Noun

Nominative Case

 

There are six cases in Russian. Russian nouns change for case.

1. The nominative case

2. The genitive case

3. The dative case

4. The accusative case

5. The instrumental case

6. The prepositional case

All the cases other than the nominative are called oblique cases.

 

Nominative case

 

In the dictionaries the words are given in the nominative case. The forms of all other cases are derived from the singular form of the Nominative case. Singular nouns in the nominative case are grouped or divide into eleven types based on the ending of the nouns.  Given below are the nouns classified into eleven groups based on the endings. The declension of nouns in all other cases is explained on the basis of the following eleven groups. Hence it is very important for the learners to remember the following classification of nouns.

 

Masculine gender                    

 

1. Singular and Plural form of the nouns whose stem ends in a hard consonant.

студент student

студенты students

 

актор actor

акторы actors

 

институт institute

институты institutes

 

журнал magazine

журналы magazines

 

университет university

университеты universities

 

сад garden

сады gardens

 

парк park

парки parks

         

2. Singular and Plural form of the nouns ending with «-й»

герой hero                    

герои heroes

 

музей museum              

музеи museums

         

трамвай tram                         

трамваи trams

 

попугай parrot             

попугаи parrots            

                                     

3. Noun ending with «-ий»

прлетарий proletarian            

прлетарии proletarians

 

санаторий sanatorium           

санатории sanatoriums

         

4. Noun ending with soft sign «-ь»

учитель teacher            

учители teachers

приятель friend            

приятели friends

словарь dictionary                  

словари dictionary

огонь fire                      

огони fire

уголь coal                     

уголи coal

                            

Feminine gender

 

5. Nouns ending with «-а»

сестра sister                           

сёстры sisters

 

актриса actress             

актрисы actresses

 

страна country              

страны countries

 

книга book                            

лампы lamps

 

лампа lamp                            

книги books

         

6. Nouns ending with «-я»

тётя aunt                       

тёти aunts

 

няня  nurse/nanny                   

няни nurses/nannies

 

деревня village             

деревни villages

 

песня song                             

песни songs

         

7. Nouns ending with «-ия»

армия army                            

армии armies

 

лекция lecture              

лекции lectures

 

аудитория auditorium            

аудитории auditoriums

 

фамилия surname                  

фамилии surnames

                            

8. Noun ending with soft sign «-ь»

 

тетрадь notebook                  

тетради notebooks

 

дверь door                             

двери doors

 

ночь night                     

ночи nights

                            

Neuter gender

9. Nouns ending with «-о»

 

письмо letter                          

письма letters

 

окно window                

окна windows

 

слово word                            

слова words

 

право right                    

права rights

                            

10. Nouns ending with «-e»

море sea                       

моря seas

 

поле field                     

поля fields

 

ружьё gun                     

ружья guns

 

платье dress                          

платья dresses

         

11. Nouns ending with «-иe»

общежитие hostel        

общежития hostels

 

здание building             

здания buildings

 

задание task/exercise   

задания tasks/exercises

 

Prepositional Case

 

The declension of nouns, pronouns, possessive pronouns, adjectives in prepositional case is discussed in this lesson.

The declension is explained in this study material systematically as per the eleven endings of nouns in nominative case explained in Lesson no. 2 of the previous unit.

Noun ending in hard consonant

a.  Singular

парк  park                              

артист artist

 

In the case of noun ending in hard consonant,  -е is added to the noun.

парк – в/на/о парке

park – in/on/at/about the park  

         

артист – в/на/об артисте

artist – in/on/at/about the artist

 

Это парк.

This is a park.

 

Дети играют в парке.

Children are playing in (the) park.

 

Где играют дети?

Where are the children playing?

 

Это артист.

This is an artist.

 

Мы думаем об артисте.       

We are thinking about (the) artist.

 

О ком вы думаете?

Who are you thinking about?

Note: О ком because артист is a living thing.

 

У нас скоро экзамен.

We have exam soon.

 

Студенты думают об экзамене     

Students are thinking about (the) exam.

 

О чём думают студенты?

What are the students thinking about?

Note: О чём because экзамен is a non-living.

 

Noun ending in hard consonant in the singular and its plural form

b. Plural

артист – артисты

artist – artists

 

In the case of plural noun ending in hard consonant in singular -ах is added as suffix to the noun.

артисты – в/на/об артистах

artists – in/on/at/about the artists

 

Это артисты.

This is an artists.

 

Мы думаем об артистах.     

We are thinking about (the) artists.

 

парк – парки

park – parks

 

парки – в/на/о парках

parks –  in/on/at/about the parks

 

Это парки.

These are parks.

 

Дети играют в парках.

Children are playing in (the) parks.

 

У нас скоро экзамены.

We have exams soon.

 

Студенты думают об экзаменах   

Students are thinking about (the) exams

 

Noun ending with  -й     

a. Singular

герой   hero                              

музей   museum

 

In the case of noun ending in -й, the -й is replaced by -е

герой – в/на/о героe

hero – in/on/at/about the hero.

 

музей – в/на/о музеe

museum – in/on/at/about the museum

 

Это герой.

This is a hero.

 

Люди думают о герое

People are thinking about the hero.

 

О ком думают Люди?

Who are the people thinking about?

 

Это музей

This is a museum

 

Туристы сейчас в музее.

The tourists are now in the museum.

 

Где сейчас туристы?

Where are the tourists now?

 

b. Plural

Noun ending in -й in the singular and its plural form

герой – герои   heroes

музей – музеи  museums

 

In the case of noun ending with -й in the singular the -й is replaced by -ях.

герои – в/на/о героях

heroes – in/on/at/about the heroes.

 

музеи – в/на/о музеях

museums – in/on/at/about the museums

 

Это герои.

These are heroes.

 

Люди думают о герорях

People are thinking about the heroes.

 

О ком думают студенты?

Who are the people thinking about?

 

Это музеи

These are museums

 

Туристы сейчас в музеях.

The tourists are now in the museums.

 

Где сейчас туристы?

Where are the tourists now?

 

Noun ending in -ий

a  Singular

санаторий sanatorium

In the case of noun ending in –ий, the -ий is replaced by -ии

санаторий – в/на/о санатории

sanatorium – in/on/at/about sanatorium

 

Это санаторий.

This is a sanatorium.

 

Иван сейчас отдыхает в санатории.

Ivan is now taking rest in the sanatorium.

 

Где отдыхает Иван?

Where is Ivan taking rest?

 

b  Plural

Noun ending in -ий in the singular and its plural form.

санаторий – санатории

sanatorium – sanatoriums

 

In the case of plural noun ending in -ий in the singular -ий is replaced by -иях.

санатории – в/на/о санаториях

sanatoriums – in/on/at/about sanatoriums

 

Это санатории.

This is a sanatoriums.

 

Мои друзья сейчас отдыхают в санаториях.

Ivan is now taking rest in the sanatoriums.

 

Где отдыхает твои друзья?

Where are your friends taking rest?

 

Masculine Noun ending in -ь

a  Singular

 учитель      teacher                          

словарь      dictionary

In the case of masculine noun ending in -ь in the singular, the -ь is replaced by -е

 

учитель – в/на/о учителе

teacher – in/on/at/about (the) teacher

 

Это учитель

This is a teacher.

 

Ученик вспоминает об учителе.

The pupil is thinking about the teacher.

 

Masculine Noun ending in -ь in the singular and its plural form.

b  Plural

словарь – словари

dictionary – dictionaries

In the case of plural nouns ending in soft consonant, the -ь is replaced by -ях.

 

словари – в/на/о словарях

dictionaries – in/on/at/about dictionaries

 

Это словари.

These are dictionaries.

 

Киран писал статью о словарях.

Kiran wrote an article about dictionaries.

 

О чём Киран писал статью.

What did Kiran write the article about?

 

Feminine Gender

 

Feminine Noun ending in -а

a. Singular

студентка   (girl) student         

комната     room

 

In the case of noun ending in -а, the -а is replaced by -е.

студентка – в/на/о студенткe

(girl) student – in/on/at/about student

 

комната – в/на/о комнатe

room – in/on/at/about room

 

Это студентка.

This is a (girl) student.

 

Учитель думает о студентке.           

The teacher thinks about the student.

 

О ком думает учитель?

Who does the teacher think about?

 

Это комната.

This is a room.

 

Стол стоит в комнате.                  

The table is in the room.

         

Где стоит стол?

Where is the table?

 

Feminine Noun ending in -а in the singular and its plural form.

b.  Plural

комната – комнаты

room – rooms

 

In the case of plural noun ending in -а, the -а is replaced by -ах.

комнаты – в/на/о комнатах

rooms – in/on/at/about rooms

 

Это комнаты.

These are rooms.                    

 

Столы стоят в комнатах.     

The tables are in the rooms.     

 

Где стоят столы?

Where are the tables?

 

Feminine Noun ending in -я

a  Singular

деревня      aunt                               

няня           nurse

 

In the case of feminine noun ending with -я, the -я is replaced by -е.

деревня – в/на/о деревне

village – in/on/at/about village

 

Это деревня.

This is a village.

 

Сита живёт в деревне.                     

Sita is living in a village?

 

Где   живёт Сита? 

Where is Sita living?

 

Это няня.

This is a nurse.

 

Джон вспоминает о няне.   

John remembers about the nurse.

