Grouped by the case each preposition governs
| Preposition | English meaning | Case | Notes | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Genitive
Роди́тельный паде́ж, possession, origin, absence, measurement
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| без | without | Genitive |
Always genitive; без сомне́ния = without doubt | Ко́фе без са́хара, пожа́луйста. Coffee without sugar, please. |
| вдоль | along | Genitive |
вдоль реки́ = along the river | Мы шли вдоль реки́. We walked along the river. |
| вме́сто | instead of, in place of | Genitive |
вме́сто меня́ = instead of me | Она́ пришла́ вме́сто него́. She came instead of him. |
| вокру́г | around | Genitive |
вокру́г стола́ = around the table | Де́ти сиде́ли вокру́г стола́. The children sat around the table. |
| до | until, up to, before, as far as | Genitive |
до понеде́льника = until Monday; до го́рода = as far as the city | Магази́н рабо́тает до девяти́. The store is open until nine. |
| для | for, intended for | Genitive |
Purpose/beneficiary only, not used for time spans | Э́то письмо́ для тебя́. This letter is for you. |
| из / и́зо | from (out of), made of | Genitive |
Paired with в; из го́рода = out of the city | Он вы́шел из ко́мнаты. He walked out of the room. |
| из-за | because of; from behind | Genitive |
из-за тебя́ = because of you; из-за угла́ = from behind the corner | Я опозда́л из-за про́бки. I was late because of traffic. |
| кро́ме | except, besides, apart from | Genitive |
кро́ме меня́ = except me / besides me | Все пришли́, кро́ме Ива́на. Everyone came except Ivan. |
| ме́жду | between (fixed expressions) |
Genitivefixed expressions
Instrumentalstandard usage
|
ме́жду двух огне́й = caught between two fires (frozen idiom); otherwise takes Instrumental | Он оказа́лся ме́жду двух огне́й. He was caught between two fires. |
| ми́мо | past, by | Genitive |
пройти́ ми́мо до́ма = to walk past the house | Мы прошли́ ми́мо теа́тра. We walked past the theater. |
| о́коло | near, by; approximately | Genitive |
о́коло часа́ = about an hour; о́коло до́ма = near the house | Он живёт о́коло па́рка. He lives near the park. |
| от / о́то | from, away from, because of | Genitive |
Paired with к; от челове́ка = from a person | Я получи́л письмо́ от дру́га. I received a letter from a friend. |
| по́сле | after | Genitive |
по́сле рабо́ты = after work | По́сле у́жина мы погуля́ли. After dinner we went for a walk. |
| про́тив | against, opposite, versus | Genitive |
про́тив пра́вил = against the rules | Я не про́тив э́той иде́и. I'm not against this idea. |
| с / со | from (off a surface) |
Genitivefrom off a surface
Instrumentaltogether with
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с кры́ши = off the roof; paired with на. Also takes Instrumental for accompaniment | Кот пры́гнул с дива́на. The cat jumped off the sofa. |
| у | at, near; possession | Genitive |
у меня́ есть = "I have" (lit. "at me there is") | У меня́ есть вопро́с. I have a question. |
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Accusative
Вини́тельный паде́ж, motion toward, duration, direct objects
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| в / во | into, to (motion) |
Accusativemotion toward
Prepositionalstatic location
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е́дем в го́род = we're going to the city. Takes Prepositional for location | Мы е́дем в Москву́. We're going to Moscow. |
| за | behind (motion); for, in exchange |
Accusativemotion / purpose
Instrumentalstatic location
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зайти́ за у́гол = to go around the corner. Takes Instrumental for location | Зайди́ за у́гол и жди. Go around the corner and wait. |
| на | onto, to (motion) |
Accusativemotion toward
Prepositionalstatic location
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идти́ на рабо́ту = to go to work. Takes Prepositional for location | Иди́ на ку́хню. Go to the kitchen. |
| по | up to (quantity); each |
Accusativeup to / each
Dativealong / by / per
Prepositionalafter completion
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по коле́но = up to the knee; по рублю́ = one ruble each. Mostly Dative | Снег по коле́но. Snow up to the knee. |
| под / по́до | under (motion) |
Accusativemotion toward
Instrumentalstatic location
|
положи́ть под стол = to put under the table. Takes Instrumental for location | Положи́ кни́гу под поду́шку. Put the book under the pillow. |
