Noun Cases
Generally, the Russian noun cases can be divided into six distinct categories: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, instrumental, and prepositional.
1. Nominative
The nominative case is the initial noun case that answers "who" or "what". It is the most direct noun case in that it is not conjugated from its original form.
Ex. Moloko -- Eta moloko. (This is milk).
2. Genitive
The genitive case shows possession and implies ownership, translating to "of" in english.
Ex. The egg of the chicken -- yaytso kuritsy
Chicken in nominative form: kuritsa
Chicken in genitive form: kuritsy
3. Dative
The dative case implies that an object is being given or designated to a person, and can usually be translated to mean "to".
Ex. I give it to my friend - Ya dayu drugu.
Friend in nominative form: drug
Friend in dative form: drugu
4. Accusative
The accusative case shows the object of an action.
Ex. I read the newspaper --- Ya chetayu gazyetu
Newspaper in nominative form: gazyeta
Newspaper in accusative form: gazyetu
For words that don't end in "a" but end in a consonant in their nominative form, such as drug, an "a" is added to the end of the word.
5. Instrumental
The instrumental case is used to designate a tool or instrument or a tool .
I write with a pencil -- Ya pyeshu karandashom
Pencil in nominative form: karandash
Pencil in instrumental form: karandashom
6. Prepositional
The prepositional case indicates the object of speech or thought and is always used with a preposition, such as about.
I think about the summer -- Ya dumayu o lyete
Summer in nominative form: lyeto
Summer in prepositional form: lyete
For nouns ending in a consonant, an "e" is added to the ending of the word.
Helpful Links:
1. Nominative
The nominative case is the initial noun case that answers "who" or "what". It is the most direct noun case in that it is not conjugated from its original form.
Ex. Moloko -- Eta moloko. (This is milk).
2. Genitive
The genitive case shows possession and implies ownership, translating to "of" in english.
Ex. The egg of the chicken -- yaytso kuritsy
Chicken in nominative form: kuritsa
Chicken in genitive form: kuritsy
3. Dative
The dative case implies that an object is being given or designated to a person, and can usually be translated to mean "to".
Ex. I give it to my friend - Ya dayu drugu.
Friend in nominative form: drug
Friend in dative form: drugu
4. Accusative
The accusative case shows the object of an action.
Ex. I read the newspaper --- Ya chetayu gazyetu
Newspaper in nominative form: gazyeta
Newspaper in accusative form: gazyetu
For words that don't end in "a" but end in a consonant in their nominative form, such as drug, an "a" is added to the end of the word.
5. Instrumental
The instrumental case is used to designate a tool or instrument or a tool .
I write with a pencil -- Ya pyeshu karandashom
Pencil in nominative form: karandash
Pencil in instrumental form: karandashom
6. Prepositional
The prepositional case indicates the object of speech or thought and is always used with a preposition, such as about.
I think about the summer -- Ya dumayu o lyete
Summer in nominative form: lyeto
Summer in prepositional form: lyete
For nouns ending in a consonant, an "e" is added to the ending of the word.
Helpful Links:
- http://www.study-languages-online.com/russian-cases.html
- http://www.russianlessons.net/lessons/lesson6_main.php
- http://www.alphadictionary.com/rusgrammar/case.htm