     

О ком вспоминает Джон?

Who does John remember about?

 

b. Plural

Noun ending in -я in the singular and its plural form.

деревня – деревни

village – villages

 

In the case of plural noun ending in -я in the singular, the -я is replaced by -ях.

деревни – в/на/о  деревнях

villages – in/on/at/about villages

 

Это деревни.

These are villages.

 

Крестьяне живут в деревнях.       

Farmers live in the villages.

             

Где  живут крестьяне?

Where do farmers live?

         

Feminine Noun ending with -ия

 

a   Singular

 

аудитория  auditorium  

 

In the case of noun ending in -ия, the -ия is replaced by -ии.

аудитория – в/на/о аудитории.

auditorium – in/on/at/about auditorium.

Это аудитория.

This is the auditorium.

Студенты сидят в аудитории.         

Students sit in the auditorium.

Где сидят студенты?

Where do students sit?

 

b   Plural

 

Noun ending in -ия in the singular and its plural form.

аудитория – аудитории

auditorium – auditoriums

In the case of plural nouns of same category, the last letter  -ии is replaced by -иях.

аудитории – в/на/о аудиториях.

auditoriums – in/on/at/about auditoriums.

Это аудитории.

These are auditoriums.

Студенты сидят в аудиториях.              

Students sit in the auditoriums.        

Где сидят студенты?

Where do students sit?

Feminine Noun ending with -ь

a   Singular

тетрадь  notebook    

дверь     door 

кровать  cot

 

In the case of noun ending in -ь, the -ь is replaced by -и.

тетрадь – в /на/о тетради

note-book – in/on/at/about the note-book   

 

Это тетрадь

This is a note-book.   

      

Ученик пишет в тетради.

Pupil writes in the note-book.          

      

Где пишет ученик?

Where does pupil write?

 

b Plural

 

Feminine Noun ending in -ь in the singular and its plural form.

тетрадь – тетради

note-book  – note-books  

 

In the case of plural nouns ending in soft consonant in the singular, the -ь is replaced by   -ях.

тетради – в /на/о тетрадях

note-books – in/on/at/about the note-books

 

Это тетради

These are note-books.

      

Ученики пишут в тетрадях.

Pupils write in the note-books.          

      

Где пишут ученики?

Where do the pupils write?

 

Neuter Gender

Neuter Nouns ending in -о

a.  Singular

окно window      

письмо letter       

слово word

 

In the case of noun ending in -о, the -о is replaced by -е.

письмо – в /на/о письме

letter – in/on/at/about the letter

 

Это письмо

This is a letter.

         

Максим думает о письме.             

Maxim thinks about the letter.

          

О чём думает Максим?

What does Maxim think about?

 

b  Plural

Neuter Nouns ending in -о in the singular and its plural form.

письмо – письма

letter – letters

 

In the case of plural nouns ending in -о in the singular, the -о is replaced by -ах.

письма – в /на/о письмах

letters – in/on/at/about the letters

 

Это письма

These are letters.

     

Максим думает о письмах.           

Maxim thinks about the letters.          

 

О чём думает Максим?

What does Maxim think about?

 

Neuter Noun ending in -e

 

a  Singular

 

море sea             

полe field

In the case of noun ending in -е, there is no change.

 

поле – в/на/о поле

field – in/on/at/about field

 

Это поле

This is a field.

         

Крестьяне работают в поле.         

Farmers work in the field.                 

 

Где работают крестьяне?

Where do farmers work?

 

Neuter Noun ending in -e in the singular and its plural form.

 

b   Plural

 

Noun ending in -e and its plural form.

 

полe – поля

field – fields

In the case of plural noun ending in -e, the -e is replaced by -ях. in the singular

 

поля – в/на/о полях

fields – in/on/at/about fields

 

Это поля

These are fields.

     

Крестьяне работают в полях.       

Farmers work in the fields.                

 

Где работают крестьяне?

Where do farmers work?

 

Neuter Noun ending in –ue.

a  Singular      

здание building                       

общежитие hostel

 

In the case of noun ending in -ие, the -ие is replaced by -ии.

общежитие - в/на/о общежитии

hostel - in/on/at/about the hostel

 

Это общежитие

This is a hostel.

 

Максим живёт в общежитии.      

Maxim lives in the hostel.                  

 

Где живёт Максим?

Where does Maxim live?

 

b  Plural

 

Noun ending in -ие in the singular and its plural form.

общежитие – общежития

hostel – hostels

 

In the case of plural noun ending in -ие in singular, the -ие is replaced by -иях.

общежития – в /на/о общежитиях

hostel – in/on/at/about the hostel

 

Это общежития

These are hostels.

     

Студенты живут в общежитиях.  

Students live in the hostel.                   

 

Где живут студенты?

Where do students live?

Note: The neuter nouns ending with -мя will change in the following way:

знамя – в/на/о знамени; 

flag – in /on/at/about the flag

 

знамени – в/на/о знаменях; 

flags – in /on/at/about the flags

 

время – в/на/о времени

time – in  /on/at/about the time

 

времени – в/на/о временях

times – in /on/at/about the times

 

имя – в/на/об имени;

name - in  /on/at/about name

 

Summary

 

The eleven groups of noun and their declension in prepositional case can be summarized as follows:

 

Ending:       

 

Singular:      -е or -и or -ии

Plural:         -ах or -ях   

 

Preposition: в (во)... , на ... , о (об/обо) ...?

Question words: Где...? О ком...? О чём...?

 

Note: Unstressed ах and ях pronounced as [ъх]   

 

Note: The Word путь (way) is the only masculine noun ending in a soft consonant which follows the declension pattern of the word дверь. The genitive, dative and prepositional singular of путь is пути.

Note: A number of Russian neuter nouns ending in -o or -e and masculine and feminine nouns ending in -и and -y are indeclinable:

 

пальто overcoat

метро underground

кино cinema

какао  cocoa

радио  radio

кафе  cafe

Конго  Congo

кофе (m)  coffee

Моё пальто  my coat

мои пальто my coats

в пальто in the coat

кино (в кино)   movie (in the movie)

Мэри, Чили, Перу

 

Exceptions. Nouns ending with.

 

Certain nouns taking irregular ending -у with preposition в in the singular have regular ending when they collocated with preposition  о or  на. These nouns should be remembered.

в саду  –  in  the garden   

о саде  –  about the garden

в/о садах  – in/about the gardens

 

в лесу  – in  the wood

о лесе  – about  the wood

в/о лесах  – in /about  the woods

 

на берегу  – on   the bank

о береге  – about  the bank

в/о берегах  – on/about  the banks

 

на мосту  – on the bridge

о мосте  – about the bridge

в/о мостах  – on/about the bridges

 

в порту/порте  – in the port

о порте/порте – about the port

в/о портах – in/about the ports

 

в ряду – in the row

о ряде – about the row

в/о рядах  – in/about the rows

 

в углу  – in the corner

о угле  – about the corner

в/о углах  – in/about the corners

 

в/на шкафу – in  the cupboard

о шкафе  – about  the cupboard

в/о шкафах – in/about  the cupboards

 

на полу – on the floor

о поле  – about the floor

на/о полях – on/about the floors

 

на снегу  – on ice

о снеге  – about ice

на/о снегах  – on/about ices

 

в аэропорту/аэропорте – at the airport

о аэропорте  – about the airport

в/о аэропортах – at/about the airport

 

в году – in the year

о годе – about the year

в/о годах – in/about the years

 

в носу  – in  the nose

о носе – about  the nose

в/о носах – in/about  the noses

 

в глазу   – in the eye

о глазе  – about the eye

в/о глазах  –  in/about the eyes

 

во рту/рте –  the mouth

о рте  – about the mouth

в/о ртах  – in/about the mouths

 

в тылу – in the rear

о тыле  – about the

в/о тылах – in/about the rearms

 

в плену – in captivity

о плене – about captivity

в/о пленах – in/about the captivities

 

в Крыму  – in  the Crimea

о Крыме – about  the Crimea

 

на лугу  – in  the meadow

о луге  – about  the meadow

в/о лугах  – in/about the meadows

 

на лбу – in  the forehead

о лбе  – about  the forehead

в/о лбах – in/about the foreheads

 

на носу  – on  the nose

о носе  – about  the nose

в/о носах – in/about the noses

 

на посту – at  one's post

о посте – about  one's post

в/о постах – in/about the posts

 

на Дону – on  the (river) Don.

о Доне  – about  the (river) Don

 

Read the following sentences carefully paying attention to the ending along with the preposition в, на and о

 

Это сад.      

This is a garden.

 

Мы отдыхаем  в саду.  

We take rest in the garden.

 

Нина думает о саде.

Nina thinks about the garden.

 

Люди гуляют в садах.  

People have stroll in the gardens.

 

Это лес.                     

This is a forest.

          

Мы гуляем в лесу.

We have a stroll in the forest.

 

Мы думаем о лесе.

We think about the forest.

 

Мы думаем о лесах.

We think about the forests.

Question words to put question to noun in the prepositional case:

1. где ...? where …?

2. о ком ...? who … about …?

3. о чём ...? what … about … ?

4. на ком ...?

5. в/на чём ...?

 

Question word : Где …?                                                                               

 

Где ...? is used to put question in the case of location.

Где Джон?

Where is John?

 

Джон в классе.

