Learn16
Grammar reference

The preposition map: which case each preposition governs

Every beginner preposition with the case or cases it governs, including the seven that take two cases and change meaning between them.

Accusative — the direction and crossing group: в (into), на (onto), за (behind, moving there), под (under, moving there), че́рез (across, or after a length of time), про (about, colloquial). В го́род, на рабо́ту, за до́м, под стол, че́рез доро́гу, че́рез час, про э́то. Genitive — the absence and origin group: у (at, by, in the possession of), от (away from a person), до (as far as), из (out of), с (off, down from, back from), без (without), для (for), о́коло (near, approximately), во́круг (around), по́сле (after), вме́сто (instead of), кро́ме (except), про́тив (opposite, against), ра́ди (for the sake of). У меня́, от врача́, до вокза́ла, из Росси́и, с рабо́ты, со стола́, без са́хара, для тебя́, о́коло до́ма, по́сле обе́да.

Dative — a small but important group: к (towards a person or place), по (along, across, or one each), благодаря́ (thanks to), согла́сно (according to), вопреки́ (contrary to). К врачу́, к другу́, к окну́; по го́роду, по Росси́и, по рублю́. Instrumental — the position and company group: с (with), над (above), под (under, being there), пе́ред (in front of), за (behind, being there), ме́жду (between), ря́дом с (next to), вме́сте с (together with). С дру́гом, над столо́м, под столо́м, пе́ред до́мом, за до́мом, ме́жду дома́ми. Prepositional — the location and topic group: о and об (about), в (inside, being there), на (on, being there), при (attached to, in the presence of). О рабо́те, в го́роде, на по́чте.

Seven prepositions govern two cases, and the case is what carries the difference in meaning. В: Accusative for куда́? (в го́род) and Prepositional for где? (в го́роде). На: the same split (на стол, на столе́). За: Accusative for moving behind (зайти́ за до́м), Instrumental for being behind (стоя́ть за до́мом). Под: Accusative for moving under (сесть под де́рево), Instrumental for being under (сиде́ть под де́ревом). О: Prepositional for 'about' (ду́мать о до́ме), Accusative for 'against' (уда́риться о стол). С: Instrumental for 'together with' (с дру́гом), Genitive for 'off, down from' (с горы́, со стола́). По: Dative for 'along' and 'one each' (по го́роду, по рублю́), and in a bookish use Accusative for 'up to a level' (по по́яс в воде́). Ме́жду normally takes the Instrumental; a Genitive after it is archaic and survives only in set phrases such as ме́жду двух огне́й.

How to learn all this without despair: never store a preposition on its own. Store the whole chunk, with the ending already attached — в го́роде, в го́род, на по́чте, на по́чту, к врачу́, с дру́гом, у меня́, из Росси́и, до вокза́ла, по го́роду, за до́мом. A chunk bundles the preposition, the case and the ending into one retrievable unit, and that is how the course presents them at every stage. The case question is then your retrieval cue: где? gives Prepositional, куда́? gives Accusative, у кого́? gives Genitive, к кому́? gives Dative, с кем? gives Instrumental, о чём? gives Prepositional.

Examples

  • Я иду́ в парк, и гуля́ю в па́рке. I am going into the park, and I walk in the park. — в + Accusative, then в + Prepositional
  • Ко́шка за́прыгнула под стол и спит под столо́м. The cat jumped under the table and is sleeping under it. — под + Accusative, then под + Instrumental
  • Мы е́дем че́рез го́род и прие́дем че́рез час. We are driving through the town and shall arrive in an hour. — through always takes the Accusative
  • Я иду́ к врачу́ от стома́толога. I am going to the doctor from the dentist's.
  • Биле́т до Москвы́ сто́ит сто рубле́й. A ticket as far as Moscow costs a hundred roubles. — до + Genitive
  • Чай с лимо́ном и с са́харом, но без молока́. Tea with lemon and with sugar, but without milk.

Related lessons