In Russian, many words vary by case. What is it? Case is a variable morphological feature of parts of speech associated with a change in the shape of a word.
There are six cases in the Russian language, each of them has its own meaning. To determine the case, for example, nouns, you need to ask the appropriate question. One of the cases, the fifth in this series, is called instrumental.
The name of this case already speaks of its meaning: the object, tool or tool with which they are doing, doing something - for example, to chop with an ax, draw with a brush, is flooded with rain. The questions answered by the words in this case are: "By whom? What?" In some cases, circumstantial questions may be asked. Another distinguishing feature from others is the instrumental case - endings: -th (s), -th (-th,) -th (singular), -ami, -i (plural) in nouns, -th (-im), -th (-s) (singular), -ths (plural) of adjectives and ordinal numbers.
The instrumental case has different meanings, for example:
- indicates the time at which the action takes place or the condition manifests itself: sunbathe in the afternoon, harvest in the fall;
- indicates a tool or tool, a tool by which the action is performed: eat with a spoon, dig with a shovel;
- the method and mode of action matters; shows a qualitative, defining characteristic of the action: galloping, singing with the bass, standing with your back, walking in small steps;
- instrumental case may have the value of comparing the execution of the action with the quality of the object or image: pouring with a wall, flying with lightning;
- an indication of the place where the action takes place: sail by the sea, go by the forest;
- instrumental case may have a value indicating the sign of the subject: edge of the house, lips with a bow;
- the value of the partial, limited area of any attribute: satisfied with the result, known for achievements;
- indication of a sign, function, position: elected as a deputy, recognized as a means;
- a predicative sign to explain the nominal part of the compound predicate: got a job as a loader, became a programmer;
- a value indicating the relation of an object to an action: to convince by deed, to surprise by an act;
- the value of the mode of action and its method: to sing with bass, to go in small steps;
- an indication of the age period of life: as a child, she cried a lot;
- instrumental case has a value indicating the one who performs the action: the work is protected by a graduate student, a window was broken with a stone;
- value of quantity: count as fives.
Meaning of instrumental| value | question | example |
| action time | when? | sleep at night sow in spring |
| tool | than? | clean with a rake, cut with a knife |
| method and mode of action | than? as? | gallop, sing baritone, stand with your back |
| quality comparison | than? as? | spinning yule, roaring beluga, howling wolf |
| place of action | than? | run off the field |
| indication of the sign of the subject | than? | crochet tail |
| trait restriction | than? | famous for feat |
| sign of function, position | by whom? than? | appointed deputy |
| predicative sign | by whom? | got a janitor |
| attitude to action | than? as? | upset appreciation gift |
| action and method of its implementation | as? than? | breaststroke |
| age period of life | by whom? than? | cherish youth |
| quantity value | than? | multiply by dozens |
Numerals also change in cases, but their declension depends on which group of this part of speech they belong: quantitative, ordinal or fractional.
The instrumental numerals have different options, depending on their form: four, five, but five hundred and five hundred. There are two options for declining composite numerals: quantitative change all the words that make it up, and ordinal - only the last: six hundred fifty-two or six hundred and fifty-second.