Definition of Prepositions
Prepositions link nouns, pronouns, or numerals to other parts of a sentence.
They show relationships such as place, time, cause, purpose, and more.
Main Meanings of Russian Prepositions
Prepositions express different types of meaning:
- Мы сейча́с на да́че. (We’re at the dacha now.) — space
- Они́ верну́лись домо́й под ве́чер. (They came back towards evening.) — time
- Конце́рт отмени́ли из-за дождя́. (The concert was cancelled because of the rain.) — cause
- Студе́нты собра́лись для обсужде́ния прое́кта. (The students gathered to discuss a project.) — purpose
- Она́ сказа́ла э́то с улы́бкой. (She said it with a smile.) — manner
- Я продолжа́ю рабо́тать несмотря́ на уста́лость. (I keep working despite being tired.) — concession
- Вы договори́лись насчёт цены́? (Did you agree on the price?) — object
- Ты лю́бишь ко́фе с молоко́м? (Do you like coffee with milk?) — attribute
- Мой брат уже́ ро́стом с отца́. (My brother is as tall as our father.) — comparison
Prepositions and Grammatical Cases
In Russian, every preposition governs one or more grammatical cases, which affects the ending of the following word.
Prepositions with one case
- У меня́ нет вре́мени. (I don’t have time.) — genitive
- Она́ гото́вится к экза́менам. (She is preparing for the exams.) — dative
- Бу́ду че́рез пять мину́т. (I’ll be there in five minutes.) — accusative
- Маши́на припаркова́лась пе́ред до́мом. (The car parked in front of the building.) — instrumental
- При чём тут я? (What do I have to do with this?/How am I involved?) — prepositional
Prepositions with two cases
- Я положи́ла телефо́н на стол. (I put the phone on the table.) — accusative
- Телефо́н лежи́т на столе́. (The phone is on the table.) — prepositional
Prepositions with three cases
- Я скуча́ю по родны́м и друзья́м. (I miss my family and friends.) — dative
- Де́ти стоя́ли по коле́но в воде́. (The children stood knee-deep in water.) — accusative
- По прибы́тии в аэропо́рт ну́жно пройти́ регистра́цию. (Upon arriving at the airport, you need to check in.) — prepositional
Position in a Sentence
Most prepositions come before the words they relate to.
Some appear after, usually in fixed expressions — for example: сме́ха ра́ди (for the sake of laughter), год спустя́ (a year later), etc.
In Brief
- Prepositions are important for expressing correct relationships between words.
- It’s necessary to know which case a preposition governs in order to use the right ending.
- Some prepositions can take more than one case, and their meaning changes depending on it.
If you are unsure about a preposition’s meaning or usage, it is best to consult a dictionary.