Special Endings and Exceptions

In the previous lessons, we covered the most common ending in the prepositional case: -Е. We saw how it appears in masculine, neuter and feminine nouns.

We also learned an important difference between masculine and feminine nouns ending in -Ь:

Masculine: оте́ль → в оте́лЕ

Feminine: крова́ть → на крова́тИ

In this lesson, we’re going to cover some less common endings and important exceptions!

Some nouns have endings containing two letters, with И as the first letter: -ИЯ, -ИЕ and -ИЙ.

In the prepositional case, these endings change to -ИИ.

Let’s look at each group.

Feminine nouns ending in -ИЯ

• Ита́лияItaly
• Брази́лияBrazil
• Япо́нияJapan

Many feminine nouns ending in -ИЯ are names of countries, although there are other nouns with this ending too.

РоссИ́Я → в РоссИ́И

ФранцИ́Я → во ФранцИ́И

экску́рсИЯ → на экску́рсИИ

Neuter nouns ending in -ИЕ

There are also many neuter nouns ending in -ИЕ.

зда́нИЕ → в зда́нИИ

зада́нИЕ → в зада́нИИ

сообще́нИЕ → в сообще́нИИ

расте́нИЕ → на расте́нИИ

настрое́нИЕ → в настрое́нИИ

Again, the ending changes to -ИИ.

Masculine nouns ending in -ИЙ

Masculine nouns ending in -ИЙ follow the same pattern (though, aren't many).

For example:

коммента́рИЙ → в коммента́рИИ

Let's practice!

PUT THE NOUNS IN BRACKETS INTO THE PREPOSITIONAL CASE

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1. Ма́рко живёт в (Ита́лия).

2. Мы отдыха́ем в (Кита́й).

3. Вы сейча́с в (Бразилия)?

4. Кто живёт в Ю́жной (Коре́я)?

5. В (Уругва́й) сейчас хоро́шая пого́да.

6. Пари́ж во (Фра́нция).

7. Ты был во (Вьетна́м)?

8. Я живу́ в (Росси́я) в (Москва́).

9. В (Герма́ния) плоха́я пого́да.

10. В (Норве́гия) сейчас снег.

Reveal answersReset

Now let’s look at an important exception.

Some masculine nouns have a special prepositional form ending in -У instead of the usual -Е. In these forms, the -У is stressed.

Here are some common examples:

лес → в лесУ́

шкаф → в шкафУ́

пол → на полУ́

аэропорт → в аэропортУ́

порт → в портУ́

угол → в углУ́

сад → в садУ́

ад → в адУ́

берег → на берегУ́

год → в годУ́

мост → на мостУ́

круг → в кругУ́

снег → на снегУ́

нос → в носУ́

глаз → в глазУ́

рот → во ртУ́

These are special forms that you’ll gradually learn through practice and exposure.

It’s best to learn these common exceptions individually.

Another special ending: -Ю

A few masculine nouns have a special prepositional form ending in -Ю.

раЙ → в раЮ́

краЙ → на краЮ́

These are also forms worth memorising.

The word дом (house/home) has two common forms that you’ll hear all the time.

в до́ме – in the house

Я в до́ме. I’m inside the house.

дома – at home

Я дома. I’m at home.

Although both refer to being at home or in a house, they aren’t interchangeable in every situation.

Finally, let’s look at some international words and place names that keep the same form in the prepositional case.

Some borrowed words, particularly certain words ending in -О or -И, are indeclinable. This means their form stays the same when used in different grammatical cases.

метро́ → в метро́

кино́ → в кино́

такси́ → в такси́

То́кио → в То́кио

О́сло → в О́сло

Тбили́си → в Тбили́си

Notice that the nouns don’t change their endings.

However, not every word ending in -О or -И is indeclinable. Treat these as common examples rather than a universal rule.