Russian Propositional Case (#6)

Subject: cases

Keywords: Amazing Russian Russian grammar О русском по-русски

The sixth case, in Russian предложный падеж, is for most students the first one they learn. The reason is simple: the case itself is simple, too.

Here (only) about usage; conjugations in a subsequent section, though you will inevitably encounter them below.

Location

The main use of the sixth noun is to designate a place – the name “locative” already indicates it, most other uses flow from it. In the park (парк), on the street (улица), in Moscow (Москва): в парке, на улице, в Москве. This also changes place names that are not Russian at all. In Amsterdam: в Амстердаме. They may not like that in Amsterdam, but that’s how it is.

‘Place’ is not just understood geographically. In class (урок), in the clouds (облака), in panic (паника): на уроке, в облаках, в панике.

Prepositional Case: Introduction
(Amazing Russian, 2020, 18 mins)
Amazing Olga has a whole playlist prepositional case.

In and on (в and на)

The sixth case is the only one that never comes without a preposition. Hence предложный падеж, hence prepositional case (предлог means preposition). This preposition is usually ‘in’ or ‘on’, in Russian в and на. В is used when speaking of a bounded or enclosed space, на in other cases and more open spaces. Therefore в офисе (in the office), and на работе (at work). На заборах – check the image with this article –: on fences. Пишут правду: truth is written.

Both prepositions can also indicate direction. In that case, use the fourth case.
В Америку: to America.
На работу: to work.

Russian Cases – Usage of the Prepositional
(Russian grammar, 2013, 1 min)

The в becomes во when pronunciation (or pronounceability) requires it. As in,
in France (Франция):во Франции.
in the sentence (фраза): во фразе.
in everything (все): во всех.
in a dream/sleep (сон): во сне.

Предлоги В, ВО и НА. Предложный падеж || Падежи и предлоги
(О русском по-русски, 2019, 11 mins)

Also see

В or НА? Which Preposition & When to use? (Russian with Nastya, 2023, 20 mins)
Prepositions В, ВО, НА | Russian prepositions (Prepositional case) (Diana Lipsky, 2022, 6 mins)
Предлоги “В” и “НА” (Russian for Foreigners, 2022, 9 mins)
Грамматика русского языка: предлог ВО (русский с носителем, 2019, 5 mins)
The most important Russian Prepositions: В, НА, О (in, on, about) with Prepositional Case (LRW Alfia, 2019, 17 mins)
Предлоги “В” и “НА” в русском языке (русский с носителем, 2018, 14 mins)
Prepositional Case with “in” and “at” (College Russian, 2015, 20 mins)
Russian prepositions 2 – в, на – in, at, on – Russian vocabulary (Antonia Romaker, 2014, 6 m); from the same channel is Russian prepositions: в, на – in, at, on, on the surface of – русские предлоги (2014, 6 mins)
Russian Prepositions: в and на (Russian grammar, 2013, 3 mins)

About (о, об, обо)

Prepositional case also to express ‘about’, usually with the preposition o (to, about).
In sentences like:
He thinks about her/him: он думает о ней/нём.
I talk about it: я говорю об этом.
We are thinking about it: мы думаем об этом.
I dream about you: я мечтаю о тебе.

Prepositional. Part 1. About whom? About what? | Russian cases
(Diana Lipsky, 2021, 13 mins)

The о becomes об when the following word begins with one of the letters а, о, и, у, э.
The об becomes a обо in, for example, обо мне (about me), as in: что ты знаешь обо мне – what do you know about me.
Also a обо in: обо всём (about everything) and обо всех (about everyone). And for что, что-то, что-либо, что-нибудь, всё, весь, всякий, многий.

Instead of о/об/обо, про is also used (especially in colloquial language) to express ‘about’. The про is not followed by the prepositional, but by the accusative case. This fourth case can also follow об. In that case, it means ‘against’ or ‘at’ and expresses direction. As in: ударить об стену (hitting the wall, hitting the wall).

Also check

Предложный падеж (О КОМ? О ЧЁМ?) (Лаборатория ИМО, 2020, 6 mins)
Basic Russian 1: Prepositional Case With the Preposition ABOUT (О/ОБ) (Amazing Russian, 2020, 16 mins)
Russian prepositions о, об, обо – русские предлоги (Antonia Romaker, 2019, 4 mins)
‘ABOUT’ in Russian | Compare ‘n Contrast (Be Fluent in Russian, 2018, 4 mins)
Учим предлоги в русском: о, об, про (русский с носителем, 2017, 6 mins)
Prepositional Case of Personal Pronouns: О КОМ? О ЧЁМ? (Amazing Russian, 2017, 12 mins)

Playing (instruments and games)

We say: she plays the guitar, he plays the piano. Or: on the guitar, on the piano. In Russian, this needs a preposition in both cases. На (on) with the verb играть. Она играет на гитаре, он играет на пианино.

Is it about playing with toys, a game or sports, играть with в in the accusative case: играть в футбол (playing soccer), играть в шахматы (playing chess), играть в карты (playing cards), играть в игру (playing a game). In the accusative, only the feminine игра, changes to игру.

ИГРАТЬ – to PLAY – Conjugation, Common Phrases (Real Russian Club, 2023, 2 mins)
ИГРАТЬ – TO PLAY (sports, games, musical instruments) (Russian with Nastya, 2023, 19 mins)
РКИ Играть в/на Тест Russian Играть в/на Test (Russian for foreigners, 2023, 2 mins)

Wearing Clothes

Those who wear clothes are ‘located’ in them. Therefore, prepositional case.
In a suit (костюм): в костюме.
In a skirt (юбка): в юбке.
In a red T shirt (красная футболка): в красной футболке.
In black shirt (черная рубашка): в черной рубашке.

Prepositional Case: What Clothes Someone Has on: Кто в чём?
(Amazing Russian, 2017, 9 mins)

Placement in Time

Case number six for a placement in time.
This week (неделя): на этой неделе.
Next month (месяц): в следующем месяце.
Last year (год): в прошлом году.

Watch

Months. Expressing “In a Certain Month” (Amazing Russian, 2024, 6 mins)
Prepositional in WHEN Constructions (Intermediate Russian, 2019, 1 min)

Means of Transport

Prepositional case also to indicate how to get to location.
By bicycle (велосипед): на велосипеде.
By car (машина): на машине.
By train (поезд): на поезде.
By plane (самолёт): на самолёте.

The Russian languages also express “by plane” with one word, through the instrumental case: самолётом.

Watch