What are prepositions of manner in Russian?

As a preposition of manner, you will likely translate the preposition в(о)[v(a)] as “in.” The noun that follows в(о) in this context is usually in the accusative caseNo definition set for accusative caseLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum..

We also use в(о) as a preposition of manner in several different set phrasesNo definition set for set phrasesLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum., like:

The preposition без[byes] means “without” and it always comes before a noun in the genitive caseNo definition set for genitive caseLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.. Let’s read some examples.

This preposition is also used in a couple different set phrases, like…

In Russian the preposition на[na] is used as a preposition of manner for a few different restricted functions:

• на + means of transportation → to express how someone travels:

  prepositional case

  Обычно мы ездим на работу на машине.

  aBYCHna my YEZdim na raBOtoo na maSHYni.

  We usually go to work by car.

• на + language → to describe the language something was written/spoken in

  prepositional case

  Он написал письмо на английском.

  on napiSAL pisMO na anGLEEYskam.

  He wrote a letter in English.

• And in a number of common phrases which, while they all describe the manner in which something was done, aren’t easily captured by a single description:

  • accusative case

    Мы все поверили ему на слово.

    my fsye paVYErili iMOO NA slava.

    We all took him at his word.

  • prepositional case

    на самом деле

    na SAmam DYEli

    in fact

  • prepositional case

    на всех парах

    na fsyekh paRAKH

    at full speed

  • accusative case

    на вкус и цвет товарищей нет

    na fkoos i tsvyet taVArishchiy nyet

    to every man, his own taste

    lit. there is no friend in taste and color

Notice that when acting as a preposition of manner, на is usually either followed by the prepositional case or the accusative case.

The preposition по[pa] is not easily translated into English. Its meaning is perhaps best captured as “according to,” as it tends to denote that you are following some guideline, but depending on the context it will more often be translated using another preposition like “on,” “by,” or “in.”

Some good news, though, is that, as a preposition of manner, it will only require the dative case.

Here are some examples of set phrases that use по as a preposition of manner:

• разговор по душам

  razgaVOR pa dooSHAM

  a heart-to-heart talk

  lit. a talk on souls

• влюбиться по уши

  vlyuBEEtsya PO ooshy

  fall head over heels in love

  → to fall in love on the ears

• по полной

  pa POLnay

  in full

• по стопам отца

  pa staPAM aTSA

  follow in father’s footsteps

The preposition с[s] means “with,” and it is very often used as a preposition of manner much like you would use “with” in English. As a preposition of manner, it is followed by the instrumental caseNo definition set for instrumental caseLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.. See examples provided below:

Here are some set phrases in which с is used as a preposition of manner:

• с первого взгляда

  s PYERvava VZGLYAda

  at first sight

• с удовольствием

  s oodaVOLstviyem

  with pleasure

• сойти с рук

  sayTEE s rook

  get away with

• с ног на голову

  s nok NA galavoo

  upside down

  lit. lit: with legs to head

When we use за[za] as a preposition of manner, it comes before a noun describing how you paid for something, and so it is usually translated as “for” or “with.” With this meaning, за takes the accusative case.

Here are some set phrases with this use of за:

• за гроши / за копейки

  za graSHY / za kaPYEYki

  for pennies

• принимать всё за чистую монету

  priniMAT fsyo za CHEEStooyu maNYEtoo

  accept everything at face value