| про | about, concerning (informal) | Accusative |
Informal synonym of о + Prep; про меня́ = about me | Расскажи́ мне про себя́. Tell me about yourself. |
| че́рез | through, across, in (time), via | Accusative |
че́рез час = in an hour; че́рез ре́ку = across the river | Че́рез час я бу́ду до́ма. In an hour I'll be home. |
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Dative
Да́тельный паде́ж, direction toward, recipient, cause
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| благодаря́ | thanks to, owing to | Dative |
Positive cause only; благодаря́ тебе́ = thanks to you | Благодаря́ тебе́ я не опозда́л. Thanks to you I wasn't late. |
| вопреки́ | despite, contrary to | Dative |
вопреки́ ожида́ниям = contrary to expectations | Вопреки́ прогно́зу, вы́глянуло со́лнце. Contrary to the forecast, the sun came out. |
| к / ко | toward, to, by (a deadline) | Dative |
Paired with от; к врачу́ = to the doctor; к пя́тнице = by Friday | Иди́ к врачу́. Go to the doctor. |
| по | along, by, per, according to |
Dativemain usage
Accusativeup to / each
Prepositionalafter completion
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по у́лице = along the street; по расписа́нию = according to schedule | Мы гуля́ем по па́рку. We're walking through the park. |
| согла́сно | according to, in accordance with | Dative |
Formal register; согла́сно зако́ну = according to the law | Согла́сно пла́ну, встре́ча в пять. According to the plan, the meeting is at five. |
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Instrumental
Твори́тельный паде́ж, static location, accompaniment, means
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| за | behind (location); fetching |
Instrumentalstatic location
Accusativemotion / purpose
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стоя́ть за угло́м = to stand behind the corner. Takes Accusative for motion | Кот спит за дива́ном. The cat is sleeping behind the sofa. |
| ме́жду | between, among |
Instrumentalstandard usage
Genitivefixed expressions
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ме́жду на́ми = between us; Gen survives only in frozen idioms | Ме́жду на́ми нет секре́тов. There are no secrets between us. |
| над | above, over | Instrumental |
Location only, no accusative motion form; над го́родом = above the city | Самолёт лети́т над облака́ми. The plane is flying above the clouds. |
| пе́ред | in front of, before | Instrumental |
Space & time: пе́ред до́мом / пе́ред сном | Встре́тимся пе́ред кинотеа́тром. Let's meet in front of the cinema. |
| под / по́до | under (location) |
Instrumentalstatic location
Accusativemotion toward
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под столо́м = under the table. Takes Accusative for motion | Ключи́ лежа́т под ко́вриком. The keys are under the mat. |
| с / со | with, together with |
Instrumentaltogether with
Genitivefrom off a surface
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с друго́м = with a friend. Takes Genitive when meaning "from off" a surface | Я иду́ с друго́м. I'm going with a friend. |
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Prepositional
Предло́жный паде́ж, static location, topic of thought or speech
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| в / во | in, at (location) |
Prepositionalstatic location
Accusativemotion toward
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в го́роде = in the city. Takes Accusative for motion | Мы живём в Москве́. We live in Moscow. |
| на | on, at (location) |
Prepositionalstatic location
Accusativemotion toward
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на рабо́те = at work. Takes Accusative for motion | Кни́га лежи́т на столе́. The book is on the table. |
| о / об / о́бо | about, concerning | Prepositional |
об before vowels; о́бо before мне / всём | Мы говори́ли о пого́де. We were talking about the weather. |
| по | after (completion of) |
Prepositionalafter completion
Dativemain usage
Accusativeup to / each
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по оконча́нии = upon completion/graduation. Rare, mostly по takes Dative | По оконча́нии шко́лы он уе́хал. Upon finishing school, he left. |
| при | at the time of, in the presence of | Prepositional |
при Петре́ = during Peter's reign; при мне = in my presence | При Петре́ Росси́я си́льно измени́лась. Under Peter, Russia changed greatly. |