The instrumental case: How to form and use it in Russian?

In Russian, we use the instrumental case after the preposition c[s] whenever it translates to “with.” This classically applies to cases where you do something “with” a tool, as we saw in the introduction, but also applies in other cases where c[s] means “with.” For example:

Here are a few cases where you’ll use c to mean “with” in Russian, even though in English we phrase it differently.

• When you wish someone a happy holiday or happy birthday, Russians say:

  c

  name of the holiday

  (instrumental)

  С Новым годом!

  s NOvym GOdam

  Happy New Year!

  lit. With the New Year!

  That might sound a bit odd but there is a good reason for it: It’s a shortened version of поздравлять с[pazdravLYAT s](congratulations on).

• Where you might say “my friend and I” in English, you’ll use c in Russian, like this:

  мы с друзьями

  my s drooZYAmi

  my friends and I

  lit. we with my friends

  мы с подругой

  my s padROOgay

  my (female) friend and I

  lit. we with my female friend

In Russian, verbs from a few different categories may take objects in the instrumental case.

• Verbs that are used when talking about interests or hobbies, like:

  • интересоваться[intirisaVAtsa](to be interested in)

  • заниматься[zaniMAtsa](to do)

  • увлекаться[oovliKAtsa](to be keen on/to be into)

  For example:

  instrumental case

  Она интересуется датским языком.

  aNA intiriSOOyetsa DAtskim yazyKOM

  She is interested in the Danish language.

  Он по-прежнему занимается музыкой.

  on pa PRYEZHnimoo zaniMAyetsa MOOzykay

  He is still doing music.

• Verbs that introduce professions or occupations, such as:

  • стать[stat](to become)

  • быть[byt](to be)

  • работать[raBOtat](to work (as))

  For example:

  instrumental case

  Моя подруга работает воспитателем в детском саду.

  maYA padROOga raBOtayet vaspiTAtilyem v DYETskam saDOO

  My (female) friend works as a teacher of kindergarteners.

  Светлана Алексиевич в 2015 году стала нобелевским лауреатом.

  svitLAna aliksiYEvich v dvye TYsichi pitNAtsatam gaDOO STAla NObilifskim laooriAtam

  Svetlana Aleksievich became a Nobel laureate in 2015.

• Verbs that introduce sicknesses, such as:

  • болеть[baLYET](to be sick)

  • страдать[straDAT](to suffer from)

  For example:

  instrumental case

  Мы с ребёнком болели гриппом целую неделю.

  my s riBYOnkam baLYEli GRIpam TSYElooyu niDYElyu

  My son and I had the flu for a whole week.

• A few linking verbs, such as:

  • являться[ivLYAtsa](to be) → formal

  • казаться[kaZAtsa](to seem/to appear)

  For example:

  instrumental case

  В настоящее время я являюсь студентом первого курса Института культуры.

  v nastaYAshchiye VRYEmya ya yivLYAyus stooDYEntam PYERvava KOOrsa instiTOOta koolTOOry

  I am currently a first-year student at the Institute of Culture.

  Сейчас это кажется смешным.

  siCHAS Eta KAzhetsa smishNYM

  Now this seems ridiculous.

• Verbs where c[s](with) is implied. Some of these are verbs you would translate using “with” in English, but not all. For example:

  instrumental case

  Всё порезать, заправить майонезом и перемешать.

  fsyo paRYEzat zapRAvit maeeNEzam ee pirimiSHAT

  Cut everything, dress (with) mayonnaise and mix.

  Сковородку слегка смазать маслом.

  skavaROtkoo slikhKA SMAzat MAslam

  Grease the pan lightly (with) oil.

  Закрыть крышкой и тушить 20 минут.

  zakRYT KRYshkay ee tooSHYT DVAtsat miNOOT

  Close (with) the lid and simmer for 20 minutes.

The instrumental is used in Russian passive sentences for the noun that would follow “by” in English. Notice that in Russian, no preposition is needed.

Check out our post on the Russian passive voice to learn more!

In Russian, the instrumental case is commonly used in measurements that are used to imply a vague but large amount of something (including time). Some common instrumental measurements include:

• годами[gaDAmi](for years)

• месяцами[misiTSAmi](for months)

• часами[chiSAmi](for hours)

Here are some examples illustrating how to use such measurements in a sentence. Note that no preposition is required in Russian!

In addition to c[s](with), which we discussed above, a few other Russian prepositions are commonly followed by the instrumental case, when they indicate direction or location. These include:

• над[nat](above)

• под[pot](under)

• за[za](behind, after, over)

• перед[PYErit](in front of)

• между[MYEzhdoo](between)

For example:

In Russian, we use the instrumental case when the question “when” is answered with a season, like “winter,” or a general time of day, like “the morning.” Notice that a preposition is generally not needed. For example:

In Russian, you can also use the instrumental case for a noun describing the method or means by which some action was accomplished. For example: