masculine · inanimate	factory, works	masculine · inanimate	/zɐˈvot/ zuh-VOHT	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: завод
стадио́н masculine · inanimate	stadium	masculine · inanimate	/stədʲɪˈon/ stuh-dih-OHN	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: стадион
метро́ neuter · inanimate	metro, underground	neuter · inanimate	/mʲɪˈtro/ mih-TROH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: метро
Ло́ндон masculine · inanimate	London	masculine · inanimate	/ˈlondən/ LOHN-dun	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Лондон
учи́ться imperfective	to study, to learn (to be a student)	imperfective	/ʊˈtɕitsə/ oo-CHIH-tsyuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: учиться
находи́ться imperfective	to be situated, to be located	imperfective	/nəxɐˈdʲitsə/ nuh-khuh-DEE-tsyuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: находиться
до́ма adverb	at home	adverb	/ˈdomə/ DOH-muh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: дома
на рабо́те phrase	at work	phrase	/nə rɐˈbotʲɪ/ nuh ruh-BOH-tyuh	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: на работе
в preposition	in, at (of a place); into, to (of a direction)	preposition	/v/ F	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: в
на preposition	on, at (of a place); onto, on to (of a direction)	preposition	/na/ NAH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: на
о preposition	about (with the Prepositional)	preposition	/o/ OH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: о
где adverb	where (location)	adverb	/ɡdʲe/ guh-DYEH	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: где
го́род masculine · inanimate	city, town	masculine · inanimate	/ˈɡorət/ GOH-rut	Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: город

Full six-case declension of the 26 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	шко́ла (f)	университе́т (m)	магази́н (m)	апте́ка (f)	больни́ца (f)	библиоте́ка (f)	музе́й (m)	теа́тр (m)	кино́ (n)	вокза́л (m)	аэропо́рт (m)	по́чта (f)	банк (m)	рестора́н (m)	кафе́ (n)	парк (m)	у́лица (f)	пло́щадь (f)	ры́нок (m)	гости́ница (f)	о́фис (m)	заво́д (m)	стадио́н (m)	метро́ (n)	Ло́ндон (m)	го́род (m)
nom · Кто? Что?	школа	университет	магазин	аптека	больница	библиотека	музей	театр	кино	вокзал	аэропорт	почта	банк	ресторан	кафе	парк	улица	площадь	рынок	гостиница	офис	завод	стадион	метро	Лондон	город
gen · Кого? Чего?	школы	университета	магазина	аптеки	больницы	библиотеки	музея	театра	кино	вокзала	аэропорта	почты	ба́нка	ресторана	кафе	па́рка	улицы	площади	рынка	гостиницы	офиса	завода	стадиона	метро	Лондона	города
dat · Кому? Чему?	школе	университету	магазину	аптеке	больнице	библиотеке	музею	театру	кино	вокзалу	аэропорту	почте	ба́нку	ресторану	кафе	па́рку	улице	площади	рынку	гостинице	офису	заводу	стадиону	метро	Лондону	городу
acc · Кого? Что?	школу	университет	магазин	аптеку	больницу	библиотеку	музей	театр	кино	вокзал	аэропорт	почту	банк	ресторан	кафе	парк	улицу	площадь	рынок	гостиницу	офис	завод	стадион	метро	Лондон	город
instr · Кем? Чем?	школой	университетом	магазином	аптекой	больницой	библиотекой	музеем	театром	кино	вокзалом	аэропортом	почтой	ба́нком	рестораном	кафе	па́рком	улицой	площадью	рынком	гостиницой	офисом	заводом	стадионом	метро	Лондоном	городом
prep · О ком? О чём?	школе	университете	магазине	аптеке	больнице	библиотеке	музее	театре	кино	вокзале	аэропорте	почте	ба́нке	ресторане	кафе	па́рке	улице	площади	рынке	гостинице	офисе	заводе	стадионе	метро	Лондоне	городе

