The Russian Instrumental Case: Endings & Examples
The instrumental answers "with what?" or "by whom?" - the tool or means of an action. It also appears with с ("together with") and after the verb "to be" for professions and roles.
What the instrumental case does
The instrumental answers кем? / чем? - "by whom?" / "with what?" Its core meaning is the instrument or means: «я пишу ручкой» ("I write with a pen") - the pen is the tool, so ручка becomes ручкой, with no preposition needed.
With the preposition с it means "together with": «кофе с молоком» ("coffee with milk"), «я иду с другом» ("I am going with a friend"). And it is used after быть, стать and работать for a profession or role: «он стал врачом» ("he became a doctor"), «она работает учителем» ("she works as a teacher").
When to use it: prepositions and triggers
Use the instrumental with no preposition for the means or instrument (есть ложкой - to eat with a spoon). Use it after с (with / accompanied by), and after the location prepositions над (above), под (under), перед (in front of), между (between) and за (behind, when static).
Watch the contrast with the accusative: за and под take the accusative for motion ("to behind / to under") but the instrumental for a fixed position ("behind / under"). It also follows быть in the past and future, and стать / являться, to name a role.
Prepositions that trigger the Instrumental
с (со), над, под, перед, между, за (location)
Instrumental singular endings
Masculine and neuter nouns take -ом (hard) or -ем/-ём (soft): стол -> столом, конь -> конём. Feminine -а/-я nouns take -ой/-ей (книга -> книгой, неделя -> неделей), while feminine -ь nouns take -ью (ночь -> ночью).
| Gender | Hard stem | Soft stem | Note / example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | -ом | -ем / -ём | столом, конём |
| Feminine | -ой | -ей / -ью | -ь nouns take -ью (ночью) |
| Neuter | -ом | -ем | окном, морем |
Example sentences
Я пишу ручкой.
Ya pishu ruchkoy.
I am writing with a pen.
Кофе с молоком, пожалуйста.
Kofe s molokom, pozhaluysta.
Coffee with milk, please.
Он стал врачом.
On stal vrachom.
He became a doctor.
Я иду с другом.
Ya idu s drugom.
I am going with a friend.
Книга лежит под столом.
Kniga lezhit pod stolom.
The book is lying under the table.
Она работает учителем.
Ona rabotayet uchitelem.
She works as a teacher.
Мы едим суп ложкой.
My yedim sup lozhkoy.
We eat soup with a spoon.
Кот сидит между окном и дверью.
Kot sidit mezhdu oknom i dveryu.
The cat sits between the window and the door.
Practice: which case is it?
Practice: which case is it?
Я пишу ручкой.
Why is «ручкой» in this case?
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FAQ
When do you use the instrumental case in Russian?
What are the instrumental endings in Russian?
Why is profession in the instrumental in Russian?
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Master "with" and "by means of"
Tools, company and professions all run on the instrumental. Daily Cyrillic drills it in real sentences with audio and spaced repetition.
Read the full guide
- Russian Cases: All 6 Explained
The full overview of every case with endings tables and a drill.
- Nominative
The subject; the dictionary form
- Genitive
Possession, "of", absence, quantity
- Accusative
The direct object; motion with в/на
- Dative
The indirect object; "to / for" someone
- Prepositional
Location and topic ("about")
