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НА, Feminine and Neuter Nouns

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Step 1 of 4: Introduction

Introduction

In the previous lesson, we learned that the prepositional case often answers the question Где? (Where?). We also learned that it is commonly used after the preposition В and looked at how masculine nouns change in this case.

In this lesson, we’ll continue exploring the prepositional case! We’ll learn how to use НА, how feminine and neuter nouns change, and review what we’ve learned so far.

The preposition НА

Another very common preposition used with the prepositional case is НА, which often means “on” or “at.”

Стака́н на столе́.

The glass is on the table.

Он живёт на о́строве.

He lives on an island.

For now, remember this simple distinction:

  • В often means “in.”

  • НА often means “on.”

However, Russian doesn’t always follow the same preposition patterns as English. We’ll explore when to use В and when to use НА in more detail in future lessons.

Neuter nouns

Let’s start with neuter nouns! In the prepositional case, neuter nouns follow a pattern similar to masculine nouns and have -e ending.

  • молоко́milk
  • окно́a window

Neuter nouns ending in -О, change -О to -Е.

молокО́ → в молокЕ́

окнО́ → на окнЕ́

  • по́леa field
  • мо́реsea

Neuter nouns ending in -Е, do NOT change and keep the same ending.

по́лЕ → на по́лЕ

мо́рЕ → в мо́рЕ

Let's practice!

PUT THE NOUNS IN BRACKETS INTO THE PREPOSITIONAL CASE

0 / 10
  1. Му́ха в (молоко́).

  2. Мой па́па рабо́тает в (посо́льство).

  3. Они́ отдыха́ют на (мо́ре).

  4. Де́ти гуля́ют в (парк).

  5. У меня́ в (се́рдце) живёт любо́вь.

  6. Оши́бка в (паро́ль).

  7. Фу! В (я́блоко) червя́к.

  8. Бунт на (кора́бль).

  9. Футболи́сты игра́ют на (по́ле)

  10. Что? В (музе́й) живёт при́зрак?

Feminine nouns

Now let’s look at feminine nouns. Their endings work a little differently from masculine and neuter nouns.

Feminine nouns ending in -А, change -А to -Е.

шко́лА→ в шко́лЕ

у́лицА → на у́лицЕ

Feminine nouns ending in -Я, also change -Я to -Е.

семьЯ́→ в семьЕ́

ку́хнЯ → на ку́хнЕ

  • крова́тьa bed
  • тетра́дьa notebook

Remember how we mentioned in the previous lesson that masculine and feminine nouns ending in -Ь have different endings in the prepositional case?

Here’s that important difference!

Feminine nouns ending in -Ь, also change -Ь to -И.

жи́знЬ → в жи́знИ

крова́тЬ → на крова́тИ

Let's practice!

PUT THE NOUNS IN BRACKETS INTO THE PREPOSITIONAL CASE

0 / 10
  1. Ко́шка отдыха́ет на (крова́ть).

  2. Де́ти сейча́с в (шко́ла).

  3. У меня́ в (жизнь) бы́ло всё!

  4. У меня́ в (паро́ль) бу́квы и ци́фры.

  5. На (у́лица) сего́дня о́чень хо́лодно.

  6. Кто живёт в (Москва́)?

  7. У нас в (семья́) есть пробле́мы.

  8. Го́лубь на (окно́).

  9. В (любо́вь) все сре́дства хороши́.

  10. Я пишу́ в (тетра́дь).

Next lesson

Up next: Урок 3 · Special Endings and Exceptions

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