Family

The Instrumental Case: With and By Means Of

The Instrumental case primarily indicates с ким or чиме an action is performed, or чиме. It is always used with a preposition (most commonly с/са - with) or after certain verbs, including the verb бити (to be) when describing someone's profession or state.

• Nouns:

  • Singular Masculine/Neuter: ending -ом. (e.g., с братом - with a brother, са учитељем - with a teacher, са селом - with a village, с пољем - with a field)
  • Singular Feminine: ending -ом. (e.g., са сестром - with a sister, са земљом - with land)
  • Plural (all genders): ending -има. (e.g., с браћом - with brothers, са учитељима - with teachers, са сестрама - with sisters, са селима - with villages)

• Adjectives:

  • Singular Masculine/Neuter: ending -им. (e.g., с добрим братом - with a good brother, са тихим ветром - with a quiet wind)
  • Singular Feminine: ending -ом. (e.g., с добром сестром - with a good sister, са тихом женом - with a quiet woman)
  • Plural (all genders): ending -им. (e.g., с добрим браћом - with good brothers, са тихим ветровима - with quiet winds)

• Examples: Идем с пријатељем (I am going with a friend). Они разговарају с нама (They are talking with us). Пишем оловком (I am writing with a pen). Она је добром студенткињом (She is a good student). Ми смо добрим студентима (We are good students).