Family

The Instrumental Case: With and By Means Of

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

• Nouns:

  • Singular Masculine/Neuter: ending -ом. (e.g., з братом - with a brother, з учителем - with a teacher, з селом - with a village, з полем - with a field)
  • Singular Feminine: ending -ов / -ев. (e.g., з сестров - with a sister, з земльов - with land)
  • Plural (all genders): ending -ами. (e.g., з братами - with brothers, з учителями - with teachers, з сестрами - with sisters, з селами - with villages)

• Adjectives:

  • Singular Masculine/Neuter: hard -ым, soft -им. (e.g., з добрым братом - with a good brother, з синьым морем - with the blue sea)
  • Singular Feminine: hard -ов, soft -ьов. (e.g., з добров сестров - with a good sister, з синьов земльов - with blue land)
  • Plural (all genders): hard/soft -ыма / -іма. (e.g., з добрыма братами - with good brothers, з синьіма очима - with blue eyes)

• Examples: Иду з приятелєм (I am going with a friend). Они говорят з нами (They are talking with us). Пишу оловком (I am writing with a pencil). Она єсть добров штудентков (She is a good student - Instrumental used for state/profession). Мы сме добрыма штудентами (We are good students).