Family

The Instrumental Case: With and By Means Of

The Instrumental case primarily indicates з кíм or чым an action is performed, or чым. It is always used with a preposition (most commonly з or з-за - with) or after certain verbs, including the verb быць (to be) when describing someone's profession or state.

• Nouns:

  • Singular Masculine/Neuter: ending -ам (hard) / -ем (soft) / -ом (stressed). (e.g., з бра́там - with a brother, з настаўнікам - with a teacher, з мужо́м - with a husband, з го́радам - with a city, з по́лем - with a field)
  • Singular Feminine: ending -ай (hard) / -яй (soft). (e.g., з сястро́й - with a sister, з зямлёй - with the earth)
  • Plural (all genders): ending -амі (hard) / -ямі (soft). (e.g., з бра́тамі - with brothers, з настаўнікамі́ - with teachers, з сёстрамі - with sisters)

• Adjectives:

  • Singular Masculine/Neuter: ending -ым (hard) / -ім (soft). (e.g., з до́брым бра́там - with a good brother, з сíнім настаўнікам - with a blue teacher)
  • Singular Feminine: ending -ай (hard) / -яй (soft). (e.g., з до́брай сястро́й - with a good sister, з сíняй жа́нчынай - with a blue woman)
  • Plural (all genders): ending -ымі (hard) / -імі (soft). (e.g., з до́брымі бра́тамі - with good brothers, з сíнімі настаўнікамі́ - with blue teachers)

• Examples: Я іду́ з дру́гам (I am going with a friend). Яны́ размаўля́юць з на́мі (They are talking with us). Я пішу́ ру́чкай (I am writing with a pen). Яна́ добрая студэ́нтка (She is a good student - 'ёсць' omitted). Мы до́брыя студэ́нты (We are good students - 'ёсць' omitted).