John is in the class

 

Question word. о ком ...? about whom …?

О ком …? is used if the noun referred to is a person or a living thing.

Нина думает о маме.

Nina is thinking about mother.

 

О ком думает Нина?

Who is Nina thinking about?

 

Question word : о чём ...? about what…?

О чём ...? is used if the noun referred to is a non-living thing.

Нина думает о компьютере.

Nina is thinking about computer.

 

О чём думает Нина?

What is Nina thinking about?

 

Question word : на ком ...?

Джим женился на Делле.

Jim married Della.

 

На ком женился Джим?

Whom did Jim marry?

 

Question word: в/на чём ...?

На чём он сидит?

What is he sitting on?

 

В чём дела?

What is the matter?

 

Accusative Case

 

Question words

 

Question word Что ...? What ...

 

Что is the interrogative word when the direct object is a non-living object.

 

Нина читает книгу.

Nina is reading a book.

 

Что читает Нина?

What does Nina read?

 

Question word Кого ...? Whom ...

 

Кого is the interrogative word when the direct object is a person or living thing.

 

Нина встречила брата.

Nina met brother.          

Кого Нина встретила?

Whom did Nina meet?

 

Question word: Куда ...? Where ...?

Куда is the interrogative word when Accusative is used with verbs motion along with the prepositions в, на, за, под to denote direction.

 

Максим завтра летит в Москву.

Maxim is going to the post office

Куда летит Максим завтра?

Where is Maxim flying tomorrow?

 

Максим идёт на почту.

Maxim is going to the post office

Куда идёт Максим?    

Where is Maxim going?

 

Нина положила вазу за стол.

Nina put the flower vase behind the table.

Куда Нина положила вазу? 

Where did Nina put the flower vase?

 

Книга упала под стол.

The book fell under the table.  

Куда упала Книга?     

Where did the book fall?

 

Question word: Как часто …?How often …?

Как часто …? is used to denote a period of time during which an action occurs.

 

Каждую неделю Арун ездит в деревню.

Arun goes to village every week

Как часто Арун ездит в деревню?

How often Arun goes to village?

 

Question word: Сколько времени …?

How long…?

Сколько времени …? is also used to denote a period of time during which an action occurs.

Арун читал книгу весь день.

The whole day Arun read the book .

Как долго Арун читал книгу?

How long did Arun read the book?

 

Question word: Как долго…? How long…?

Как долго…? is also used to denote a period of time or a distance during which an action occurs.

 

Арун и Нина шли всю дорогу молча.

Arun and Nina walked silently all the way.

Как долго Арун и Нина шли молча?

How long did Arun and Nina walk silently?

Question word: Сколько …? How many ... ? or How much...?

Сколько is the interrogative word used when Accusative is used with the verbs стоить (to cost) and весить (to weigh).

Книга стоит один доллар.

The book costs one dollar.

Сколько  стоит Книга?

How much does the book cost?

 

Сумка весит один килограмм.

The bag weighs one kilogramme.

Сколько  весит сумка?

How much does the bag weigh?

Question word: Когда …? When ... ?

 

Когда is the interrogative word used when Accusative is used with certain  prepositions в, на, через denoting time of action.

 

Максим приехал в понедельник.

Maxim came on Monday.

Когда приехал Максим?

When did Maxim come?

 

Note: Questions can also be framed with  preposition along with appropriate words

 

Мария приехала в Индию на год.

Maria came to India for an year.

На сколько Мария приехала в Индию?

How long did Maria come to India?

 

Note: Given above are only some important interrogative words and there are some more which will be discussed hereafter

Noun    

As you already know, the nouns, pronouns, possessive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns and adjectives decline according Gender, Number and Case.

 

Note: Declension of nouns in Accusative case also depends on whether the noun denotes Animate or Inanimate object.

Note: NOUNS WHICH DO NOT DECLINE IN THE ACCUSATIVE CASE

 

Singular

 

Inanimate nouns of Masculine and Neuter gender  do not decline.

 

Example:

 

Inanimate Masculine Noun (журнал)

 

Максим читает журнал.

Maxim is reading a magazine.

 

Inanimate Neuter Noun (письмо)

 

Максим читает письмо.

Maxim is reading a magazine.

 

The feminine nouns ending in -ь (дверь) also does not decline.

Inanimate Feminine Noun ending in -ь (дверь)

 

Максим открыл дверь.

Maxim opened the door.

 

Inanimate Plural Nouns.

 

Inanimate Plural nouns of all the three genders do not decline.

Note: In short, Singular Feminine Nouns ending in -а, -я and -ия only decline in the Accusative Case.

 

However here under the declension of singular nouns classified into the 11 groups as well as plural nouns are explained so that the learners can femiliarise themselves with the accusative case.

Note: In this study material the declension of all the cases are explained according to the classification of nouns into 11 groups based on the ending.

 

Here the nouns classified into 11 groups are further repeated.

Masculine noun ending in hard consonant.

Singular

Inanimate noun ending in hard consonant does not decline.

журнал               

magazine              

 

Нина читает журнал

Nina is reading a magazine.

 

Что читает Нина?

What is Nina reading?

 

Note: Here журнал is used in the accusative case as direct object of the verb читать . Thus the interrogative word is Что.

Animate noun ending in hard consonant.

-a is added to the noun

 

артист – артиста

artist

 

инженер – инженера

engineer

 

директор – директора

director

 

Вчера студенты встретили директора

The students met the director yesterday.

 

Кого встретили студенты вчера?

Whom did the students meet yesterday?

 

Note: Here директор is used in accusative case as директора as the direct object of the verb встретить. Thus the interrogative word is Кого

Plural

Inanimate noun ending in hard consonant.

Inanimate noun ending in hard consonant does not decline.

 

Нина читает журналы

Nina is reading magazines.

 

Что читает Нина?

What is Nina reading?

 

Note: Here журнал and журналы are used in accusative case as direct object of the verb читать . Thus the interrogative word is Что.

Animate noun ending in consonant

 

In plural nouns ending in consonant take different ending:

 

Declension of animate noun ending in hard consonant

 

In the case of animate noun ending in hard consonant in singular form -ов is added as suffix to the singular form of the noun .

 

артист – артисты – артистов

artist    – artists

 

инженер – инженеры – инженеров

engineer  – engineers

 

директор – директора – директоров

director    – directors

 

На вечере студенты встретили артистов.

The students met the artists at the function.

 

Кого встретили студенты на вечере?

Whom did the students meet at the function?

 

Here; Here директор is used in accusative case as директора as the direct object of the verb встретить. Thus the interrogative word is Кого

Suffix -ей is added to the animate nouns with stem ending in soft consonant or sibilant.

врач – врачи – врачей

doctor         – doctors

 

муж   – мужи – мужей

husband       – husbands

 

Больные ждут врачей.

The patients are waiting for the doctors.

 

Кого ждёт больные?

Who are the patients waiting for?

 

Animate Plural Noun ending in -ц in the singular, takes -ов if the ending is stressed and -ев if the ending is unstressed.

бое́ц – бойцы – бойцов

fighting man

 

комсомо́лец – комсомо́льцы – комсомольцев

Young communist league member

 

Люди уважают бойцов.

People respect the fighters.

 

Кого уважают люди?

Whom do the people respect?

 

Here врачи, мужи, боецы  are used in accusative case as врачей, мужей, бойцов as the direct object . Thus the interrogative word is Кого

Masculine noun ending in -й

 

Singular

 

Inanimate Masculine Noun ending in -й does not decline.

музей         museum               

чай    tea                       

музей         museums

 

Туристы смотрят на музей

The tourists are looking at the museum.

На что туристы смотрят?

What are the tourists looking at?

 

Note: Here the noun музей is used in accusative case along with the preposition на. Thus the interrogative word is На что.            

Animate Noun ending in -й

герой          hero  

попугай     parrot         

 

In the case of noun  ending in -й, the -й will be replaced by -я.

герой – героя                   

попугай – попугая  

Люди всегда вспоминают героя.

People always remember a hero.

Кого люди всегда вспоминают?

Whom do the people always remember?

 

Plural

 

Inanimate Masculine Noun ending in –й

 

Inanimate Masculine Noun ending in -й does not decline.

 

Туристы посещают музеи.

The tourists visit museums.

Что посещают туристы?

What do the tourists visit?

 

Note:  Here and    музеи is used in accusative case as direct object of the verbs посещать. Thus the interrogative word is Что.                     

Animate Plural Noun ending in -й in singular declines as follows:

герой – герои              

hero – heroes       

 

попугай – попугаи

parrot – parrots             

 

The nouns with stem ending in -й, takes -ев.

герой – герои – героев

попугай – попугаи – попугаев

 

На вечере зрители встретили героев.

The audience met the heroes at the functiom.

 

Кого зрители встретили на вечере?

Whom did the audience meet at the functiom?

Note:  Here герои is used in accusative case as героев as the direct object. Thus the interrogative word is Кого

Охтник стреляет в попугаев.

The hunter shoots at the parrots.

 

В Кого стреляет охтник?

What does the hunter shoot at?

 

Here попугаи is used in accusative case as попугаев  with preposition в along with verb cтрелять which takes question В кого.  Thus the interrogative word is В кого.

The noun ending in -ий.

 

Singular

 

Inanimate Masculine Noun ending in -ий

Inanimate Masculine Noun ending in -ий does not decline.

