« Instrumental Case (Творительный Падеж)

When to Use the Instrumental Case

• Means or Instrument: Use the instrumental case to describe the means or tool used to perform an action.
  • Example: Он пишет ручкой. (He writes with a pen.)
  • Example: Мы едим ложками. (We eat with spoons.)
• Accompaniment: Use the instrumental case to indicate the person or entity accompanying someone or with whom an action is performed.
  • Example: Я иду с другом. (I am going with a friend.)
  • Example: Она разговаривает с коллегой. (She is talking with a colleague.)
• Means of Communication: Use the instrumental case to express the means of communication.
  • Example: Я написал письмо электронной почтой. (I wrote a letter by email.)
• Profession or Role: Use the instrumental case to indicate someone's profession or role.
  • Example: Он работает врачом. (He works as a doctor.)
  • Example: Она учится студенткой. (She is studying as a student.)

Instrumental Case Endings

The instrumental case is used to indicate the means by which an action is performed or the person with whom something is done. It typically answers the questions "кем?" (by whom?) or "чем?" (by what?). Below is a detailed breakdown of the endings:

Singular Nouns:

• Masculine:
  • For most nouns, the ending will be -ом (e.g., стол → столом - with the table).
  • For nouns ending in -й, -ь, -ц, or a husher (unstressed), add -ем (e.g., герой → героем - with the hero).
  • For nouns ending in -й or -ь (stressed), add -ём.
• Feminine:
  • For most nouns ending in -а, replace it with -ой or (rarely) -ою (e.g., книга → книгой - with the book).
  • If the stem of the noun ends in -ц or a husher, replace -а with -ей.
  • If the noun ends in -я (unstressed), replace it with -ей (e.g., неделя → неделей - with the week).
  • If the noun ends in -я (stressed), replace it with -ёй.
  • If the noun ends in -ь, replace it with -ью (e.g., дочь → дочерью - with the daughter).
• Neuter:
  • Add -м to neuter nouns (e.g., окно → окном - with the window, море → морем - with the sea).

Plural Nouns:

• For nouns ending in consonants, add -ами (e.g., стол → столами - with the tables).
• If the noun ends in -а or -о, replace it with -ами (e.g., дома → домами - with the houses).
• For all other nouns, replace the ending with -ями (e.g., друзья → друзьями - with the friends).

Adjective Endings:

Adjectives in the instrumental case must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case:

• Masculine Singular: Ends in -ым or -им (e.g., новым столом - with the new table).
• Feminine Singular: Ends in -ой or -ей (e.g., новой книгой - with the new book).
• Neuter Singular: Ends in -ым or -им (e.g., новым окном - with the new window).
• Plural (all genders): Ends in -ыми or -ими (e.g., новыми книгами - with the new books).

Pronouns in the Instrumental Case

• Me: со мной
• You (singular, informal): с тобой
• Him/It: с ним
• Her: с ней
• Us: с нами
• You (plural or formal): с вами
• Them: с ними

Additional Notes

• Adjective Agreement: In the instrumental case, adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case.
  • Example: с красивой девушкой (with a beautiful girl)
• Prepositions: Certain prepositions always require the instrumental case, such as с (with), над (over), под (under), между (between), and за (behind, for).
  • Example: Она работает с компьютером. (She works with a computer.)
  • Example: Он сидит за столом. (He sits at the table.)

Practice Exercises

Translate the following sentences into Russian, making sure to use the correct form of the instrumental case:

1. He is writing with a pen.
2. I am talking with a friend.
3. She works as a teacher.
4. We are traveling by train.