Plural

Form	шко́ла (f)	университе́т (m)	магази́н (m)	апте́ка (f)	больни́ца (f)	библиоте́ка (f)	музе́й (m)	теа́тр (m)	кино́ (n)	вокза́л (m)	аэропо́рт (m)	по́чта (f)	банк (m)	рестора́н (m)	кафе́ (n)	парк (m)	у́лица (f)	пло́щадь (f)	ры́нок (m)	гости́ница (f)	о́фис (m)	заво́д (m)	стадио́н (m)	метро́ (n)	Ло́ндон (m)	го́род (m)
nom · Кто? Что?	школы	университеты	магазины	аптеки	больницы	библиотеки	музеи	театры	—	вокзалы	аэропорты	почты	ба́нки	рестораны	—	па́рки	улицы	площади	рынки	гостиницы	офисы	заводы	стадионы	—	—	города́
gen · Кого? Чего?	школ	университетов	магазинов	аптек	больниц	библиотек	музеев	театров	—	вокзалов	аэропортов	почт	ба́нков	ресторанов	—	па́рков	улиц	площаде́й	рынков	гостиниц	офисов	заводов	стадионов	—	—	городо́в
dat · Кому? Чему?	школам	университетам	магазинам	аптекам	больницам	библиотекам	музеям	театрам	—	вокзалам	аэропортам	почтам	ба́нким	ресторанам	—	па́рким	улицам	площадя́м	рынкам	гостиницам	офисам	заводам	стадионам	—	—	города́м
acc · Кого? Что?	школы	университеты	магазины	аптеки	больницы	библиотеки	музеи	театры	—	вокзалы	аэропорты	почты	ба́нки	рестораны	—	па́рки	улицы	площади	рынки	гостиницы	офисы	заводы	стадионы	—	—	города́
instr · Кем? Чем?	школами	университетами	магазинами	аптеками	больницами	библиотеками	музеями	театрами	—	вокзалами	аэропортами	почтами	ба́нкими	ресторанами	—	па́ркими	улицами	площадя́ми	рынками	гостиницами	офисами	заводами	стадионами	—	—	города́ми
prep · О ком? О чём?	школах	университетах	магазинах	аптеках	больницах	библиотеках	музеях	театрах	—	вокзалах	аэропортах	почтах	ба́нких	ресторанах	—	па́рких	улицах	площадя́х	рынках	гостиницах	офисах	заводах	стадионах	—	—	города́х

A dash means the form does not exist. Plural-only nouns such as де́ньги and су́тки have no singular, and indeclinable nouns such as ко́фе and метро́ keep one form in all six cases.

Ready-to-use phrases

Где ты живёшь?

Where do you live?

IPA /ɡdʲe tɨ ʐɨˈvʲoʂ/

Say it guh-DYEH TIH zhih-VYOHSH?

The verb ending already says "you", and the question is the statement with a rising voice. живёшь keeps its ё, which is always stressed.

informal questions place

Я живу́ в Москве́.

I live in Moscow.

IPA /ja ʐɨˈvu v mɐˈskvʲe/

Say it YAH zhih-VOO v muh-SKVYEH.

The template of the whole lesson: subject, verb, в or на, noun with a changed ending. Москве́ is the prepositional of Москва́.

neutral place city

Она́ живёт в Ита́лии.

She lives in Italy.

IPA /ɐˈna ʐɨˈvʲot v ɪˈtalʲɪɪ/

Say it uh-NAH zhih-VYOHT v ih-TAH-lih-ih.

Nouns in -ия take -и in the prepositional, not -е: Ита́лия → в Ита́лии, Росси́я → в Росси́и, А́нглия → в А́нглии.

neutral place city

Мы живём в го́роде.

We live in town.

IPA /mɨ ʐɨˈvʲom ˈɡorədʲɪ/

Say it MIH zhih-VYOHM v GOH-ruh-dyuh.

в го́роде is one of the curriculum's own examples of the в-class, and the ending -е is unstressed, so it sounds like [ɪ].

neutral place city

Где вы рабо́таете?

Where do you work?

IPA /ɡdʲe vɨ rɐˈbotəɪtʲɪ/

Say it guh-DYEH VIH ruh-BOH-tuh-yih-tyuh?

