Language/Russian/Grammar/Russian-cases
Hi Russian learners,
There are 6 cases in Russian.
They give all the possible endings of words for all the functions they can have in the sentence, according to their genre and according to their number.
With this lesson behind you, consider expanding your knowledge with these additional resources: Russian Grammar → Russian Nouns and Gender → Genitive Case ..., Use of the verb быть in the past, Pronunciation Rules & Adjectives.
Nominative Case[edit | edit source]
The nominative case answers the questions кто/что, meaning who/what, and identifies the subject of a sentence. The nominative case exists in English, too.
In Russian dictionaries, all nouns are given in the nominative case.
Examples:
- Наташа сказала, что приедет попозже.
- Translation: Natasha said that she would come over later.
- Собака бежала по улице, виляя хвостом.
- Translation: The dog was running down the street, wagging its tail.
Genitive Case[edit | edit source]
The genitive case answers the questions кого, meaning "whom" or "of whom," and чего, which means "what" or "of what." It shows possession, attribution, or absence (who, what, whose, or what/who is absent).
It also answers the question откуда —from where.
Examples:
- У меня нет ни тетради, ни ручки.
- I have neither a notebook nor a pen.
тетрадь - "a notebook" - becomes тетради - (absence of) a notebook ручка - "a pen" - becomes ручки - (absence of) a pen
- Я достала из сумки книгу.
- I took out a book out of the bag.
сумка (SOOMka) - "a bag" - becomes сумки - out of the bag.
Dative Case[edit | edit source]
The dative case answers the questions кому/чему – to whom/(to) what, and shows that something is given or addressed to the object.
Examples:
- Я повернулся к человеку, который стоял справа от меня.
- I turned to the person/man who was standing on my right.
человек (chelaVYEK) - "a man/a person" becomes человеку - "to a man/to a person."
Accusative Case[edit | edit source]
The accusative case answers the questions кого/что – whom/what, and куда – where.
Its equivalent in English is the accusative, or objective, case (him, her).
Examples:
- Я покупаю новый телефон.
- I am buying a new phone.
телефон - "a phone" - remains the same.
- Какую книгу ты сейчас читаешь?
- Translation: What book are you reading right now?
Instrumental Case[edit | edit source]
Answers the questions кем/чем – with whom/with what.
This case shows which instrument is used to do or make something, or with whom/with the help of what an action is completed. It can also be used to talk about something that you are interested in.
Example:
- Иван интересуется китайской культурой.
- Ivan is interested in Chinese culture.
Prepositional Case[edit | edit source]
Answers the questions о ком/о чем – about whom/about what, and the question где – where.
Example:
- Я постараюсь проснуться на рассвете.
- Translation: I will try to wake up at dawn.
Other examples[edit | edit source]
NOMINATIVE (OBJECTIVE)[edit | edit source]
Word is in the beginning of the phrase, simple phrase. The object that does something |
Palavra no início da frase, frase simple |
ENGLISH | PRONUNCIATION
ENGLISH |
RUSSIAN | PRONUNCIATION
BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE |
BRAZILIAN
PORTUGUESE |
---|---|---|---|---|
The student
reads |
ou cheh nihk
chih tah iht |
YЧEHИK
ЧИTAET |
u tche ník
tchi ta ít |
O aluno
lê |
The guide paid
yesterday |
giht fcheh rah
zah plah tihl |
ГИД ВЧЕРА
ЗAПЛATИЛ |
guít ftche rá
za pla tíL |
O guia pagou
ontem |
The shop
is open |
mah gah zihn
aht kruh tih |
MAГAЗИH
OTKPЫTЫЙ |
ma ga zín
at krâ ti |
A loja está
aberta |
DATIVE[edit | edit source]
For (something) or (somebody) |
Para (alguma coisa) ou (alguem) |
ENGLISH | PRONUNCIATION
ENGLISH |
RUSSIAN | PRONUNCIATION
BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE |
BRAZILIAN
PORTUGUESE |
---|---|---|---|---|
For one house | kuh ahd nah mou
doh mou |
К ОДНОМУ
ДОМУ |
kâ adnamú
dômu |
para uma casa |
For the house | kuh
dah mou |
К
ДОМУ |
kâ
damú |
para a casa |
For some houses | kuh nih kah tah rah mou
doh mou |
К НЕКОТОРОМУ
ДОМУ |
kâ nikataramú
dômu |
para algumas casas |
For the houses | kuh
doh mahm |
К
ДОМАМ |
kâ
dômam |
para as casas |
For one man | kuh ahd nah mou
tchih lah vyeh kou |
К ОДНОМУ
ЧЕЛОВЕКУ |
kâ adnamú
tchilaviêku |
para um homem |
For the man | kuh
chih lah vyeh kou |
К
ЧЕЛОВЕКУ |
kâ
tchilaviêku |
para o homem |
For some men | kuh nih kah tah rah mou
mouh zhih chih nahm |