санаторий          

sanatorium           

 

Летом мы едем в санаторий.

We are going to a sanatorium in the summer.

 

Куда вы  едете летом?

Where are you going in the summer?

Note:  Here санаторий is used in accusative case along with preposition в and verb of motion ехать. Thus the interrogative word is Куда.

 

Animate Noun with stem ending in -ий

Animate Noun with stem ending in -ий in singular declines as follows:

 

пролетарий   proletarian

Василий    Vasily

In the case of noun ending in -ий the -ий is replaced by -ия

пролетарий – пролетария

Василий – Василия

Джон вчера встречил Василия.

John met Vasily yesterday.

 

Кого Джон встречил вчера?

Whom did John meet yesterday?

Note: Here Василий is used in accusative case as Василия as the direct object. Thus the interrogative word is Кого

Plural

 

Inanimate Masculine Noun ending in -ий

 

Inanimate Masculine Noun ending in -ий does not decline.

 

санаторий - санатории

sanatorium – sanatoriums

Летом  люди едят в санаторий.

People are going to a sanatoriums in the summer.

Куда люди едят летом?

Where are people going in the summer?

 

Animate Plural Noun ending in -ий in singular declines as follows:

пролетарий – пролетарии

proletarian - proletarians

 

In the case of plural nouns of this category, -ий is replaced by -иев.

пролетарий – пролетарии – пролетариев

proletarian – proletarians

Ленин хотел освобождать пролетариев.

Lenin wanted to liberate the proletarians.

Кого Ленин хотел освобождать?

Whom did Lenin want to liberate?

Note:  Here пролетарии is used in accusative case as пролетариев as direct object. Thus the interrogative word is Кого

Masculine noun ending in -ь.

 

Singular

 

Inanimate Masculine Noun ending in -ь does not decline.

словарь      dictionary   

Вчера Арун купил англо-русский словарь.

Arun bought a English-Russian dictionary yesterday.

Что Арун купил вчера?

What did Arun buy yesterday?

Note: Here словарь is used in accusative case as direct object of the verbs купить. Thus the interrogative word is Что.

 

Animate Noun ending in –ь

 

Animate Noun ending in -ь in singular declines as follows:

учитель      teacher

преподаватель lecturer

 

In the case of masculine noun ending in -ь, the   -ь is replaced by -я.

учитель – учителя       

teacher       

преподаватель – преподавателя

lecturer

Ученики слушают учителя.

Pupils listen to the teacher.

Кого слушают ученики?

Whom are the pupils listening to?

 

Plural

 

Inanimate Masculine Plural Noun ending in -ь

Inanimate Masculine Plural Noun ending in -ь in singular does not decline.

портфель – портфели           

file            – files

Вчера Арун купил портфели.

Arun bought files yesterday.

 

Что Арун купил вчера?

What did Arun buy yesterday?

 

Animate Noun ending in -ь

 

Animate Noun ending in -ь in singular declines as follows:

In the case of plural nouns with stem ending in soft sign in singular, the soft sign is replaced by -ей

 

учитель – учители – учителей

teacher - teachers 

писатель – писатели – писателей

writer – writers

Зрители слушают писателей

The audience are listening to the writers.

Кого слушают зрители?

Whom are the audience listening to?

Note: Here and писатели is used in accusative case as писателей as direct objects. Thus the interrogative word is Кого

 

Exceptions

 

друг – друзья́ – друзей                

сын – сыновя́ – сыновей

муж – мужья́ – мужей

брат – братья – братьев

дяди / дядья – дядьей/дядьев

 

Animate masculine nouns ending in -а and -я will decline like feminine noun explained below.

 

мужчина – мужчину                  

young man

мужчины – мужчин

young men

юноша – юношу                         

young man

юноши – юнош

young men

дедушка – дедушку                      ; 

grandfather                                   

дедушки – дедушек

grandfathers

папа – папу                                

papa

папы – пап                                 

papas

дядя – дядю                                

uncle                                             

дяди – дядьей/дядьёв

uncles

 

Feminine Noun ending in -а

 

Singular

 

Inanimate Noun

книга book         

улица street                  

река river

Animate Noun

студентка (girl) student          

актриса actress

 

In the case of both the Inanimate and Animate nouns  ending in -а, the -a is replaced by -у   

книга – книгу              

улица – улицу

река – реку

Студентка  – студентку; 

актриса      – актри су

Джон читает книгу.

John is reading a book.

Что Джон читает?

What is John reading?

 

Note: Here книга is an inanimate noun used in accusative case as книгу as the direct object of the verb читать. Thus the interrogative word is Что.

Джон встретил эту  актрису в клубе.

John met the actress in the club.

Кого Джон встретил в клубе?

Whom did John meet in the club?

Note: Here animate актриса is used in accusative case as актрису as direct objects. Thus the interrogative word is Кого

 

Plural

 

Inanimate Noun (No declension)

книги books                 

улицы streets               

реки rivers

Джон читает книги.

John is reading a books.

Что Джон читает?

What is John reading?

 

Note: Here книги is used in accusative case as the direct object of the verb читать. Thus the interrogative word is Что.

 

Animate Noun

 

студентка – студентки                   

(girl) student - (girl) students 

актриса – актрисы      

actress – actresses

 

In the case of Feminine Animate plural noun ending in -а, the -а is omitted.

Note: If the stem ends with two consonants, then a vowel sound o or e is placed between the consonants for easy pronunciation.

 

студентка – студентки – студентoк

актриса – актрисы – актрис

Зрители любят этих актрис.

The audience loves these actresses.

Кого любят зрители?

Whom does the audience love?

Все зрители смотрели на актрис!

The whole audience looked at the actresses!

На Кого все зрители смотрели?

Who did the whole audience look at?

 

In the first example above актрис is used as direct object, whereas in the second example актрис is used in accusative case along with preposition на. Thus there is difference is the use of interrogative word.

 

Inanimate and Animate nouns ending in -я

 

Both the Inanimate and Animate nouns ending in -я decline as follows:

 

Singular

 

Inanimate Noun

 

песня song                   

деревня village             

земля land

 

Animate Noun

няня  nurse          

героиня heroine

 

In the case of noun ending in -я, the -я will be replaced by -ю

песня – песню   

деревня – деревню

земля – землю                                                   

Амит сейчас едет в  деревню.

Amit is going to village now.

Куда Амит едет сейчас?

Where is Amit going now?

 

Note: Here  деревня is used in accusative case as деревню along with preposition в and verb of motion ехать. Thus the interrogative word is Куда.

няня – няню                 героиня – героиню

Они все любят эту героиню.

They all love this heroine.

Кого они все любят?

Whom do all of them love?

Note: Here героиня is used in accusative case as героиню as direct object. Thus the interrogative word is Кого.

 

Plural

 

Inanimate Plural Noun (No declension)

 

песни songs                 

деревни villages           

земли lands

Джон любит песни

John loves songs.

Что любит Джон?

What does John love?

Note: Here песни is used in accusative case as the direct object of the verb любить. Thus the interrogative word is Что.

Animate Noun of Feminine Gender.

In the case of Animate Plural Feminine noun ending in -я in the singular form , the -я will be replaced by -ь

няня – няни                 – нянь/няней               

героиня – героини       – героинь

 

Note: Certain nouns take the form няней also.

Дети любят своих нянь.

Children love their nurses.

Кого любят дети?

Whom do the children love?

 

Note: Here няни is used in accusative case as нянь as direct object. Thus the interrogative word is Кого

Inanimate and Animate Feminine Noun ending in -ия  

 

Both the Inanimate and Animate Feminine Noun ending in -ия  decline as follows:

 

Singular

 

Inanimate Noun

аудитория  auditorium

история history   

химия chemistry

 

Animate Noun.

Мария (Note this is a proper noun)

Mary

 

In the case of noun ending in -ия, the -ия will be replaced by -ию

аудитория – аудиторию

история – историю

химия – химию

Служащий убирает аудиторию

The worker is cleaning the auditorium.

Что убирает служащий?

What is the worker cleaning?

 

Note: Here аудитория is used in accusative case as аудиторию as the direct object of the verb убирать. Thus the interrogative word is Что.

Арун обычно встречает Марию в университете.

Arun generally meets Mary in the university.

Кого Арун обычно встречает в университете?

Whom does Arun generally meet in the university?

 

Note: Here Мария is used in accusative case as Марию as direct object. Thus the interrogative word is Кого.

Plural

Inanimate Noun (No declension)

аудитории

auditoriums 

Студенты идут в свои аудитории.

The students are going to the lecture halls.

Куда  идут студенты?

Where are the students going?

 

Note: Here аудитории is used in accusative case along with preposition в and verb of motion идти. Thus the interrogative word is Куда       

Inanimate and Animate Feminine Noun ending in -ь

 

Both the Inanimate and Animate Feminine Noun ending in -ь decline as follows:

Singular

 

Inanimate and Animate Noun (No declension)

The noun with stem ending in -ь.

дверь door                   

тетрадь notebook         

Арун открыл дверь.

Arun opened the door.

Что Арун открыл?

What did Arun open?

Note: Here дверь is used in accusative case as the direct object of the verb открыть. Thus the interrogative word is Что

лошадь

horse

Нина очень любит лошадь.

Nina likes horse.

Кого любит Нина?

