GrammarInstrumental
Everything about the Russian Instrumental case.
Instrumental
In Russian the Instrumental is the case of "tools and professions." While it is frequently used with the preposition с (with), many of the most important verbs in Russian demand the Instrumental case without any preposition at all.
When to use Instrumental
| Context | Example |
|---|---|
| Tool/Instrument | Я пишу карандашом. - I write with a pencil. |
| Profession | Быть учителем - to be a teacher |
| Season Time of day | Зимой холодно. - It's cold in winter. Утром холодно. - It's cold in the morning. |
| Prepostion с - with | с другом - with a friend |
| Some spatial prepositions | под столом - under the table над диваном - above the sofa за облаком - behind the cloud перед домом - in front of the house между мамой и папой - between mom and dad рядом с банком - next to the bank |
| Some advanced verbs | for hobbies for management and control for emotions and attitudes |
| Passive agent | Сделано роботом - Made by a robot |
| Route | Ехать полем - To drive through/via the field |
1. Instruments and Means (The "Tool" Use)
This is the most literal use of the case. When you use an object to perform an action, that object goes into the Instrumental.
- Я пишу карандашом. - I write with a pencil.
- Мы едим суп ложкой. - We eat soup with a spoon.
- Он приехал поездом. - He arrived by train.
2. Identity, Status, and Professions
These are the most frequent verbs. Use the Instrumental to describe what someone is, becomes, or works as.
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| быть to be | Он хочет быть врачом. He wants to be a doctor. |
| станови́ться / стать to become | Она стала актрисой. She became an actress. |
| рабо́тать / порабо́тать to work as | Я работаю инженером. I work as an engineer. |
| явля́ться / яви́ться to be - formal | Это является проблемой. This is [constitutes] a problem. |
| каза́ться / показа́ться to seem | Он кажется умным человеком. He seems like a smart person. |
3. Time and Seasons
When describing parts of the day or seasons as a general timeframe (answering "When?"), use the Instrumental.
Seasons:
- летом - in summer
- зимой - in winter
- осенью - in autumn
- весной - in spring
Times of day:
- утром - in the morning
- днём - during the day
- вечером - in the evening
- ночью - at night
4. Prepostion с - with
This is the most common preposition for the Instrumental case. It indicates accompaniment or "togetherness."
Examples:
- Кофе с молоком. - Coffee with milk.
- Я иду в кино с другом. - I am going to the cinema with a friend.
Important: Do not use "с" when you are using a tool. Correct: Я пишу ручкой. - I write with/using a pen - no preposition. Wrong: Я пишу с ручкой. - I am writing together with my pen - as if it's your companion.
4. Some spatial prepositions
These prepositions answer the question где? (where?). But note that the most important spatial preposition is в (in) and takes prepositional, not instrumental.
| Preposition | Example |
|---|---|
| под under | под столом under the table |
| над above | над диваном above the sofa |
| за behind | за облаком behind the cloud |
| перед in front of | перед домом in front of the house |
| между between | между мамой и папой between mom and dad |
A few of these, specifically за (behind) and под (under), can take either the Accusative or the Instrumental depending on whether there is movement. Meaning Example Case Motion towards Я кладу книгу под стол. - I put the book under the table. Accusative Static location Книга лежит под столом. - The book is under the table. Instrumental
5. Verbs for Interests and Activities
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| заниматься to do / to study / to practice | Мы занимаемся спортом. We do sports. |
| интересоваться to be interested in | Я интересуюсь историей. I'm interested in history. |
| увлекаться to be keen on / fond of | Она увлекается музыкой. She is into music. |
| пользоваться to use / to make use of | Он пользуется компьютером. He uses a computer. |
6. Verbs for Management and Control
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| управлять to manage / to drive | Кто управляет компанией? Who manages the company? |
| руководить to lead / to direct | Он руководит отделом. He leads the department. |
| командовать to command | Генерал командует армией. The general commands the army. |
| владеть to own / to master a language | Вы владеете русским языком? Do you have command of the Russian language? |
7. Verbs for Emotions and Attitudes
| Verb | Example |
|---|---|
| гордиться to be proud of | Мы гордимся сыном. We are proud of our son. |
| восхищаться to admire / be delighted by | Я восхищаюсь вашим талантом. I admire your talent. |
| жертвовать to sacrifice | Он пожертвовал карьерой. He sacrificed his career. |
8. Passive Voice (The Agent)
In passive constructions, the person or thing performing the action is put into the Instrumental case.