The вы form, and therefore the polite one to use with someone you have just met.

formal questions work

Я рабо́таю в ба́нке.

I work in a bank.

IPA /ja rɐˈbotəjʊ v ˈbankʲɪ/

Say it YAH ruh-BOH-tuh-yoo v BAHN-kyuh.

ба́нке is the prepositional of банк. The soft к before -е is what makes the ending sound like -ih rather than -eh.

neutral work place

Он рабо́тает на по́чте.

He works at the post office.

IPA /on rɐˈbotəɪt nə ˈpotɕtʲɪ/

Say it OHN ruh-BOH-tuh-yit nuh POH-chtyuh.

по́чта is one of the short на-list. Learn на по́чте as a single unit; there is no rule that would have told you this.

neutral work place

Где ты у́чишься?

Where do you study?

IPA /ɡdʲe tɨ ˈutɕɪʂəsʲ/

Say it guh-DYEH TIH OO-chish-syuh?

у́чишься pulls the stress onto the first syllable, unlike the infinitive учи́ться. The -ся never changes its meaning here.

informal questions study

Я учу́сь в университе́те.

I study at university.

IPA /ja ʊˈtɕusʲ ʊnʲɪvʲɪrsʲɪˈtʲetʲɪ/

Say it YAH oo-CHUS v oo-nih-vihr-sih-TYEH-tyuh.

учу́сь is stressed on the у; every other form of учиться is stressed on the first syllable. One word to learn, one to remember.

neutral study place

Они́ у́чатся в шко́ле.

They are at school. / They study at school.

IPA /ɐˈnʲi ˈutɕətsə f ˈʂkolʲɪ/

Say it uh-NEE OO-chuh-tsyuh f SHKOH-lyuh.

в шко́ле covers both "they are at school" and "they go to school" — Russian does not need two expressions.

neutral study place family

Где находи́тся вокза́л?

Where is the railway station?

IPA /ɡdʲe nəxɐˈdʲitsə vɐɡˈzal/

Say it guh-DYEH nuh-khuh-DEE-tsyuh vug-ZAHL?

More precise and a shade more polite than a bare Где вокза́л?. This is the sentence to use when you are lost.

travel questions travel city politeness

Где находи́тся апте́ка?

Where is the pharmacy?

IPA /ɡdʲe nəxɐˈdʲitsə ɐpˈtʲekə/

Say it guh-DYEH nuh-khuh-DEE-tsyuh up-TYEH-kuh?

Swap any place from this lesson into the slot and the sentence still works.

travel questions health city survival

Я сейча́с до́ма.

I am at home now.

IPA /ja sʲɪˈtɕas ˈdomə/

Say it YAH siy-CHAHS DOH-muh.

No preposition and no case: до́ма is an adverb. This is why "at home" and "at work" behave differently in Russian.

neutral place time

Она́ на рабо́те.

She is at work.

IPA /ɐˈna nə rɐˈbotʲɪ/

Say it uh-NAH nuh ruh-BOH-tyuh.

на рабо́те is a fixed chunk. The noun рабо́та is Lesson 8, but you need this one form now.

neutral work place

Студе́нты на у́лице.

The students are outside. / The students are in the street.

IPA /stʊˈdʲentɨ nə ˈulʲɪtsə/

Say it stoo-DYEN-tih nuh OO-lih-tsih.

на у́лице is doing double duty here: literally "in the street", idiomatically "outdoors".

neutral place city study

А́нна в метро́.

Anna is on the metro.

IPA /ˈanə v mʲɪˈtro/

Say it AH-nuh v mih-TROH.

метро never changes shape, so the prepositional is identical to the nominative.

neutral place transport city

Он в аэропо́рте.

He is at the airport.

IPA /on v ɐɛrɐˈportʲɪ/

Say it OHN v uh-ih-ruh-POHR-tyuh.

The regular form taught here is в аэропо́рте. You will also hear в аэропорту́ — a second locative ending that survives in a handful of masculine nouns. Both are correct.

travel place travel

Она́ в больни́це.

