Every Russian preposition takes a fixed case. A few, like в and на, take two: the prepositional for where something is, the accusative for where it’s going. Here’s one question word for each pattern:
1. Where, where to, where from
Russian has three separate question words for places: где (where, location), куда́ (where to, direction) and отку́да (where from). Each set of prepositions answers one of them. Pick a place to see all three.
2. Every common preposition, by case
Choose a case to see the prepositions that take it. The genitive has the most, so if you’re unsure, it’s a good first guess. Tap an example to hear it.
3. в or на?
Both can mean “in”, “at” or “to”. The basic rule: в for enclosed spaces and most cities and countries, на for open spaces, surfaces, events and some fixed words that simply have to be learned.
4. во, со, ко, обо: the extra vowel
Some one-letter prepositions add an о before awkward clusters of consonants, just to make them easier to say. It’s the same idea as English “a” becoming “an”.
5. Prepositions of time
Time has its own set of prepositions. Note that наза́д (ago) comes after the noun.
6. Same preposition, two cases
For movement towards a place, these four take the accusative. For position, за and под take the instrumental, в and на the prepositional.
7. The many meanings of по
по (pa) usually takes the dative and means “along”, “by”, “around” or “on (repeatedly)”.
8. Longer prepositions: из-за, во вре́мя, по́сле
Beyond the short prepositions, Russian has a set of longer ones for cause, time, place and purpose. Some are one word (по́сле, after), some are written with a hyphen (из-за, because of), some are phrases (во вре́мя, during). Almost all take the genitive case, the “of” form; the table marks the exceptions.
| Preposition | Case | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | |||
| из-заIZ-zabecause of (bad) | genitive | Also “from behind”: из-за угла́, from round the corner. | |
| благодаря́bla-ga-da-RYAthanks to (good) | dative | The exception: dative, not genitive. | |
| отotfrom (a feeling, a cause) | genitive | An involuntary reaction: от хо́лода (from cold), от уста́лости (from tiredness). | |
| Time | |||
| по́слеPOS-liafter | genitive | Before a clause: по́сле того́ как, “after (something happened)”. | |
| доdobefore, until | genitive | Also “before”: до обе́да, before lunch. | |
| во вре́мяva VRYE-myaduring | genitive | Written as two words. Во́время (one word) means “on time”. | |
| пе́редPYE-ritjust before | instrumental | Shortly before. до is any time before. | |
| в тече́ниеf ti-CHE-ni-yein the course of, within | genitive | Formal: in official messages and notices. | |
| Place | |||
| о́колоO-ka-lanear; about | genitive | With numbers: about. о́коло ста челове́к, about a hundred people. | |
| напро́тивna-PRO-tifopposite | genitive | Also an adverb: “on the contrary”. | |
| вокру́гva-KRUKaround | genitive | ||
| ми́моMEE-mapast | genitive | Usually with про-: пройти́ ми́мо. | |
| посреди́pas-ri-DEEin the middle of | genitive | ||
| Other relations | |||
| кро́меKRO-myeexcept; besides | genitive | Also “besides”: кро́ме того́, moreover. | |
| вме́стоVMYES-tainstead of | genitive | ||
| дляdlyafor (the benefit of) | genitive | For a purpose or a person. | |
| несмотря́ наni-smat-RYA nadespite | accusative | Literally “not looking at”, so it takes на + accusative. | |
| согла́сноsag-LAS-naaccording to | dative | Formal. In speech: по пра́вилам. | |
9. Choose the right form
Look at the preposition and ask: which case does it take? Is it location or direction?