« 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 этом нет смысла. (There is no point in this.)

Prepositional Case Endings

The prepositional case is used after certain prepositions, mainly to indicate location or the topic of discussion. It often answers the questions "о ком?" (about whom?) or "о чём?" (about what?). Here's 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 or -ии (e.g., о неделе - about the week).
  • 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., о море - about the sea).
  • For nouns ending in -е, the ending remains unchanged.

Plural Nouns:

• For nouns ending in -а, -о, or a consonant, replace the ending with -ах (e.g., о столах - about the tables).
• For nouns ending in -ь, -й, -я, or -е, replace the ending with -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 (all genders): Ends in -ых or -их (e.g., о новых книгах - about the new books).

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).

Practice Exercises

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

1. He is talking about the new project.
2. The cat is sitting on the chair.
3. We are discussing the movie.
4. The book is on the table.