She is in hospital.

IPA /ɐˈna v bɐlʲˈnʲitsɪ/

Say it uh-NAH v bul-NEE-tsih.

English says "in hospital" with no article; Russian says the same thing with a preposition and a changed ending.

neutral place health

Студе́нты в библиоте́ке.

The students are in the library.

IPA /stʊˈdʲentɨ v bʲɪblʲɪəˈtʲekʲɪ/

Say it stoo-DYEN-tih v bih-blih-uh-TYEH-kyuh.

библиоте́ке keeps the stress exactly where библиоте́ка has it. Fixed stress makes long words like this one much easier than they look.

neutral study place

Он на заво́де.

He is at the factory.

IPA /on nə zɐˈvodʲɪ/

Say it OHN nuh zuh-VOH-dyuh.

заво́д is another member of the на-list, along with по́чта, вокза́л, стадио́н, у́лица, пло́щадь and ры́нок.

neutral work place city

Мы на стадио́не.

We are at the stadium.

IPA /mɨ nə stədʲɪˈonʲɪ/

Say it MIH nuh stuh-dih-OH-nyuh.

The stress of стадио́не does not move from the о of the nominative.

neutral place hobbies

Они́ на ры́нке.

They are at the market.

IPA /ɐˈnʲi nə ˈrɨnkʲɪ/

Say it uh-NEE nuh RIHN-kyuh.

ры́нке shows the fleeting vowel: the о of ры́нок is gone, but the stress stays on the ы.

neutral shopping place city

Мы на пло́щади.

We are on the square.

IPA /mɨ nə ˈploɕːɪdʲɪ/

Say it MIH nuh PLOH-shchuh-dih.

Third-declension feminine, so -и and not -е: на пло́щади, exactly like в ночи́ and о вещи́.

neutral place city

Ты живёшь в Росси́и?

Do you live in Russia?

IPA /tɨ ʐɨˈvʲoʂ f rɐˈsʲijɪ/

Say it TIH zhih-VYOHSH v ruh-SEE-ih?

Росси́я → в Росси́и. The -ия countries are the single most common reason a beginner needs the -и ending at all.

informal questions place city

Я ду́маю о Москве́.

I am thinking about Moscow.

IPA /ja ˈduməjʊ ɐ mɐˈskvʲe/

Say it YAH DOO-muh-yoo uh muh-SKVYEH.

ду́мать takes о + the prepositional. Same ending as after в, completely different question: not Где? but О чём?.

neutral feelings place

Мы говори́м о шко́ле.

We are talking about school.

IPA /mɨ ɡəvɐˈrʲim ɐ ˈʂkolʲɪ/

Say it MIH guh-vuh-REEM uh SHKOH-lyuh.

говори́ть о чём — "to talk about something". Note that о here governs the same case as в and на.

neutral communication study

Dialogues

Where are you?

Tom rings Anna on a Saturday morning. They are friends, so they use ты.

Tom
Привет, Анна! Где ты сейчас?

Hi Anna! Where are you now?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Привет, Анна! Где ты сейчас?
Anna
Я в библиотеке. А ты где?

I am in the library. And where are you?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я в библиотеке. А ты где?
Tom
Я в метро. Ты работаешь в библиотеке?

I am on the metro. Do you work in the library?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я в метро. Ты работаешь в библиотеке?
Anna
Нет, я не работаю. Я учусь в университете.

No, I do not work. I study at university.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Нет, я не работаю. Я учусь в университете.
Tom
А где находится твой университет?

And where is your university?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А где находится твой университет?
Anna
Университет в Москве, на площади.

The university is in Moscow, on the square.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Университет в Москве, на площади.
Tom
Очень хорошо! А где ты живёшь?

Very good! And where do you live?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Очень хорошо! А где ты живёшь?
Anna
Я живу в Лондоне, а сейчас я в Москве. А ты?

I live in London, but at the moment I am in Moscow. And you?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я живу в Лондоне, а сейчас я в Москве. А ты?
Tom
А я живу в Москве.

