Prepositional case of Russian nouns

Russian grammar --> Russian cases --> Prepositional Case

The prepositional case is a set of word forms which usually mark the location of the action. The prepositional case word forms are used in Russian only together with prepositions.

Uses of the Prepositional

1. To indicate the location of the action with prepositions в and на.

Студент живёт в Москве. – The student lives in Moscow.

The word Москве (Moscow) is the prepositional case form of the word Москва (Moscow) and indicates the location of the action живёт (lives) after the preposition в.

Олег работает на заводе. – Oleg works at a factory.

The word заводе (factory) is the prepositional case form of the word завод (factory) and indicates the location of the action работает (works) after the preposition на.

2. With preposition о meaning "about".

Это книга о природе. – This is a book about nature.

The word природе (nature) is the prepositional case form of the word природа (nature) and it is used after the preposition о (about).

Я думаю о будущем. – I am thinking about future.

The word будущем (future) is the prepositional case form of the word будущее (future) and it is used after the preposition о (about).

3. To indicate the time of an action with words год (year), месяц (month), неделя (week):

на этой неделе – this week, literally: on this week
в этом году – this year, literally: in this year
в этом месяце - this month, literally: in this month

Formation

Here we provide general rules how to form prepositional case forms from nominative singular forms. These rules cover the vast majority of Russian nouns. However, you should be aware that rules described below may have other exceptions.

Prepositional case endings

The table below represents regular endings for singular and plural prepositional case forms:

Gender Singular Plural
Masculine -е / -и -ах / -ях
Feminine -е / -и
Neuter -е / -и

Below, you will find detailed information about prepositional singular and plural forms of masculine, feminine and neuter nouns.

Prepositional singular

Masculine nouns

1. Nouns ending in a consonant add the ending -е:

театр - театре (theater)

парк - парке (park)

A few masculine (mainly one-syllable) nouns have special streessed endings -у/-ю after prepositions в in and на on. This is sometimes called "locative case", since nouns take particular endings to denote location.

лес - в лесу (in the forest), but о лесе (about the forest)

сад - в саду (in the garden), but о саде (about the garden)

шкаф - в шкафу (in the wardrobe), but о шкафе (about the wardrobe)

порт - в порту (in the port), but о порте (about the port)

угол - в углу (in the corner), but об угле (about the corner)

мост - на мосту (on the bridge), but о мосте (about the bridge)

лёд - на льду (on the ice), but о льде (about the ice)

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2. Nouns ending in -ь and -й, except nouns ending in -ий, change their final letters to -е:

музей - музее (museum)

писатель - писателе (writer)

3. Nouns ending in -ий change their final letter to -и:

санаторий - санатории (sanatorium)

Василий - Василии (Vasiliy, Russian name)

4. Masculine nouns ending in -a/-я (see: Masculine nouns) form the prepositional case forms following the rules for feminine nouns (see below).

Feminine nouns

1. Nouns ending in -а change their ending to -e:

улица - улице (street)

проблема - проблеме (problem)

2. Nouns ending in -я, except nouns ending in -ия, change -я and -ь to -е:

неделя - неделе (week)

идея - идее (idea)

станция - станции (station)

3. Nouns ending in -ия change -я to -и:

станция - станции (station)

революция - революции (revolution)

4. Nouns ending in -ь change -ь to -и:

дверь - двери (door)

ночь - ночи (night)

Neuter nouns

1. Nouns ending in -o change their ending to -е:

окно - окне (window)

кресло - кресле (armchair)

2. Nouns ending in -е, except nouns ending in -ие, have the ending -е:

море - море (sea)

поле - поле (field)

3. Nouns ending in -ие change the final -е to -и:

здание - здании (building)

упражнение - упражнении (exercise)

4. Nouns ending in -мя (see: Neuter nouns ending in -мя) change -я to -ени:

имя - имени (name)

время - времени (time)

Prepositional plural

Masculine nouns

1. Nouns ending in a consonant add the ending -ах:

театр - театрах (theater)

парк - парках (park)

2. Nouns ending in -ь and -й change their final letters to -ях:

музей - музеях (museum)

писатель - писателях (writer)

3. Masculine nouns ending in -a/-я (see: Masculine nouns) form the prepositional case forms following the rules for feminine nouns (see below).

Feminine nouns

1. Nouns ending in -а change their ending to -ах:

улица - улицах (street)

проблема - проблемах (problem)

2. Nouns ending in -я and in -ь change -я and -ь to -ях:

неделя - неделях (week)

дверь - дверях (door)

станция - станциях (station)

Neuter nouns

1. Nouns ending in -o change their ending to -ах:

окно - окнах (window)

кресло - креслах (armchair)

2. Nouns ending in -е change their ending to -ях:

море - морях (sea)

здание - зданиях (building)

3. Nouns ending in -мя (see: Neuter nouns ending in -мя) change -я to -енах:

имя - именах (name)

время - временах (time)

See also

- Russian Cases
- Russian Nouns Declension
- Exercises: Prepositional case of Russian nouns

You can find more examples of word forms in prepositional singular and prepositional plural on the page Russian nouns declension