Family

The Instrumental Case: With and By Means Of

The Instrumental case primarily indicates съ кѣмъ or чи́мъ an action is performed, or чи́мъ. It is always used with a preposition (most commonly съ - with) or after certain verbs, including the verb бы́ти (to be) when describing someone's profession or state. Church Slavonic has singular, dual, and plural forms for the Instrumental case.

• Nouns:

  • Singular Masculine/Neuter: hard -омъ, soft -е́мъ. (e.g., съ бра́томъ - with a brother, съ о҆тце́мъ - with a father, съ село́мъ - with a village, съ по́лемъ - with a field)
  • Singular Feminine: hard -ою, soft -е́ю. (e.g., съ сестро́ю - with a sister, съ земле́ю - with land)
  • Dual (all genders): hard/soft -ама. (e.g., съ бра́тама - with two brothers, съ се́страма - with two sisters)
  • Plural (all genders): hard/soft -ы: (e.g., съ бра́ты - with brothers, съ о҆тцы́ - with fathers, съ се́страми - with sisters, съ се́лы - with villages)

• Adjectives (Short/Indefinite):

  • Singular Masculine/Neuter: hard -ымъ, soft -имъ. (e.g., съ до́брымъ бра́томъ - with a good brother, съ си́нимъ мо́ремъ - with the blue sea)
  • Singular Feminine: hard -ою, soft -е́ю. (e.g., съ до́брою сестро́ю - with a good sister, съ си́нею земле́ю - with the blue land)
  • Dual (all genders): hard/soft -ыма. (e.g., съ до́брыма бра́тама - with two good brothers, съ си́нима о́чима - with two blue eyes)
  • Plural (all genders): hard/soft -ы. (e.g., съ до́бры бра́ты - with good brothers, съ си́ни мо́ри - with blue seas)

• Examples: Идꙋ̀ съ дрꙋ́гомъ (I am going with a friend). То́й глаго́летъ съ на́ми (He is talking with us). Пишꙋ̀ перо́мъ (I am writing with a pen). Та̀ є҆́сть до́брою рабо́тою (She is good work - Instrumental used for state/profession). Мꙑ̀ є҆смы̀ до́бры ра́би (We are good servants - Instrumental plural used for state/profession).