In Russian, sentences can be tricky because they use different cases to make meanings clear. Knowing how to put these sentences together is really important for good communication.

Let’s look at the six Russian cases with some simple examples:

1. Nominative Case (Именительный падеж)

This case shows who or what is doing the action in the sentence.

Example:

• Кто пришёл? (Who has come?)
• Этот студент учит математику. (This student studies math.)

2. Genitive Case (Родительный падеж)

The genitive case shows ownership or something that is missing.

Example:

• У меня нет книги. (I do not have a book.)
• Книга студента на столе. (The student's book is on the table.)

3. Dative Case (Дательный падеж)

This case tells us about the person who is receiving something.

Example:

• Я даю письмо другу. (I am giving a letter to a friend.)
• Маме нужно больше времени. (Mom needs more time.)

4. Accusative Case (Винительный падеж)

The accusative case is used for the object that is receiving the action.

Example:

• Он читает книгу. (He is reading a book.)
• Я вижу машину. (I see the car.)

5. Instrumental Case (Творительный падеж)

This case shows how an action is done or who is with you.

Example:

• Я пишу ручкой. (I am writing with a pen.)
• Мы идём с другом. (We are going with a friend.)

6. Prepositional Case (Предложный падеж)

This case is mostly used with prepositions to talk about where something is or what a conversation is about.

Example:

• Он думает о работе. (He is thinking about work.)
• Книга на столе. (The book is on the table.)

Complex Sentence Structure

Sometimes, you will use a mix of these cases in one sentence.

Example:

• Я пишу письмо другу о его книге.
  In this sentence, "другу" (to a friend - dative) shows who is getting the letter, while "книге" (about the book - prepositional) tells us what the letter is about.

Practice Exercises:

1. Try making a complex sentence using all six cases.
2. Translate this into Russian: "I gave my friend a book about history."

As you practice, think about how each case fits into the sentence. This will help you understand Russian grammar better. It will also make it easier for you to create more complex sentences.