In Russian, the words "они" (which means "they") and "вы" (which means "you" in a formal or plural sense) are different in something called the instrumental case.

The instrumental case helps show how an action is done. It's good to know how to use these words because they change based on how many people you’re talking about and how polite you want to be.

Instrumental Case Forms:

1. Они (they) in the instrumental case

   • Form: ими
   • How to use: You say "они" when talking about a group of people that does not include you.
   • Example:
     • "Я горжусь ими." (I am proud of them.)

2. Вы (you) in the instrumental case

   • Form: вами
   • How to use: You say "вы" when talking to one person or many people in a polite way.
   • Example:
     • "Я согласен с вами." (I agree with you.)

Key Differences:

• Formality: "Вы" is more polite, while "они" is more casual.
• Identity: Use "ими" when talking about a group you aren’t part of. Use "вами" when talking directly to the people you are talking to.

Everyday Usage:

In everyday Russian conversations, people often skip personal pronouns if it’s clear who they’re talking about. This makes chatting more friendly and less formal. For example:

• Instead of saying "Я горжусь ими" (I am proud of them), someone might just say "Я горжусь" if it's clear who they mean.
• Instead of saying "Я согласен с вами" (I agree with you), they might simply say "Я согласен" if they know who’s listening.

Practice Sentences:

To get better at this, try creating sentences with ими and вами.

• "Они участвуют в проекте ими." (They are participating in the project with them.)
• "Я вижу вас вами." (I see you with you.)

With some practice, you'll be able to use personal pronouns in the instrumental case in Russian!