What does Nina love?

 

Note: In the above examples лошадь and is used in accusative as direct object. Thus the interrogative word is Кого. In Russian question used to put question to nouns referring to animal  is Кого, whereas in English equivalent of Кого here is what as whom is used only for human being.

 

Plural

 

Inanimate Noun (No declension)

 

двери doors                  

тетради notebooks

Арун открыл двери.

Arun opened the doors.

Что Арун открыл?

What did Arun open?

Note: Here двери is used in accusative case as the direct object of the verb открыть. Thus the interrogative word is Что

 

Animate Noun of feminine noun with stem ending in -ь

 

In the case of feminine noun with stem ending in -ь, the -ь is replaced by -ей.

лошадь – лошадей

Сегодня мы видели много лошадей в парке.

We saw many horses in the park today.

Note: In the above examples лошади is used in accusative case as лошадей as direct object. Thus the interrogative word is Кого.

 

Exceptions:

мать – матери – матерей 

дочь – дочери – дочерей.

 

Neuter gender.

Both the singular and plural neuter nouns do not decline in accusative case.

The noun with stem ending in -о

 

Singular and plural (No declension)

 

письмо letter                

окно window                

озеро lake  

письма letters               

окна windows               

озера lakes

Нина читает письмо.

Nina is reading a letter.

Что Нина читает?

What is Nina reading?

 

Нина читает письма.

Nina is reading letters.

Что Нина читает?

What is Nina reading?

 

Here письмо is used in accusative case as the direct object of the verb читать. Thus the interrogative word is Что

 

The noun with stem ending in -е

 

Singular and Plural (No declension)  

 

поле field                               

поля fields

Утром крестьяне идут в поле.

The farmers go to the filed in the morning.

Куда идут крестьяне утром?

Where are the farmers going in the morning?

 

Note: Here поле is used in accusative case along with preposition в and verb of motion идти. Thus the interrogative word is Куда

Крестьяне вспахивают поля.

The farmers are ploughing the fileds.

Что Крестьяне вспахивают?

What are the farmers ploughing?

 

Note:Here поля is used in accusative case as the direct object of the verb вспахивать. Thus the interrogative word is Что

 

The noun with stem ending in -ие

 

Singular and Plural (No declension)

 

собрание meeting                            

собрания meetings

 

Cтуденты идут на собрание.

The students are going to the meeting.

Куда идут студенты?

Where are the students going?

 

Note: Here собрание is used in accusative case along with preposition в and verb of motion идти. Thus the interrogative word is Куда

 

Амит посещает всякие собрания.

Amit attends al sorts of meetings.

Что  посещает Амит?

What does Amit attend?

 

Note: Here собрания is used in accusative case as the direct object of the verb посещать. Thus the interrogative word is Что

 

Genitive Case

 

Nouns, pronouns, possessive pronouns, adjectives, demonstrative pronouns etc decline in Genitive case according to gender and number. The declension is explained in this study material systematically as per the eleven endings of nouns in nominative case explained in Lesson no. 2 of the previous unit.

The Masculine noun ending in hard consonant:

 

1. Singular

 

университет university                             

студент student            

-а is added to noun ending in hard consonant.

университет – университета                        

студент – студента

 

Это студент.

This is the student.

 

Это его мотоцикл

This is his motorcycle

 

Чей это мотоцикл?

Whose motorcycle is that?

 

Это мотоцикл студента

This is the motorcycle of the student.

Note: Here студент is used in the genitive case as студента to denote that the student is the possessor of the motorcycle.

Это университет.

This is the university.

 

Это стадион.

This is the stadium.

 

Это стадион университета.

This is the building of the university.

Note: Here университет is used in the genitive case as университета to denote that the stadium belongs to the university.

Какой это стадион?

Which stadium is that?

 

Plural

 

Nouns ending in hard consonant (except sibilants ж, ш, щ, ч and soft consonant).

университеты universities                        

студенты students                  

-ов is added to noun with stem ending with hard consonant.

студент – студенты – студентов

институт – институты – институтов              

Это студенты.

These are students.

Это их мотоциклы.

These are their motorcycles.

Чьи это мотоциклы?

Whose motorcycle are that?

Это мотоциклы студентов.

These are the motorcycles of the students.

 

Note: Here студенты is used in the genitive case as студентов to denote that the students are the possessor of the motorcycles.

 

Это институты.

These are institutes.

Это справочник.

This is directory.

Это справочник институтов.

This is the directory of institutes.

 

Note: Here университеты is used in the genitive case as университетов to denote the relationship between the directory and the university.

 

Какой это справочник ?

What kind of directory is that?

 

Noun ending in soft consonant or sibilant.

 

врач doctor                  

муж husband

 

-ей is added to the noun with stem ending in ж, ш, щ, ч, .

 

муж – мужи – мужей

husband – husbands

врач – врачи – врачей

doctor – doctors

товарищ – товарищи – товарищей

comrade – comrades

карандаш – карандаши – карандашей

pencil – pencil

нож – ножи – ножей

knife – knives

Это коробка карандашей.

This is a box of pencils.

 

Here карандаши is used in the genitive case as карандашей to denote the relationship between the pencils and the box)

 

Это собрание врачей.

This is a meeting of doctors.    

 

Note: Here врачи is used in the genitive case врачей to denote the relationship between the meeting and the doctors.

 

Noun ending in -ц with stressed and unstressed endings.

 

Noun with stem ending in -ц are further divided into two types based on the stress.

 

Noun with stressed ending:

бое́ц                    

fighting man

 

Noun with unstressed ending:

комсомо́лец

Young communist league member

 

-ов is added if the ending is stressed.

 

бое́ц – бойцы – бойцов

fighting man – fighting men

Это портрет боецов.

This is the portrait of fighting mеn.

 

Note: Here бойцы is used in the genitive case as боецов to denote the relationship between the portrait and the fighting mеn.

-ев is added if the ending is unstressed.

 

комсомо́лец – комсомо́льцы – комсомольцев

Young communist league member

Там идёт съезд комсомольцев.

The congress of  the young communist league member is going on there.

 

Note: Here комсомо́льцы is used in the genitive case as комсомольцев to denote the relationship between the congress and the young communist league member.

Note  : The Exceptions

 

друг – друзья – друзьей

брат – братья – братьев

 

Nouns endings with -й   

 

i.  Singular

 

герой hero                             

музей museum

 

In the case of masculine noun with stem ending with -й, the -й is replaced by -я

 

герой – героя                        

музей – музея

Это герой.

This is a hero.

Это портрет героя.

This is a portrait of the hero.

 

Note: Here герой is used in the genitive case as героя to denote the relationship between the portrait and the hero)

Это музей.

This is a museum.

У нас два музея здесь.

We have two museums here.

Сколько музеев у вас есть?

How many museums do you have?

 

Note.1.Here музей is used in the genitive case музея as in Russian the cardinal numbers ending with 2, 3, 4 as last digit requires the noun they qualify to be used in Genitive singular.

Note.2.In the interrogative sentence музеев is in genitive plural as after the preposition Сколько the noun is required to be in genitive plural.

Plural

герои heroes                          

музеи museums

 

In the case of masculine noun ending in -й in singular, the -й is replaced by -ев

 

герой – герои – героев                            

музей – музеи – музеев 

 

Это герои.

These are heroes.

 

У нас пять героев здесь.

We have five heroes.

 

Note: In Russian after the cardinal numbers 11, 12, 13, 14, and other cardinal numbers with 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, as the last digit require the nouns they qualify to be used in Genitive plural. Hence, герои is used in the genitive case plural as героев.

 

Это музеи.

These are museums.

 

У нас городе есть несколько музеев

We have several museums in the city.

 

Here музеи is used in the genitive case музеев as in Russian after certain words denoting indefinite quantity (несколько some; мало little; ного, many; сколько, how many or how much, etc.) the noun qualified by these words required to be used in genitive plural)

 

Masculine Nouns endings with -ий

 

Singular

 

санаторий sanatorium           

пролетарий proletariat

 

In the case of masculine noun ending with -ий the -ий is replaced by -ия

санаторий – санатория

пролетарий – пролетария

 

Вот детали санатория.

Here are the details of the sanatorium

 

Note: Here санаторий is used in the genitive case  санатория to denote the relationship between the details and the sanatorium.

Это руководитель пролетария

This is the leader of the proletariat

(Here пролетарий is used in the genitive case  пролетария to denote the relationship between the proletariat and the leader)

 

Plural

 

Noun with stem ending in -ий

санаторий – санатории                 

sanatorium – sanatoriums

                  

пролетарий – пролетарии 

proletariat – proletariats

 

In the case of noun with stem ending with -ий the -ий is replaced by -иев

санаторий – санатории  – санаториев

пролетарий – пролетарии – пролетариев

 

У нас много санаториев в стране.

We have several sanatoriums in the country.

Note: Here санатории is used in the genitive case as санаториев as in Russian after certain words denoting indefinite quantity (несколько, some; мало little; много many; сколько how many or how much, etc.) the noun qualified by these words required to be used in genitive plural.

Этот руководитель популярен посреди пролетариев.

This leader is popular amongst the proletariats.

Note: Here пролетарии is used in the genitive case as пролетариев as in Russian after certain prepositions (see point a.2.8 in the introduction of this lesson for the preposition requiring noun in genitive case) the noun should be used in genitive case.

