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.

Prépositions qui déclenchent le 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).

Instrumental terminaisons (singulier)
Sexe	Tige dure	Tige molle	Remarque / exemple
Masculin	-ом	-ем / -ём	столом, конём
Féminin	-ой	-ей / -ью	-ь nouns take -ью (ночью)
Neutre	-ом	-ем	окном, морем

Exemples de phrases

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.

Pratique : de quel cas s’agit-il ?

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Я пишу ручкой.

Ya pishu ruchkoy.

Why is «ручкой» in this case?

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FAQ

When do you use the instrumental case in Russian?

Use the instrumental for the means or instrument with no preposition (писать ручкой), after с for "together with" (кофе с молоком), for a profession after быть/стать/работать (стать врачом), and after над, под, перед, между and за (static).

What are the instrumental endings in Russian?

In the singular, masculine and neuter nouns take -ом / -ем (-ём when stressed and soft), feminine -а/-я nouns take -ой / -ей, and feminine -ь nouns take -ью (ночью).

Why is profession in the instrumental in Russian?

After verbs of becoming or working as something (стать, работать, быть in the past/future), Russian puts the role or profession in the instrumental: «он стал врачом», «она работает учителем».

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