К НЕКОТОРОМУ
МУЖЧИНАМ |
kâ nikataramú
mujitchinám |
para alguns homens |
For the men | kuh
mouh zhih chih nahm |
К
МУЖЧИНАМ |
kâ
mujitchinam |
para os homens |
I WILL
GO TO THE BEACH |
yah pie dou
kuh plyah zhou |
Я ПОЙДУ
К ПЛЯЖУ |
iá paidú
kâ pliajú |
EU IREI
À PRAIA |
ACCUSATIVE[edit | edit source]
Somebody or something at the end of the phrase |
Alguém ou alguma coisa no final da frase |
ENGLISH | PRONUNCIATION
ENGLISH |
RUSSIAN | PRONUNCIATION
BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE |
BRAZILIAN
PORTUGUESE |
---|---|---|---|---|
DID YOU SEE
THIS LUGGAGE ? |
vuh vih dyeh lih
eh taht bah gahsh ? |
ВЫ ВИДЕЛИ
ЭТОТ БАГАЖ ? |
vâ vi diê li
etát ba gash ? |
VOCÊ VIU
ESSA BAGAGEM ? |
I SEE
THE CAR |
yah vih zhouh
mah shih nou |
Я ВИЖУ
МАШИНУ |
iá vijú
machinú |
EU VEJO
O CARRO |
I WANT
THE APPLE |
yah Hah chou
yah bloh kah |
Я ХОЧУ
ЯБЛОКО |
iá Ha tchú
ia blô ka |
EU QUERO
A MAÇÃ |
GENITIVE[edit | edit source]
of the |
de, da, dos, das |
ENGLISH | PRONUNCIATION
ENGLISH |
RUSSIAN | PRONUNCIATION
BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE |
BRAZILIAN
PORTUGUESE |
---|---|---|---|---|
the key | klyouh chih | КЛЮЧ | klíu tch | a chave |
the house | dohm | ДОМ | dom | a casa |
the key
of the house |
klyouh chih ot
doh mah |
КЛЮЧ ОТ
ДОМА |
klíutch ot
dô má |
a chave
da casa |
the window | ahk noh | ОКНО | ah nó | a janela |
the school | shkoh lah | ШКОЛА | ch kô la | a escola |
the window
of the school |
ahk noh
shkoh lih |
ОКНО
ШКОЛЫ |
ak nô
ch kô li |
a janela
da escola |
the name | ih myah (naz va ni je) | ИМЯ (НАЗВАНИЕ) | i miá (naz va ni je) | o nome |
the place | myehs toh | МЕСТО | mies to | o lugar |
the name
of the place |
(ih myah) naz va ni je
myehs tah |
(ИМЯ) НАЗВАНИЕ
МЕСТА |
(ímia) naz va ni je
míesta |
o nome
do lugar |
The bottle
of water |
bou tihl kah
vah dih |
БУТЫЛКА
ВОДЫ |
bu tíL ka
va dí |
A garrafa
de água |
The juice
of orange |
sohk
ah pyehl sih nah |
СОК
АПЕЛЬСИНА |
sôk
a piêL ci na |
O suco
de laranja |
The map
of China |
kahr tah
kih tah yah |
КАРТА
КИТАЯ |
kár ta
ki tá ia |
O mapa
da China |
GENITIVE[edit | edit source]
from (point of origin in the space or time); made of (something) |
de, da, dos, das (ponto de origem no espaço ou tempo), |
ENGLISH | PRONUNCIATION
ENGLISH |
RUSSIAN | PRONUNCIATION
BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE |
BRAZILIAN
PORTUGUESE |
---|---|---|---|---|
I came
from Brazil |
yah prih yeh Hahl
ihz brah zee lih |
Я ПРИЕХАЛ
ИЗ БРАЗИЛИИ |
iá pri iê HaL
iz bra zi lii |
Eu vim
do Brasil |
We are
from Turkey |
muh ihz
tour tsee |
МЫ ИЗ
ТУРЦИИ |
mâ iz
túr tsii |
Nós somos
da Turquia |
INSTRUMENTAL[edit | edit source]
¨with¨ somebody or ¨with¨ something |
¨com¨ alguém ou ¨com¨ alguma coisa |
ENGLISH | PRONUNCIATION
ENGLISH |
RUSSIAN | PRONUNCIATION
BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE |
BRAZILIAN
PORTUGUESE |
---|---|---|---|---|
I write with
my pen |
yah pih mah eem
kah rahn dah shohm |
Я ПИШУ МОИМ
КАРАНДАШОМ |
iá pi chú ma iim
ka ran dá chom |
Eu escrevo
com meu lápis |
INSTRUMENTAL (INCLUSIVE)[edit | edit source]
Use to mix some products. |
Use para misturar alguns produtos |
ENGLISH | PRONUNCIATION
ENGLISH |
RUSSIAN | PRONUNCIATION
BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE |
BRAZILIAN
PORTUGUESE |
---|---|---|---|---|
Coffee
with milk |
koh fyeh
s mah lah kohm |
КОФЕ
С МОЛОКОМ |
kôfie
s ma la kôm |
Café
com leite |
Coffee
with sugar |
koh fyeh
s sah Hah rohm |
КОФЕ
С САХАРОМ |
kôfie
s sa Ha rôm |
Café com
açúcar |
Water
with ice |
vah dah
sah lih dohm |
ВОДА
СО ЛЬДОМ |
va dá
sa li dôm |
Água
com gelo |
PREPOSITIONAL (LOCATIVE)[edit | edit source]
It shows the localization (is used after prepositions "in", "on", "at"). And it is also used after preposition "about" - about somebody, about something |
Mostra a localização (no, na, em) |
ENGLISH | PRONUNCIATION
ENGLISH |
RUSSIAN | PRONUNCIATION
BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE |
BRAZILIAN
PORTUGUESE |
---|---|---|---|---|
It is in
her bag |
eh tah nah Hah dih tsah
v jejo eyh soum kyeh |
ЭТО НАХОДИТСЯ
В ЕЁ СУМКЕ |
é ta na Ha dí tsa
v jejo sum kíê |
Isso está
na bolsa dela |
on the street | nah
ou lih tseh |
НА
УЛИЦЕ |
na
u lí tse |
na
rua |
In the
cars |
v
mah shih nahH |
В
МАШИНАХ |
v
ma chi náH |
Nos
carros |
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- А vs Но
- Nouns
- The verb to have
- Conditional Mood
- Tricky Adverbs
- How to Use Have
- Adjectives
- Negation
- The verb to be
- Gender