Masculine Nouns ending with -ь                 

Singular

учитель teacher                     

апрель April

 

In the case of masculine noun with stem ending in -ь, the -ь is replaced by –я

учитель – учителя        словарь – словаря

На столе лежит дневник учителя

The diary of the teacher is on the table.

 

Note: Here учитель is used in the genitive case as учителя to denote the relationship between the teacher and the diary.

 

Мы уезжаем первое апреля.

We leave on first April.

Когда вы уезжаете?

When are you leaving?

 

Note: Here апрель is used in the genitive case  апреля as in Russian the month after the date should be in genitive case.

 

Plural

 

учитель – учители      

teacher – teachers

словарь – словари

dictionary - dictionaries

 

In the case of noun with stem ending in soft sign, the soft sign is replaced by -ей.

На столе лежат дневники учителей

The diaries of the teachers are on the table.

 

Note: Here учители is used in the genitive case as учителей to denote the relationship between the teachers and the diary.

У нас в библиотеке много словарей.

We have several dictionaries in the library.

Сколько у вас словарей в библиотеке?

How many books you have in the library?

 

Note: In the above two sentences словари is used in the genitive case словарей as the noun after certain words denoting indefinite quantity (несколько some; мало little; много many; сколько how many or how much, etc.) is required to be used in genitive plural)

 

Note:

 

Exception -1

 

Мasculine nouns with stem ending in -а will decline like feminine noun.

 

мужчина – мужчины   ; мужчины – мужчин

юноша – юноши          ; юноши – юнош

дедушка – дедушки      ; дедушки – дедушек

папа – папы                 ; папы – пап

дядя - дяди                   ; дяди – дядьей/дядьев

 

Feminine Nouns ending with -а

 

Singular

 

студентка (girl) student          

комната room

 

In the case of feminine noun with stem ending with -а, the -а is replaced by -ы/и. (In Russian ы is not written after к, х, г, ж, ш, щ, ч. Hence и is used if the stem ends in any of the seven letters)

У этой студентки есть компьютер.

This girl has a computer.

У кого есть компьютер?

Who has computer?

 

Note: Here студентка is used in the genitive case as студентки as the noun after preposition y is required to be used in the genitive case.

Это комната.

This is a room.

Посреди комнаты стоит стол.

The table is in the middle of the room.

Где стоит стол?

Where is the table?

Note: Here комната is used in the genitive case комнаты as the noun after preposition посреди is required to be used in the genitive case.

Plural

студентка – студентки                   

(girl) student – (girl)   students

комната – комнаты

room – rooms

 

In the case of plural noun with stem ending in -а, the -а is omitted.

 

Note: If the stem ends with two consonants, then a vowel sound o or e is placed between the last two consonants for easy pronunciation.

 

студентка – студентки – студенток       

комната – комнаты – комнат

Сколько студенток в этой группе?

How many students are there in this group?

 

Note: Here студентки is used in the genitive case студенток as the noun after interrogative word сколько ...? is required to be used in the genitive plural always.

В этом здании две комнаты налево и пять комнат направо.

There are two rooms on the left and five on the right in this building.

 

Note: Here in “две комнаты” the комнаты is the genitive form of комната as the noun after any cardinal number ending with 2, 3, and 4 is required to be used in genitive singular. In “пять комнат” the комнат is the genitive plural of комната as  in Russian after the cardinal numbers 11, 12, 13, 14, and other cardinal numbers with 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, as the last digit require the noun they qualify to be used in Genitive plural always.

Feminine Nouns ending with –я

 

Singular

 

няня nurse           

песня song

 

In the case of feminine noun with stem ending with -я, the -я is replaced by -и.

 

няня  – няни               

песня – песни

Няня дома?

Is the nurse is at home?

 

Няни нет дома.

The nurse is not at home.

 

Note: Here Няня is used in the genitive case as Няни  as the noun after negative word such as нет... , не было ... , не будет ...  сколько ...? is required to be used in the genitive case.

Винот не знает слова этой песни

Vinod does not know the words of the song.

 

Note: Here песня is used in the genitive case  песни to denote the relationship between the слова and песня.

 

Plural

 

In the case of feminine noun with stem ending in -я, the -я is replaced by -ь.

 

Exception: песня – песен

 

Нина любит больше Павловну среди её нянь.

Nina loves Pavlovna more among her nurses.

 

Note: Here Няни is used in the genitive case as Нянь  as the noun after the preposition среди  is required to be used in the genitive case.

 

Певица пела несолько песен.

The singer sang several songs.

Сколько песен певица пела?

How many songs did the singer sing?

 

Note: Here песня is used in the genitive case песен as the noun after the word несолько  is required to be used in the genitive plural.

Feminine Nouns ending with -ия

Singular

Мария (This is a proper noun)

Mary

аудитория

auditorium.

 

In the case of feminine noun ending with -ия, the -ия is replaced by -ии.

Это машина Марии.

This is the car of Mary.

Чья это машина?

Whose car is that?

 

Note: Here Мария is used in the genitive case  as Марии to denote the relationship between the  машина and Марии.

Студенты отдыхают вне аудитории.

Students are taking rest outside the auditorium.

Где отдыхают студенты?

Where are the students taking rest?

 

Note: Here аудитория is used in the genitive case as аудитории as the noun after the preposition вне is required to be used in the genitive case.

 

Plural

 

аудитория – аудитории – аудиторий  

auditorium – auditoria

 

Сколько аудиторий у вас в университете?

How many auditoria are in your university?

 

Note: Here аудитории is used in the genitive case   аудиторий as the noun after the word несолько is required to be used in the genitive plural.

Feminine Nouns ending with -ь 

 

Singular

 

лошадь horse                                   

тетрадь notebook

In the case of feminine noun ending with -ь, the -ь is replaced by -и.

лошадь – лошади                  

тетрадь – тетради

 

Нельзя ставить телегу впереди лошади

Don’t put the cart before the horse.

Note: Here лошадь is used in the genitive case as лошади as the noun after the preposition впереди is required to be used in the genitive case.

 

Джон попросил тетради.

John asked for some note books.

 

Чего Джон попросил?

What did John ask?

 

Note: Here тетрадь is used in the genitive case   тетради as the noun after certain verbs such as   просить (to ask) требовать (to demand) is required to be used in the genitive case.

 

Plural

 

лошадь – лошади – лошадей                            

horse - horses

тетрадь – тетради – тетрадей                          

notebook – notebooks

 

In the case of feminine noun with stem ending in -ь, the -ь is replaced by -ей.

 

лошадь – лошади – лошадей 

Сейчас у нас в городе очень мало лошадей.

We have very few horses in the city now.

 

Note: Here лошади is used in the genitive case   лошадей as the noun after the word мало is required to be used in the genitive plural.

 

Exception -1

 

мать – матери – матерей 

дочь – дочери – дочерей.

Neuter Nouns ending with -о

 

Singular

 

окно window                

письмо letter                

слово word

In the case of neuter noun ending with -о, the -о is replaced by -а.

 

окна         

письма               

слова

 

Ваза стоит у окна.

The flower vase is at the window.

 

Где стоит ваза?

Where is the flower vase?

Note: Here окно is used in the genitive case окна as the noun after the preposition у is required to be used in the genitive case.

        

Plural

 

окно – окна

window – windows

 

письмо – письма

letter - letters        

         

слово – слова

word – words 

In the case of plural nouns of this category, the last letter -о is omitted.

 

окно – окна – окон

письмо – письма – писем             

слово – слова – слов

 

Note: If the stem ends with two consonants, then a vowel sound o or e is placed between the last two consonants for easy pronunciation.

 

Сколько писем ты получил вчера?

How many letters did you receive yesterday?

 

Note: Here письма is used in the genitive case   писем as the noun after the word cколько is required to be used in the genitive plural.

Neuter Nouns ending with -e

 

Singular

 

море sea                                

полe field

 

In the case of neuter noun ending with -е, the -е is replaced by -я.

море – моря                 

поле – поля

 

На берегу моря отдыхают туристы.

The tourists are taking rest on the sea shore.

 

Где отдыхают туриты?

Where are the tourists taking rest?

Note: Here море is used in the genitive case  моря to denote the relationship between the берег and море.

 

Plural

 

море - моря                 

полe – поля

 

In the case of plural nouns of this category, the last letter  -е is replaced by -ей.

море – моря – морей            

полe – поля – полей

 

Сколько морей во всём мире?

How many seas are in the world?

Note: Here моря is used in the genitive case морей   as the noun after the word cколько is required to be used in the genitive plural.

Neuter Nouns ending with –ue

Singular

здание building                       

общежитие hostel

In the case of neuter noun ending with -ие, the -ие is replaced by -ии.

здание – здания общежитие – общежития

 

Наш клуб находится против этого здания.

Our club is situated opposite this building.

 

Plural

здание – здания 

building – buildings

                  

общежитие – общежития

hostel – hostels

 

In the case of plural nouns of this category, the last letters -ие is replaced by -ий.

здание – здания – зданий             

общежитие – общежития – общежитий

 

В новом регионе уже построили несколько зданий.

Some buildings have already been constructed in the new region.

 

Note: Here здания is used in the genitive case as зданий  as the noun after the word неcколько is required to be used in the genitive plural. 

Note: The accusative plural of nouns denoting inanimate objects is identical with the nominative.

