Family

The Instrumental Case: With and By Means Of

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

• Nouns:

  • Singular Masculine/Neuter: hard -omъ, soft -emъ. (e.g., съ братомъ - with a brother, съ отьцемъ - with a father, съ селомъ - with a village, съ полемъ - with a field)
  • Singular Feminine: hard -ojǫ, soft -ejǫ. (e.g., съ сестрою - with a sister, съ землею - with land)
  • Dual (all genders): hard/soft -ama. (e.g., съ братама - with two brothers, съ сестрама - with two sisters)
  • Plural (all genders): hard/soft -ꙑ: (e.g., съ браты - with brothers, съ отьци - with fathers, съ сестрами - with sisters, съ селы - with villages)

• Adjectives (Simple/Indefinite):

  • Singular Masculine/Neuter: hard -ymъ, soft -imъ. (e.g., съ добрымъ бра́томъ - with a good brother, съ синимъ моремъ - with the blue sea)
  • Singular Feminine: hard -ojǫ, soft -ejǫ. (e.g., съ доброю сестрою - with a good sister, съ си́нею землею - with the blue land)
  • Dual (all genders): hard/soft -ꙑма. (e.g., съ добрꙑма братама - with two good brothers, съ си́нима очи́ма - with two blue eyes)
  • Plural (all genders): hard/soft -ꙑ. (e.g., съ добрꙑ браты - with good brothers, съ сини мори - with blue seas)

• Examples: Иде́мъ съ дроу́гомъ (I am going with a friend). Онъ гово́ритъ съ на́ми (He is talking with us). Пишѫ́ перо́мъ (I am writing with a pen). Она́ ѥстъ добро́ю работо́ю (She is good work - Instrumental used for state/profession). Мꙑ ѥсмъ добры рабꙑ (We are good servants - Instrumental plural used for state/profession).