And I live in Moscow.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А я живу в Москве.

Asking the way

Marco has just arrived and stops Nina in the street. They are strangers, so they use вы.

Marco
Здравствуйте! Где находится вокзал?

Hello! Where is the railway station?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Здравствуйте! Где находится вокзал?
Nina
Вокзал вот там, на улице.

The station is over there, on the street.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Вокзал вот там, на улице.
Marco
Спасибо! А где метро?

Thank you! And where is the metro?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Спасибо! А где метро?
Nina
Метро на площади.

The metro is on the square.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Метро на площади.
Marco
А где банк? Я живу в гостинице.

And where is the bank? I am staying in the hotel.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А где банк? Я живу в гостинице.
Nina
Банк в гостинице.

The bank is in the hotel.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Банк в гостинице.
Marco
Очень хорошо. Спасибо!

Very good. Thank you!
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Очень хорошо. Спасибо!
Nina
Пожалуйста!

You are welcome!
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Пожалуйста!

Two students at the café

Anna is from London and is studying in Moscow. Ivan asks her about where she lives, studies and works. They use ты.

Ivan
Анна, ты живёшь в Москве?

Anna, do you live in Moscow?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Анна, ты живёшь в Москве?
Anna
Нет, я живу в Лондоне.

No, I live in London.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Нет, я живу в Лондоне.
Ivan
А где ты учишься?

And where do you study?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А где ты учишься?
Anna
Я учусь здесь, в университете.

I study here, at the university.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я учусь здесь, в университете.
Ivan
Очень хорошо! А где ты работаешь?

Very good! And where do you work?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Очень хорошо! А где ты работаешь?
Anna
Я работаю в кафе.

I work in a café.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я работаю в кафе.
Ivan
А что ты думаешь о Москве?

And what do you think of Moscow?
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: А что ты думаешь о Москве?
Anna
Мне нравится Москва. Она очень большая.

I like Moscow. It is very big.
Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Мне нравится Москва. Она очень большая.

Exercises

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

Case Choice Exercise 1

Choose the form that completes the sentence.

А́нна живёт ___. (Anna lives in Moscow.)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: в Москве́ в Москву́ Москво́й Москва́

в Москве́

Hint: в + prepositional of Москва́

Где? asks for the prepositional, and after в a feminine noun in -а takes -е: Москва́ → в Москве́. «в Москву́» is the direction form and belongs to Lesson 6.

Case Choice Exercise 2

Choose the form that completes the sentence.

Они́ сейча́с ___. (They are at school now.)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: в шко́ле в шко́лу на шко́ле шко́лой

в шко́ле

Hint: в + prepositional of шко́ла

шко́ла → в шко́ле. The -е ending is the same for masculine, feminine and neuter nouns, so once you know it you know it for everything.

Case Choice Exercise 3

Choose the form that completes the sentence.

Мой брат рабо́тает ___. (My brother works at the post office.)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: на по́чте в по́чте на по́чту по́чтой

на по́чте

Hint: по́чта takes на, not в

по́чта is one of the short на-list, so the preposition is на and the ending is -е: на по́чте. «в по́чте» is not Russian.

Case Choice Exercise 4

Choose the form that completes the sentence.

Мы ду́маем ___. (We are thinking about the city.)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: о го́роде в го́роде о го́род го́роде

о го́роде

Hint: ду́мать + о + prepositional

ду́мать governs о + the prepositional. The case is the same one you use for location — only the preposition and the question change, from Где? to О чём?

Case Choice Exercise 5

Choose the form that completes the sentence.

Она́ у́чится ___. (She studies at the university.)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: в университе́те на университе́те в университе́т университе́том

в университе́те

Hint: учи́ться + в + prepositional

учи́ться takes в + the institution in the prepositional: в университе́те. The stress never leaves the final -е of this word, in any case.

Case Choice Exercise 6

Choose the form that completes the answer.

Где находи́тся банк? — Банк ___. (The bank is on the square.)

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: на пло́щади в пло́щади на пло́щадь пло́щадью

на пло́щади

Hint: third declension: -и, and пло́щадь takes на

пло́щадь is a third-declension feminine in -ь, so its prepositional ends in -и, not -е: на пло́щади. пло́щадь is also a на-place.

Ending Choice Exercise 7

Choose the ending the prepositional singular takes.

«музе́й» — a museum. Where is it?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: -е -и -ю -я

-е

Hint: the default ending

музе́й ends in -й, but it is not one of the nouns in -ия, -ий or -ие, so it takes the ordinary -е: в музе́е. The й is nothing but the nominative ending, so it disappears and -е goes straight onto the stem.

Ending Choice Exercise 8

Choose the ending the prepositional singular takes.

«Росси́я» — Russia. Where is it?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: -е -и -ю -я

-и

Hint: an -ия noun

Nouns in -ия take -и in every oblique case: Росси́я → Росси́и, А́нглия → А́нглии, Ита́лия → Ита́лии. This is the first of the two groups that break the -е rule.

Ending Choice Exercise 9

Choose the ending the prepositional singular takes.

«пло́щадь» — a square. Where is it?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: -е -и -ь -ой

-и

Hint: a feminine noun in -ь

пло́щадь is third declension — a feminine noun ending in a soft sign — and the whole third declension takes -и in the genitive, dative and prepositional: на пло́щади, о пло́щади. ночь, вещь and дочь behave the same way.

Ending Choice Exercise 10

Choose the ending the prepositional plural takes.

«го́род» in the plural — cities. Where are they?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: -ах -ях -ам -ы

-ах

Hint: hard or soft consonant?

The д of го́род is hard, so the plural prepositional is -ах: в города́х. The -ях ending goes only after a soft consonant.

Ending Choice Exercise 11

Choose the ending the prepositional plural takes.

«музе́й» in the plural — museums. Where are they?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: -ях -ах -ям -и

-ях

Hint: a soft stem takes -ях

музе́й has a soft stem — the -й of the nominative tells you so — and soft stems take -ях: в музе́ях. Compare в города́х, where the д is hard.

Translate To Russian Exercise 12

Translate into Russian.

I live in Moscow.

Show answer and explanation

Я живу́ в Москве́.

Hint: жить (я) + в + Москва́ (prep)

жить is a class II verb but irregular in the singular stem: я живу́, ты живёшь, он живёт. The place is в + prepositional.

Translate To Russian Exercise 13

Translate into Russian.

Where do you work? (asking one person politely)

Show answer and explanation

Где вы рабо́таете?

Hint: где + вы + рабо́тать

The polite singular takes вы and the -ете ending. The question word goes first and nothing else moves.

Translate To Russian Exercise 14

Translate into Russian.

She studies at the university.

Show answer and explanation

Она́ у́чится в университе́те.

Hint: учи́ться (она́) + в + университе́т (prep)

учи́ться keeps its -ся in every form, and the third person singular is у́чится with the stress pulled back to the first syllable.

Translate To Russian Exercise 15

Translate into Russian.

Where is the pharmacy?

Show answer and explanation

Где находи́тся апте́ка?

Hint: где + находи́ться + апте́ка

«Где находи́тся …?» is the standard way to ask where something is located, and it is more precise than a bare «Где апте́ка?». находи́тся never changes here, because the subject is singular.

Multiple Choice Exercise 16

Choose the correct preposition.

Which preposition goes with «по́чта» when you say where something is?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: в на о у

на

Hint: it is one of the eight

по́чта belongs to the closed на-list: на по́чте, на вокза́ле, на заво́де, на стадио́не, на у́лице, на пло́щади, на ры́нке, на рабо́те. Everything else in this lesson takes в.

Multiple Choice Exercise 17

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence means "We are talking about school"?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: Мы говори́м о шко́ле. Мы говори́м в шко́ле. Мы говори́м на шко́ле. Мы говори́м шко́ле.

Мы говори́м о шко́ле.

Hint: о + prepositional

To talk about something, Russian uses говори́ть plus о plus the prepositional. The same ending as after в, a different preposition and a different question.

