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.

Preposizioni che attivano il Strumentale

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).

Strumentale desinenze (singolare)
Genere	Gambo duro	Gambo morbido	Nota/esempio
Maschile	-ом	-ем / -ём	столом, конём
Femminile	-ой	-ей / -ью	-ь nouns take -ью (ночью)
Neutro	-ом	-ем	окном, морем

Frasi di esempio

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.

Pratica: di che caso si tratta?

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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».

Libero di iniziare

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.

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