Active: Пушкин написал эту поэму. - Pushkin wrote this poem.
Passive: Эта поэма написана Пушкиным. - This poem was written by Pushkin.
9. Using with routes
When the Instrumental case is used for a route, it describes the space or path through which an action moves. In English, we usually translate this as "by," "through," "via," or "along."
This usage is unique because it doesn't require a preposition like "through" (через). The noun itself, in its Instrumental form, acts as the path.
Common Spatial Routes
You use this when movement occurs across or through a specific type of terrain.
| Route | Example |
|---|---|
| Полем through/via the field | Мы шли полем. We walked through the field. |
| Лесом through/via the forest | Тропинка идёт лесом. The path goes through the forest. |
| Берегом along the shore | Они гуляли берегом реки. They strolled along the riverbank. |
| Дорогой by way of the road | Поедем другой дорогой. Let's go by/via a different road. |
Using "Parts" of a Route
It is often used to describe moving through specific architectural or geographical features.
| Route | Example |
|---|---|
| Коридором through the corridor | Он прошёл длинным коридором. He walked through the long corridor. |
| Лестницей via the stairs | Поднимайтесь черной лестницей. Go up via the back stairs. |
Abstract or "Method" Routes
Sometimes the "route" isn't a physical path, but a method of travel or a metaphorical direction.
| Route | Example |
|---|---|
| Воздухом by air | Груз отправили морем. The cargo was sent by sea. |
| Морем by sea | Груз отправили морем. The cargo was sent by sea. |
| Путем by way of | Мы решили проблему мирным путём. We solved the problem by peaceful means/way. |
While you can use prepositions like через (through) or по (along), the Instrumental case on its own often sounds more poetic or natural for "wandering" or "following a path. Usage Instrumental With preposition Route Шли лесом.
(Focus on the path itself.) Шли через лес.
(Focus on entering/exiting.) Surface Ехали полем.
(Moving across the expanse.) Ехали по полю.
(Moving along the surface.)
A common idiom: Иди лесом! Literally: Go through the forest! Actual meaning: "Get lost!" or "Go away!".
10. Some fixed expressions
С Новым годом! - Happy New Year! - literally "With the New Year!"
между прочим - by the way / incidentally
перед сном - before sleep/bedtime
Instrumental Case - Declension Overview
Quick reference for nouns full rules and tables
| Noun | Instrumental Singular | Instrumental Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | -ом / -ем (-ём) стол → столо́м учи́тель → учи́телем | -ами / -ями столы́ → стола́ми учителя́ → учителя́ми |
| Feminine | -ой / -ей / -ью кни́га → кни́гой ночь → но́чью | -ами / -ями кни́ги → кни́гами но́чи → ноча́м |
| Neuter | -ом / -ем окно́ → окно́м мо́ре → мо́рем | -ами / -ями о́кна → о́кнами моря́ → моря́ми |
Optional Endings: In formal or poetic Russian, you might see -ою or -ею for feminine nouns (e.g., книгою), but -ой/-ей is the standard in modern Russian.
Quick reference for adjectives full rules and tables
| Adjective Type | Instrumental Singular | Instrumental Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | -ым / -им но́вый → но́вым си́ний → си́ним | -ыми / -ими но́вые → но́выми си́ние → си́ними |
| Feminine | -ой / -ей но́вая → но́вой си́няя → си́ней | -ыми / -ими но́вые → но́выми си́ние → си́ними |
| Neuter | -ым / -им но́вое → но́вым си́нее → си́ним | -ыми / -ими но́вые → но́выми си́ние → си́ними |
This grammar
Learn with a teacher
How helpful was this guide?
Exercises
We have no exercises for this topic.