Fill Gap Exercise 18

Fill the gap: "I live in Moscow."

Я живу́ ___ Москве́.

Show answer and explanation

Hint: the default preposition

Towns, cities and countries take в. The noun that follows is already in the prepositional, so the only thing missing is the preposition itself.

Fill Gap Exercise 19

Fill the gap: "He works at the post office."

Он рабо́тает ___ по́чте.

Show answer and explanation

на

Hint: not the default one here

по́чта is on the на-list. Learn the pair на по́чте / на по́чту together and you will never have to think about it again.

Fill Gap Exercise 20

Fill the gap: "We are thinking about school."

Мы ду́маем ___ шко́ле.

Show answer and explanation

Hint: about

о + the prepositional answers the question О чём? — "about what?". It is the same case as after в and на, with a different job.

Conjugation Exercise 21

Give the present tense form for «они».

жить — они́

Show answer and explanation

живу́т

жить is a class II verb by its endings but keeps a stem vowel that the infinitive does not show: живу́, живёшь, живёт, живём, живёте, живу́т.

Conjugation Exercise 22

Give the present tense form for «вы».

учи́ться — вы

Show answer and explanation

у́читесь

Conjugate it as an ordinary class II verb and let the -ся ride along: -сь after a vowel, -ся after a consonant. я учу́сь, ты у́чишься, вы у́читесь. The stress sits on the first syllable in every present form except the я-form, which is the opposite of the infinitive.

Conjugation Exercise 23

Give the present tense form for the third person singular.

находи́ться — он / она́ / оно́

Show answer and explanation

находи́тся

находи́ться is regular class II apart from its stress, which stays on the ending throughout: нахожу́сь, находи́шься, находи́тся, находи́мся, находи́тесь, находя́тся.

Word Order Exercise 24

Put the words in order.

Build the question: "Where do you live?" (to one friend)

Show answer and explanation

Где ты живёшь?

Hint: где + subject + verb

Question word, subject, verb. The two distractors belong to different sentences: рабо́тать is a different verb and в needs a noun after it.

Word Order Exercise 25

Put the words in order.

Build the sentence: "I work in a bank."

Show answer and explanation

Я рабо́таю в ба́нке.

Hint: subject + verb + в + bank (prep)

Subject, verb, then the prepositional phrase. Russian does not move the place to the front the way English sometimes does, and the noun keeps its -е ending wherever it sits in the sentence.

Match Pairs Exercise 26

Pair each noun with its prepositional form.

Match each place with the phrase that says where something is.

Show answer and explanation

шко́ла в шко́ле, по́чта на по́чте, вокза́л на вокза́ле, библиоте́ка в библиоте́ке, у́лица на у́лице, заво́д на заво́де

Three of these are на-places and three are в-places. Sorting them is the single most useful exercise in this lesson, because the split cannot be reasoned out — it can only be remembered.

True False Exercise 27

Answer true or false.

In the prepositional singular, the ending changes according to the gender of the noun.

Show answer and explanation

false

It does not. Masculine, feminine and neuter nouns all take the same -е: в па́рке, в шко́ле, в теа́тре. Gender matters for the nominative and for adjectives; here it is irrelevant, which is what makes this case cheap. The only nouns that behave differently are the indeclinable borrowings — метро́, кино́, кафе́ — and those change in no case at all.

True False Exercise 28

Answer true or false.

«на по́чте» and «в шко́ле» are both in the prepositional case.

Show answer and explanation

true

The preposition changes; the case does not. в, на and о all govern the prepositional when they express location or topic, and all three produce the same -е ending on a regular noun.

Stress Choice Exercise 29

Choose the correctly stressed form.

Where does the stress fall in «гости́ница»?

Show answer and explanation

Choose from: го́стиница гости́ница гостини́ца

гости́ница

Hint: not on the second и

On the first и: гости́ница. Pushing the stress forward onto the second и is the most common learner mistake with this word, and standard Russian does not allow it. Learn the stress together with the word, every time.

Sentence Transform Exercise 30

Change the subject to «она» and adjust the verb.