The accusative plural of nouns denoting animate beings is identical with the genitive.

Nouns used only in the plural take either masculine or feminine genitive endings.

 

Feminine

 

деньги – денег 

каникулы – каникул  

шахматы – шахмат 

ботинки – ботинок

 

Masculine

 

овощи – овощей

фрукты – фруктов  

стихи – стихов 

часы – часов

очки – очков

 

Neuter

 

singular

имя, время

plural

(nominative) имени, времени

(genitive) имён, времён

 

Dative Case

Nouns, pronouns, possessive pronouns, adjectives, demonstrative pronouns etc decline in Dative according to gender and number.

The declension is explained in this study material systematically as per the eleven endings of nouns in nominative case explained in Lesson no. 2 of the previous unit.

Nouns of Masculine gender.

The masculine noun ending with hard consonant decline as follows:

 

Singular

 

студент - студенту

student

 

берег - берегу              

bank (of a river)

-у is added to noun ending with hard consonant.

 

Учитель должен помогать студенту.

A teacher must always help the student.

 

Кому  должен помогать учитель?

Who should a teacher always help?

Note: Here the Dative Case is used to denote indirect object.

  

Лодка плывёт к берегу.

The boat goes towards the bank.

 

Куда  плывёт лодка?

Where is the boat going?

Note: Here the Dative Case is used to denote indirect destination.

 

Plural

 

студент student   

студенты students        

 

-ам is added to noun with stem ending with hard consonant.

студент – студенты – студентам

student – students - ...

 

институт – институты – институтам              

institute – institutes - …

 

Преподователь должен помогать своим студентам.

A teacher must help his students.

Nouns endings with -й declines as follows:  

 

Singular

 

Николай Nikolay                   

музей museum

 

In the case of masculine noun ending with -й, the -й is replaced by -ю

Николай – Николаю

музей – музею

 

Максим советовал Николаю.

Maxim advised Nikolay

                                               

Кому  советовал Максим?

Whom did Maxim advise?

 

Туристы подходят к музею.

The tourists are approaching the museum.

         

Куда подходят туристы?

Where are the tourists approaching?

 

Plural

 

Nouns endings with -й and their plural form.

герой - герои       

heroes                           

 

музей - музеи

museums

 

In the case of masculine noun with stem ending in -й in singular, the -й is replaced by -ям

герой – герои – героям                           

музей – музеи – музеям 

 

В вечере министор дал орден героям.

The minister conferred award to the heroes at the function.

 

Nouns endings with -ий

 

Singular

 

санаторий sanatorium            

пролетарий proletariat

 

In the case of masculine noun with stem ending in -ий in singular, the -ий is replaced by -ию

санаторий – санаторию      

sanatorium           

 

пролетарий – пролетарию

proletariat

 

Это здание принадлежит санаторию.

This building belongs to the sanatorium.

 

Чему принадлежит это здание?

What does the building belong to?

 

Партия помогает пролетарию.

The party helps the proletarians

 

Кому помогает партия?

Whom does the party help?

 

Plural

Noun with stem ending in -ий and their plural form.

 

санаторий – санатории                 

sanatorium – sanatoriums

                  

пролетарий – пролетарии 

proletariat – proletariats

 

In the case of noun with stem ending with -ий the -ий is replaced by -иям

 

санаторий – санатории  – санаториям

пролетарий – пролетарии – пролетариям

 

Шарма позвонил всем санаториям.

Sharma telephonically contacted all the sanatoriums.

 

Nouns ending with-ь

 

Singular

 

учитель teacher                     

словарь dictionary

 

In the case of masculine noun with stem ending in -ь, the -ь is replaced by -ю

учитель – учителю       

teacher

 

словарь – словарю

dictionary

 

Вчера Нина позвонила своему учителю.

Nina telephoned her teaher yesterday.

 

Кому позвонила Нина вчера?

Whom did Nina telephone yesterday?

 

Plural

 

Nouns ending with -ь and their plural form.

учитель – учители      

teacher – teachers

                  

словарь – словари

dictionary - dictionaries

 

In the case of noun with stem ending in soft sign -ь, the soft sign is replaced by -ям.

учитель – учители – учителям     

словарь – словари – словарям

 

Учителям нравятся хорошие учебники.

The teachers like good text book.

 

Nouns of feminine gender

Nouns ending with -а declines as follows:

 

Singular

 

Нина         

Nina           

         

математика

mathematics

 

Этот мотороллер принадлежит Нине

This scooter belongs to Nina.

 

Кому принадлежит этот мотороллер?

Who does this scooter belong to?

 

Там идёт лекция по математеке

Mathematics class is going on there

 

Plural

Nouns ending with -а and their plural form.

 

страна – страны                     

country – countries

 

комната – комнаты

room – rooms

 

In the case of plural noun with stem ending in –а, the -а is replaced by -ам.

 

страна – страны – странам             

комната – комнаты – комнатам

 

Всем странам нужно поддерживать миру.

It is necessary for all the countries to support peace.

 

Nouns ending with -я

Singular

 

деревня village                       

няня nurse

                    

In the case of feminine noun with stem ending with -я, the -я is replaced by -е.

деревня – деревне      

 

няня  – няне  

Автобус подходит к деревне медленно.

The bus approaches the village slowly.

 

Куда автобус подходит  медленно?

Where does the bus approach slowly?

 

Джон часто звонит своей няне.

Johm often telephones his nurse.

 

Plural

Nouns ending with -я and their plural form.

 

деревня – деревни

village – villages             

 

няня – няни

nurse – nurses

 

In the case of feminine noun with stem ending in -я, the -я is replaced by -ям.

 

деревня – деревни – деревням  

village – villages             

няня – няни  – няням

nurse – nurses

 

Центральное государсто помогает всем деревням.

The central government helps all villages.

 

Nouns ending with -ия declines as follows;

 

Singular

 

Мария                          

Marry                            

 

аудитория

auditorium

 

In the case of feminine noun ending with -ия, the -ия is replaced by -ии.

Мария – Марии                    

аудитория – аудитории

 

Вчера Максим позвонил Марии.

Maxim telephoned Marry yesterday.

 

Кому Максим позвонил вчера?

Whom did Maxim telephone yesterday?     

 

Plural

Nouns ending with -ия and their plural form.

 

аудитория – аудитории

auditorium – auditoria

 

делегация – делегации

delegation – delegations

 

In the case of feminine noun ending with -ия, the -ия is replaced by -иям.

аудитория – аудитории – аудиториям

делегация – делегации – делегациям

 

Всем делгациям дали сувенеры.

Souvenirs were given to all the delegations.

 

Feminine nouns ending with -ь 

 

Singular

 

дверь                            

door                              

 

тетрадь

notebook

 

In the case of feminine noun ending with -ь, the -ь is replaced by -и.

 

дверь – двери              

door – doors

 

тетрадь – тетради

notebook – notebooks

 

Он медленно подошёл к двери и открыл ее.

He approached the door slowly and opened it.

 

Note: Exception:

дочь – дочери    

мать – матери

 

Николай позвонил дочери и матери.

Nikolai telephoned to daughter and mother.

 

Plural

 

Nouns ending with -ь and their plural form.

дверь – двери                       

door – doors                 

 

площадь – площади

square - squares

 

In the case of feminine noun with stem ending in -ь, the -ь is replaced by -ям.

дверь – двери – дверям

площадь – плошади – плошадьям

 

Мы пучешествовали по площадям.

We walked along the streets.

 

Nouns of neuter gender

a.3.9.  Nouns ending with -о declines as follows:

 

Singular

 

зеркало                        

mirror                            

 

окно

window

                  

In the case of neuter noun ending with -о, the -о is replaced by -у.

зеркало – зеркалу                 

 

окно – окну

 

Нина подошла к зеркалу и смотрела на свои очки.

Nina went close to the looking glass and looked at her spectacles.

        

Plural

Nouns ending with -о and their plural form.

 

озеро – озера                        

lake – lakes                             

 

окно – окна

window – windows

 

In the case of plural nouns of this category, the last letter -о is replaced by -ам.

озеро – озера – озерам

село – села – селам

 

Эти туристы хотят путешествовать по селам.

These tourists want to travel along the villages.

Nouns ending with -e declines as follows:

 

Singular

 

море                   

sea                                

 

полe

field

 

In the case of neuter noun ending with -е, the -е is replaced by -ю.

море – морю                поле – полю

 

Туристы подойдут к морю .

The tourists are approaching the sea.

 

Plural

 

Nouns ending with -е and their plural form.

полe – поля

field - fields

 

In the case of plural nouns of this category, the last letter -е is replaced by -ям.

полe – поля – полям

 

Часто крестьянам придётся подойти к своим полям пешком.

Often the peasants have to approach their fields on foot.

 

Nouns ending with -ue declines as follows:

 

Singular      

 

мнение opinion                      

общежитие hostel

 

In the case of neuter noun ending with -ие, the -ие is replaced by -ию.

мнение – мнению      

общежитие – общежитию

 

По моему мнению это очень вашная книга.

According to me it is a very useful book.

 

Plural

 

Nouns ending with -е and their plural form.

 

решение – решения 

decision – decisions

                  

общежитие – общежития

hostel – hostels

 

In the case of plural nouns of this category, the last letters -ие is replaced by -иям.

решение – решения – решениям

общежитие – общежития – общежитиям

 

Наш ректор ходит по всем общежитиям узнать проблемы студентов.

Our rector goes along the hostels to know the problems of the students.

 

Instrumental Case

Nouns, pronouns, possessive pronouns, adjectives, demonstrative pronouns etc decline in the Instrumental case according to gender and number.

The declension is explained in this study material systematically as per the eleven endings of nouns in nominative case explained in Lesson no. 2 of the previous unit.

 

Noun of masculine gender ending with hard consonant:

 

Singular

 

студент                                                              

student                                    

 

инженер

engineer                         

 

-ом is added to noun ending with hard consonant.

 

студент – студентом                                         

 

инженер – инженером   

         

В прошлом году он был студентом и через три года он станет инжером. 

He was a student last year and he will be an engineer next year.

 

Кем он был в прошлом году?

What was he last year?

 

Note: If the noun ends with sibillant ж, ш, щ, ч, ц and the stress does not fall on the ending, then -ем is added instead of -ом

 

товариш – товаришем

 

месяц – месяцем

 

Plural

 

Noun ending in hard consonant and its plural form.

 

студент – студенты    

student – students

 

инженер – инженеры                                      

engineer – engineers       

 

-ами is added to noun ending with hard consonant in singular form.

 

студент – студенты – студентами

инженер – инженеры – инженерами

 

Все эти студенты станут инженерами через год.

All these students become engineers after an year.

 

Nouns of masculine gender ending with -й

 

Singular

 

герой hero                             

 

музей museum

In the case of masculine noun ending with -й, the -й is replaced by -ем

герой - героем   

музей - музем

 

Мальчик хотел фотографировать с героем.

The child wants to have a phograph with the hero.

 

С кем мальчик хотел фотографировать?

Who the child wants to have a phograph with?     

 

Plural

 

Noun ending with -й in singular form and its plural form.

герой – герои       

hero – heroes

                            

музей – музеи  

museum – museums

 

In the case of masculine noun ending in -й, the -й is replaced by -ями

герой – герои – героями                         

музей – музея – музеями

 

Актриса сидит между героями.

The actress is sitting between the heroes.

Noun of masculine gender ending in -ий

 

Singular

 

санаторий sanatorium          

пролетарий proletariat

In the case of masculine noun ending in -ий, the -ий is replaced by -ием.

санаторий – санаторием               

пролетарий – пролетарием

 

Перед санаторием очень прекрасный сад.

There is a beautiful garden in front of the sanatorium.

 

Plural

 

Noun ending in -ий in singular form and its plural form.

Noun with stem ending in -ий

санаторий – санатории                 

sanatorium – sanatoriums

                  

пролетарий – пролетарии 

proletariat – proletariats

 

In the case of noun with stem ending with -ий the -ий is replaced by -иям

санаторий – санатории  – санаториями

пролетарий – пролетарии – пролетариями

 

В. И. Ленин всегда был с пролетариями.

V. I. Lenin was always with the proletarians.

 

Nouns of masculine gender ending with-ь                 

 

Singular

 

учитель teacher                     

словарь dictionary

In the case of masculine noun ending in -ь, the -ь is replaced by -ем

учитель – учителем  

словарь – словарем

 

Ученик разговаривает с  учителем.

The pupil is talking with the teacher.

 

C кем разговаривает ученик?

Who is the pupil talking with?

 

Plural

 

Noun ending in -ь in singular form and its plural form.

учитель – учители      

teacher – teachers

                  

словарь – словари

dictionary - dictionaries

 

In the case of noun with stem ending in soft sign -ь, the soft sign is replaced by -ям.

учитель – учители – учителями   

словарь – словари – словарями 

 

Мы обсуждаем о разных современных проблемах с своими учителями.

We discuss about various contemporary problems with our teachers.

Nouns of feminine gender ending with -а

 

Singular

 

Feminine noun with stem ending in -a

 

сестра sister                           

математика mathematics

 

In the case of feminine noun with stem ending in -а, the -а will be replaced by -ой

сестра – сестрой         

математика – математикой

 

Максим очень интересуется математикой.

Maxim is very much interested in mathematics.

 

Note: If the noun ends with sibillant ж, ш, щ, ч, ц and the stress does not fall on the ending, then -ей is added instead of -ой

улица – улицей

street

Note: Masculine nouns having feminine ending such as -а and -я decline like feminine nouns.

юноша – юношей

youth

 

дядя – дядей/дядею

uncle

 

Plural

 

Noun ending with -а in singular form and its plural form.

 

сестра – сестры

sister – sisters       

 

книга – книги

book – books

 

In the case of plural noun ending in -а in the singular form, the -а is replaced by -ами.

 

сестра – сестры – сестрами          

книга - книги - книгами

 

Письмо лежит под книгами.

The letter lies under the books.

 

Nouns of feminine gender ending      with -я

 

Singular

 

деревня village                       

няня nurse           

 

In the case of feminine noun ending with -я, the -я is replaced by -ей.

деревня – деревней    

няня  – няней 

 

Наше поле находится за деревней.

Our field is situated beyond the village.

 

Plural

 

Noun ending with -я in singular form and its plural form.

деревня – деревни

village – villages

                  

няня – няни

nurse – nurses

 

In the case of feminine noun ending in -я in singular, the -я is replaced by -ями.

деревня – деревни – деревнями

няня – няни – нянями

 

Река течёт между двумя  деревнями.

The river flows between the two villages.

 

Nouns of feminine gender ending with -ия

 

Singular

 

Мария Marry                         

аудитория  auditorium

In the case of feminine noun ending in -ия, the -ия is replaced by -ией.

Мария – Марией                           

аудитория – аудиторией 

 

Джон вчера ходил в кино с Марией.

John went with Maria for a movie yesterday.

 

Plural

Noun ending in -ия in singular form and its plural form.

аудитория – аудитории

auditorium – auditoriums

делегация – делегации

delegate – delegates 

 

In the case of feminine noun ending with -ия, in singular the -ия is replaced by -иями.

аудитория – аудитории – аудиториями

делегация – делегации – делегациями

 

Министр ведёт дискуссию с разными делгациями.

Minister is having discussion the various delegations.

 

Nouns of feminine gender ending with -ь 

 

Singular

 

дверь door                             

тетрадь notebook

In the case of feminine noun ending with -ь, the -ь is replaced by -ью.

 

дверь – дверью  

тетрадь – тетрадью

 

Ваза стоит за дверью.

The flower vase is situated behind the door.

Note: Exception:

дочь – дочерью    

мать – матерью

 

Анна идёт в магазин со дочерью.

Anna is going to shop with daughter.

 

Plural

 

Noun ending in -ь in singular form and its plural form.

дверь – двери                        

door – doors                 

 

площадь – площади

square - squares

 

In the case of feminine noun with stem ending in -ь, the -ь is replaced by -ям.

дверь – двери – дверями

площадь – плошади –  плошадями

 

Дорога идёт между двумя плошадями.

The road is between the two squares.

Nouns of neuter gender ending with -о

 

Singular

 

молоко milk                                              

окно window

In the case of neuter noun ending with -о, the -о is replaced by -ом.

молоко – молоком                

окно – окном

Винот пьёт чай с молоком.

Vinod sings tea with milk.

 

Plural

 

Noun ending with -о in singular form and its plural form.

зерколо – зеркола                 

looking glass - looking glasses           

 

окно – окна        

window – windows

In the case of plural nouns of this category, the last letter -о is replaced by -ам.

зерколо – зеркола – зерколами              

окно – окна – окнами

 

У нас аудитория с большими окнами.

We have the lecture hall with big windows

 

Nouns of neuter gender ending with -e

 

Singular

 

ружьё  gun                             

полe  field

 

In the case of neuter noun ending with -е, the -е is replaced by -ем.

 

ружьё – ружьём           

поле – полем

 

Охотник убил зверя ружьём.

The hunter killed the animal with the gun.

 

Plural

 

Noun ending with -ё/e in singular form and its plural form.

ружьё – ружья

gun – guns

                  

полe – поля

field – fields

 

In the case of plural nouns of this category, the last letter -е is replaced by -ями.

ружьё – ружья – ружьями             

полe – поля – полями

 

Рядом с этими полями есть древный храм.

There is a ancient temple adjacent to those fields.

 

Nouns of neuter gender ending with -ue

 

Singular      

 

настроениe mood                                    

общежитие hostel

 

In the case of neuter noun ending with -ие, the -ие is replaced by -ием.

 

настроениe – настроением           

общежитие – общежитием

 

Нельзя ходить в гости c плохим натроением.

One should not visit others with bad mood

 

Plural

 

Noun ending with -ие in singular form and its plural form.

 

решение – решения 

decision – decisions

 

общежитие – общежития

hostel – hostels

 

In the case of plural nouns of this category, the last letters -ие is replaced by -иями.

решение – решения – решениями  

decision – decisions

                  

общежитие – общежитиями

hostel – hostels

 

Между нашими двумя общежитиями высокий забор.

There is a tall fence between our two hostels.

 

Question words. кто and что.

The question words кто and что used to put question to living and non-living nouns decline as кем and чем respectively.

 

Кто он?

Who is he?

 

Кем он станет?

What is he going to become?

 

Что это?

What is that?

 

Чем он пишет?

What is he writing with?

 

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