In Russian, there are six main cases that we most often use in life. In addition, some linguists identify about 7 additional ones, which are rarely used, but nevertheless have the right to exist. What are the cases of the Russian language? In this article, we will talk about this in more detail.
6 basic cases
The following are the main cases of the Russian language:
- Nominative. Most commonly used, always in direct form.
- Genitive. It defines belonging, relationship of someone or something to someone or something.
- Dative. Define the endpoint of an action.
- Accusative. Gives a designation to an action.
- Creative. Designates a method, method, instrument of action and types of temporary belonging.
- Prepositional (see example below).
These cases of the Russian language are standard and generally accepted. They serve to establish connections between words in sentences. indirectand straight
there are cases of the Russian language. We will give the questions characterizing them below, in the form of a table:
| Case | Question | Example |
| Nominative | Who/what? | Cow / chair |
| Genitive | Who/what? | Cow/ chair |
| Dative | Who/What? | Cow/chair |
| Accusative | Who/what? | Cow/ chair |
| Creative | Who/what? | Cow/ chair |
| Prepositional | About whom/about what? | About a cow/about a chair |
The cases also differ from each other in their endings.
7 additional cases
The forms listed below are used extremely rarely and are quite interchangeable with the main options.
1. Local (or second prepositional). Answers the question "where". Specifies a location. For example: being in an apartment, sleeping in a bed, and so on.
2. Vocative. Similar in definition to the nominative case. Two kinds of examples can be given:
- short names and words used only when addressing. For example: Kat, Ol,Natasha, dad, mom;
- obsolete and ecclesiastical forms of address. For example: wife, Lord, God.
3. Quantitative-determinative. It has signs of a parent, but differs from it in form. For example: add step (instead of "step").
4. Depriving. An accusative form used only with the negative of the verb. For example: not knowing the truth (not "the truth").
5. Waiting. Has signs of accusative and genitive case. For example: wait by the sea for the weather.
6. Inclusive or transformative. Answers the questions "Who / what?" (Accusative case), but is used only in turnovers, for example: to become a teacher, to marry, and so on.
7. Countable. The genitive form used in counting. For example: two hours, three steps.
Additional cases of the Russian language also have different endings. Why they are not included in the main list is still unknown. Many believe that since these cases are similar in features to the main six, there is no need to use them. Knowing the cases of the Russian language is necessary for competently compiling a sentence both orally and in writing, which is why they are studied in schools without fail and even at some faculties of higher educational institutions (universities, institutes, academies).