Rewrite this sentence about Anna: «Я учу́сь в шко́ле.»

Show answer and explanation

Она́ у́чится в шко́ле.

Hint: учи́ться, third person singular

The verb changes from учу́сь to у́чится; the place does not change at all. That is the whole point of a case system — the noun is doing its own job and does not need the verb to agree with it.

Listen And Type Exercise 31

Play the audio and type what you hear.

Listen and type the sentence.

Show answer and explanation

Где вы рабо́таете?

Listen for the polite singular: рабо́таете, not рабо́таешь. Both endings are unstressed and both reduce, so the difference is in the vowels as much as in the letters.

Translate To English Exercise 32

Translate into English.

Она́ живёт в Ита́лии.

Show answer and explanation

She lives in Italy

в Ита́лии is the prepositional of Ита́лия — an -ия noun, so the ending is -и rather than -е.

Translate To English Exercise 33

Translate into English.

Мы ду́маем о Москве́.

Show answer and explanation

We are thinking about Moscow

о + the prepositional is how Russian says "about". The case ending is the same one you use for location; only the preposition tells you which meaning is meant.

Flashcard Self Rating Exercise 34

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

находи́ться

Show answer and explanation

to be situated, to be located

The verb behind the traveller's question «Где находи́тся …?». In practice you need one form of it, the third person singular «находи́тся», and you should learn that form as a chunk rather than conjugating it from scratch.

Speak now

Say each sentence aloud three times: slowly, at normal speed, then from memory. After that, change the place in each one for a place that is true for you — your own city, your own workplace, your own school — and say the new version without looking. Say the ending out loud; it is the only thing in the sentence that is doing grammar.

Я живу́ в Москве́. I live in Moscow. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я живу́ в Москве́.
Я учу́сь в университе́те. I study at university. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я учу́сь в университе́те.
Я рабо́таю в кафе́. I work in a café. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я рабо́таю в кафе́.
Где находи́тся вокза́л? Where is the railway station? Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Где находи́тся вокза́л?
Сейча́с я до́ма. I am at home now. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Сейча́с я до́ма.
Я ду́маю о Москве́. I am thinking about Moscow. Listen in Russian: Slow in Russian: Я ду́маю о Москве́.

Lesson checkpoint

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

Say where you live, where you work and where you study — three Russian sentences, each with the right preposition and the right ending.
Give the prepositional singular of six nouns from this lesson without looking: шко́ла, музе́й, пло́щадь, Росси́я, метро́, банк.
Sort every place word in this lesson into two columns, в and на, then check your list against the table in the theory.
Ask «Где находи́тся …?» for five different places and answer each one in a full sentence, not with a single word.
Conjugate жить and учи́ться out loud in all six forms, and say which syllable the stress falls on each time.
Make three sentences with о plus the prepositional about things you think about, then change one of them into a question.

Remember this

The prepositional case answers two questions — Где? for location and О чём? for the topic of thought or speech — and it never appears without a preposition: в, на or о.
The singular ending is -е for masculine, feminine and neuter alike: в до́ме, в шко́ле, в па́рке. Gender, which mattered in the nominative, is irrelevant here.
Two groups take -и instead: nouns in -ия, -ий and -ие (в Росси́и, в А́нглии, в Ита́лии) and third-declension feminines in -ь (на пло́щади). A stem that already ends in a soft sign spells the ending -ье (в семье́).
The plural ending is -ах after a hard consonant and -ях after a soft one: в города́х, в шко́лах, but в музе́ях and на площадя́х.
Most places take в. A short, closed list takes на: на по́чте, на вокза́ле, на заво́де, на стадио́не, на у́лице, на пло́щади, на ры́нке, на рабо́те. There is no rule to derive this from — learn the list.
до́ма is one word and needs no preposition; на рабо́те and в шко́ле are fixed chunks. Say all three as wholes rather than building them from a case table.

Go deeper: The Prepositional case · Case questions: which question names which form · The preposition map: в, на, о · The six cases at a glance · Verb government: which case a verb demands · Noun gender

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