« Prepositional Case (Предложный Падеж)

When to Use the Prepositional Case

• Location: Used to express the location of an object or person, often with prepositions like в (in), на (on), о (about), and при (at, near).
  • Example: Он в школе. (He is at school.)
  • Example: Книга лежит на столе. (The book is lying on the table.)
• Topics of Discussion: Used to talk about the topic of conversation or the subject of writing.
  • Example: О книге. (About the book.)
  • Example: Мы говорим о планах. (We are talking about the plans.)
• Abstract Concepts: Refers to abstract concepts or ideas.
  • Example: В свободное время он читает. (In his free time, he reads.)

Prepositional Case Endings

The prepositional case is used after certain prepositions, mainly to indicate location or the topic of discussion. The information below describes how nouns and adjectives change in the prepositional case:

Singular Nouns:

• Masculine:
  • For most masculine nouns, add -е (e.g., о столе - about the table).
  • If the noun ends in -ий, replace it with -ии (e.g., о гении - about the genius).
  • If the noun ends in -й, replace it with -е (e.g., о герое - about the hero).
  • For some one syllable nouns where the preceding preposition is not о, add -у (e.g., на мосту - on the bridge).
• Feminine:
  • If the noun ends in -а, replace it with -е (e.g., о книге - about the book).
  • If the noun ends in -я, replace it with -е (e.g., о неделе - about the week).
  • If the noun ends in -ия, replace it with -ии (e.g., в лаборатории - in the laboratory).
  • If the noun ends in -ь, replace it with -и (e.g., о дочери - about the daughter).
• Neuter:
  • If the noun ends in -о, replace it with -е (e.g., в окне - in the window).
  • For nouns ending in -е, the ending usually remains unchanged (e.g., о море - about the sea).
  • If the noun ends in -ие, replace it with -ии (e.g., в здании - in the building).

Plural Nouns:

• For nouns ending in -а, -о, or a consonant, use -ах (e.g., о столах - about the tables).
• For nouns ending in -ь, -й, -я, or -е, use -ях (e.g., о друзьях - about the friends).

Adjective Endings:

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

• Masculine Singular: Ends in -ом or -ем (e.g., о новом столе - about the new table).
• Feminine Singular: Ends in -ой or -ей (e.g., о новой книге - about the new book).
• Neuter Singular: Ends in -ом or -ем (e.g., о новом окне - about the new window).
• Plural: Ends in -ых or -их (e.g., о новых книгах - about the new books).

The choice between the endings -ом/ем and -ой/ей is determined by Spelling Rule 3: After endings ж, ч, ш, щ, and ц, use о in stressed singular endings, and е in unstressed singular endings.

Additionally, the choice between -ых and -их is determined by Spelling Rule 1.

Pronouns in the Prepositional Case

• Me: обо мне
• You (singular, informal): о тебе
• Him/It: о нём
• Her: о ней
• Us: о нас
• You (plural or formal): о вас
• Them: о них

Additional Notes

• Prepositions: The prepositional case is used after specific prepositions that require it, such as в (in/at), на (on/at), о (about), при (near/at).
  • Example: в магазине (in the store).
  • Example: о проблеме (about the problem).
• Adjective Agreement: In the prepositional case, adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case.
  • Example: о красной книге (about the red book).