Using the Instrumental Case, Part 2 Posted by Natalie on Apr 12, 2011 in language, Russian for beginners
«Дорогие читатели» [Dear readers], as we say in Russian: «Сколько лет, сколько зим!» [Long time, no see (literally it means “How many summers, how many winters”)]. «Простите меня» [Forgive me] for having such a long hiatus between posts–I’m sure you’re just dying to learn more about the instrumental case, right? This post is a continuation of Using the Instrumental Case, Part 1.
«Творительный падеж» [The instrumental case] is used with the following verbs. The list is by no means exhaustive–if you think of a verb I’ve missed, please let me know in the comments.
- «становиться/стать» [to become] — «Я стану профессором.» [I will become a professor.]
- «заниматься» [to study] — «Я занимаюсь историей.» [I study history.]
- «интересоваться/заинтересоваться» [to interest] — «Он интересуется музыкой.» [He is interested in music.]
- «работать» [to work as] — «Он работает журналистом» [He works as a journalist.]
- «болеть/заболеть» [to be sick/ill] — «Она болела гриппом.» [She had the flu.]
- «прощаться/проститься с кем» [to say goodbye to someone] — «Михаил простился с Ольгой.» [Mikhail said goodbye to Olga.]
- «говорить/поговорить с кем» [to talk with someone] — «Мы говорили с ним.» [We talked with him.]
- «поздравлять/поздравить кого с чем» [to congratulate someone on something] — «Я поздравляю тебя с Новым годом.» [Happy New Year.]
- «работать над чем» [to work on something] — «Он работает над соченением.» [He is working on the composition.]
- «думать над чем» [to think about something] — «Над чем ты думаешь?» [What are you thinking about?]
- a verb of motion + «за кем/чем» [to pick up or fetch someone/something] — «Мы поехали в аэропорт за Анной.» [We went to the airport to pick up Anna.]
«Верьте или не верьте» «Хотите верьте, хотите нет» [Believe it or not], there is still more remaining that I have to say about the instrumental case, which is why there will be a third part in this series later this week–I haven’t decided yet what day I will post it. Also, since it has been a year since «авиакатастрофа в Смоленске» [the plane crash in Smolensk], I am planning to write about that.
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About the Author: Natalie
I'm Natalie and I love the Russian language and sharing my knowledge with others. I graduated from university with a dual degree in Russian language & literature and history.
Comments:
Delia:
Dear Russian Blog:
About the Instrumental Case: how about the verb to be быть in the Past and Future. Он был врачoм, она будет космонавтом. Они практически синонимы глагола “становиться”
Delia:
Other verbs are
гордиться “to be proud of” Она гордиться своими детьми
лечть(ся)”to treat with” Вpач лечил меня антибиотиками. Она лечилась антибиотиками.
Delia:
I don’t know how to correct a typo in my previous comment: Она ГОРДИТСЯ… no мягкий знак. Sorry about it!
Delia:
And one more comment. We usually say “Хотите верьте, хотите нет.”
David Roberts:
Служить is another one that springs to mind (how do you say “springs to mind” in Russian I wonder?). If you can say in English “he/she etc + verb +as + what they act/serve etc as”, I think you always use the instrumental for what comes after “as”
Yelena:
David, “springs to mind” in Russian is “прийти на ум” or “прийти в голову” as in “мне тут в голову (or на ум) такая идея пришла!” [an awesome idea just sprung to mind]. Another wonderful related expression is “промелькнула мысль” [idea flashed].
Natalie:
Delia: thanks for your comments. I mentioned using instrumental case after быть on my first post in the series. Thanks for the examples (and for correcting my ‘believe it or not’ expression).
Natalie:
Oh, and speaking of гордиться: whenever I hear that word, I think of that line from государственный гимн Российской Федерации [the national anthem of the Russian Federation] that goes: Славься, страна! Мы гордимся тобой! [Be glorious, our country! We are proud of you!]