The prepositional case, also called the locative case, is super important for talking about where things are or when events happen in Russian. Learning how to use it will help you express your ideas and describe things more clearly. Let’s look at some rules and examples of how the prepositional case works.

1. Talking About Location:

The prepositional case shows where something is located or where an event takes place. We use certain words before it, like "в" (in), "на" (on), or "о" (about).

Examples:

• Location in a Place:
  • Я живу в Москве. (I live in Moscow.)
  • Книга лежит на столе. (The book is on the table.)

In these examples, "в Москве" and "на столе" are in the prepositional case. They tell us where someone lives and where the book is.

2. Talking About Time:

The prepositional case can also tell us the time. This is important when we talk about days or certain times of the day.

Examples:

• Specific Time:
  • Мы встречаемся в понедельник. (We are meeting on Monday.)
  • Урок начинается в три часа. (The lesson starts at three o'clock.)

Here, "в понедельник" and "в три часа" tell us about specific days and times.

3. Key Prepositions:

To use the prepositional case well, it’s good to know these important prepositions:

• "в" (in) – used for closed spaces, cities, and countries.
• "на" (on) – used for surfaces, events, or bigger places (like continents).
• "о" (about) – used to explain what someone is talking about.

4. How to Form the Prepositional Case:

Creating the prepositional case changes depending on whether the nouns are masculine, feminine, neuter, or plural:

• Masculine Nouns: add "-е" or "-у" (e.g., музей → музее).
• Feminine Nouns: usually change the ending to "-е" (e.g., книга → книге).
• Neuter Nouns: generally use "-е" (e.g., окно → окне).
• Plural Nouns: usually end with "-ах" or "-ях" depending on their form (e.g., книги → книгах).

5. Practice Sentences:

Try changing these sentences to practice using the prepositional case:

1. They are meeting at the park. (в парке)
2. The concert is on Friday. (в пятницу)
3. He spoke about his vacation. (о его отпуске)

By getting better at using the prepositional case, you'll express location and time clearly in Russian. Use these examples when you speak and write to help you understand better!