How to find a verb’s case
Russian dictionaries and textbooks mark the case after a verb with a question word in brackets. Each case has its own pair of questions: one for people (кто, “who”, in that case) and one for things (что, “what”). Once you can read these, any dictionary tells you what to do.
| Dictionary shows | Case | Example entry |
|---|---|---|
| кого́? что?ka-VO? shto? | Accusative | |
| кого́? чего́?ka-VO? chi-VO? | Genitive | |
| кому́? чему́?ka-MU? chi-MU? | Dative | |
| кем? чем?kyem? chyem? | Instrumental | |
| о ком? о чём?a KOM? a CHOM? | Prepositional |
Accusative where English adds a preposition
The accusative is the normal case for a direct object (the thing an action is done to). These verbs are worth singling out because English puts a little word in between (“wait for”, “listen to”, “discuss” but “talk about”). Russian adds nothing. The object is red throughout this page.
Verbs + genitive: fear, avoidance, wishing, reaching
The genitive follows verbs that keep their object at a distance: things you fear, avoid, are shy of, or are trying to reach. Dictionaries mark them (кого́? чего́?).
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| боя́тьсяba-YAT-sa | to be afraid of | |
| избега́тьiz-bi-GAT’ | to avoid | |
| стесня́тьсяstis-NYAT-sa | to be shy of | |
| жела́тьzhi-LAT’ | to wish (someone something) | |
| дости́чьda-STEECH | to reach, achieve | |
| добива́тьсяda-bi-VAT-sa | to strive for, win | |
| тре́боватьTRYE-ba-vat’ | to demand, require | |
| каса́тьсяka-SAT-sa | to concern |
Verbs + dative: towards a person
The dative follows verbs where something is directed at someone: help, a phone call, trust, envy, surprise. Several take a plain object in English, so these are the ones most worth drilling. Dictionaries mark them (кому́? чему́?).
Verbs + instrumental: activity, interest, feeling
The instrumental follows verbs of doing, using and caring about something. Many end in -ся, the ending of reflexive verbs. Dictionaries mark them (кем? чем?).
Verbs with two objects
Some verbs need two things after them, each in its own case: the person and the thing. Learn the whole pattern as one unit, the way a dictionary shows it: дать кому́ что, “give to whom what”.
Verb + preposition + case
Many verbs are welded to a particular preposition (a small linking word like на or от), which in turn fixes the case. The preposition often doesn’t match English: you “depend from” (зави́сеть от) and “prepare towards” (гото́виться к). Learn all three parts together.
| Verb + preposition | Case | Example |
|---|---|---|
| смотре́ть наto look at | + accusative | |
| отвеча́ть наto answer (a question, letter) | + accusative | |
| наде́яться наto count on, hope for | + accusative | |
| игра́ть вto play (a game) | + accusative | |
| ве́рить вto believe in | + accusative | |
| выходи́ть за́муж за(of a woman) to marry | + accusative | |
| уча́ствовать вto take part in | + prepositional | |
| жени́ться на(of a man) to marry | + prepositional | |
| мечта́ть оto dream of | + prepositional | |
| зави́сеть отto depend on | + genitive | |
| отказа́ться отto give up, refuse | + genitive | |
| гото́виться кto prepare for | + dative | |
| привыка́ть кto get used to | + dative | |
| скуча́ть поto miss | + dative | |
| познако́миться сto meet, get to know | + instrumental |
Same verb, different case, different meaning
With some verbs the case is the only clue to what is meant. These six pairs come up constantly, from beginner conversations to C1 essays.
Check yourself
Put the word in brackets into the case the verb needs. Say the answer out loud, then reveal it.