Today’s post, just like the instrumental one, is loaded. We’re going over all the prepositions requiring the prepositional case.
This post will contain an explanation of prepositions and plenty of examples, so you can see them properly used in context.
This is very key in learning how to properly use prepositions. Even though they are tiny, they have a multitude of meanings.
| For some prepositions, you’ll see the letter о in parentheses. For such prepositions, this letter is inserted if they precede a consonant cluster. |
| в(о) [in, inside, within] |
| This preposition can also be used with the accusative case. And when used with this case, it changes meaning. In this post, we’ll only be focusing on its meaning(s) in the prepositional. |
| Во Владимире живёт около 600 000 [шестисот тысяч] человек. Around 600,000 people live in Vladimir*. |
| У меня в рюкзаке книги, ручки, карандаши и ноутбук. I have books, pens, pencils and a laptop in my backpack. |
| В русском языке 6 [шесть] падежей и 3 [три] рода. There are 6 cases and 3 genders in Russian. |
| In English it’s common to say, for example, the novel is 100 pages, the USA has 50 states, Canada has 7 provinces, etc. In Russian this is typically expressed with the prepositional case. |
| В романе примерно 380 [триста восемьдестят] страниц. The novel is approximately 380 pages. |
| В США 50 [пятьдесять] штатов. The USA has 50 states. |
| В университете 15 [пятнадцать] факультетов. The university has 15 faculties. |
| Во Франции много живописных городков. There are many picturesque little towns in France. |
This preposition is also used when expressing what one is wearing at the moment.
| Маша в юбке и блузке, а Паша в джинсах и рубашке. Masha is wearing a skirt and a blouse, and Pasha is wearing jeans and a T-shirt. |
| To express what you wear on a habitual basis, use the verb носить. На работе я всегда ношу костюм. I always wear a suit at work. |
| на [on -on the surface-] |
| На постели лежит свадебное платье. There’s a wedding dress on the bed. |
| Дом стоит на самом высоком холме. The house is on the highest hill. |
| Слава ждёт фейерверков на балконе. Slava awaits the fireworks on the balcony. |
| For a finer distinction between в and на, which cause great difficulty for learners of Russian, click here. |
| о(б)(о) [about] |
| This preposition can also be used with the accusative case. And when used with this case, it changes meaning. In this post, we’ll only be focusing on its meaning(s) in the prepositional. |
| If this preposition precedes a word starting with a vowel, use об. If it precedes a consonant cluster, use обо. |
| Я читаю о науке. I read about science. |
| Я читаю об акулах. I read about sharks. |
| Я читаю обо всём. I read about everything. |
| Давайте поговорим о русской политике. Let’s talk about Russian politics. |
| Он всё время думает о девушках в бикини. He’s always thinking about girls in bikinis. |
| Вы мечтаете о новой машине. You’re dreaming of a new car. |
| при [in -time period-; in the presence of] |
| Не ругайтесь при детях, пожалуйста. Don’t swear in the presence of children, please. |
| При Путине Россия ведёт войну против Украины. Russia is waging war against Ukraine in the era of Putin. |
| Я нервничаю при таких людях. I’m nervous around these kinds of people. |
Well, that concludes our post on prepositions taking the prepositional case.
My Slavic Studies 