Which Case After Which Preposition
Here is a truth about Russian that no one tells beginners early enough: you will spend far more time choosing cases because of a preposition than for any other reason. A preposition in Russian does not float free of grammar the way English "in" or "with" does — every preposition governs a fixed case, and you cannot use the preposition correctly without putting the noun into that case. без ("without") always takes the genitive; к ("toward") always takes the dative; there is nothing to decide. This page is the map: every common preposition, sorted by the case it commands, with one example each. Memorize prepositions together with their case — as a single unit, без+genitive, к+dative — and a huge slice of the case system installs itself for free. The deeper theory of how prepositions and cases interlock lives on the prepositions overview; this page is the at-a-glance lookup table.
The big picture: every case can be governed by a preposition — except one
Five of the six cases can be commanded by a preposition. The nominative never can — it is the "no-preposition" case, the bare subject. The prepositional case, at the opposite extreme, only exists after a preposition (that is literally its name). Everything in between is a matter of memorizing which preposition pulls which case.
| Case | Governed by a preposition? |
|---|---|
| Nominative | Never — it is the subject, no preposition |
| Genitive | Yes — the largest group of prepositions |
| Dative | Yes — a small group (к, по) |
| Accusative | Yes — motion and time prepositions |
| Instrumental | Yes — "with" and most spatial prepositions |
| Prepositional | Only after a preposition (в, на, о, при) |
Genitive prepositions: the biggest family
More prepositions take the genitive than any other case. The thread that ties them together is a loose sense of source, distance, absence, and proximity — "from," "without," "near," "around," "before/after." If you are unsure of a preposition's case, the genitive is statistically the best guess.
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| без | without | ко́фе без са́хара (coffee without sugar) |
| для | for (the benefit of) | пода́рок для ма́мы (a present for mum) |
| до | until, up to, before | до за́втра (until tomorrow) |
| из | out of, from | из Москвы́ (from Moscow) |
| от | from (a person/source) | письмо́ от дру́га (a letter from a friend) |
| у | at, by, "to have" | у меня́ (I have / at my place) |
| о́коло | near, about (approx.) | о́коло до́ма (near the house) |
| по́сле | after | по́сле уро́ка (after the lesson) |
| про́тив | against | про́тив войны́ (against the war) |
| среди́ | among, in the middle of | среди́ друзе́й (among friends) |
| вокру́г | around | вокру́г стола́ (around the table) |
| кро́ме | except, besides | кро́ме тебя́ (except you) |
Я не могу́ жить без ко́фе по утра́м.
I can't live without coffee in the mornings. (без + genitive: без ко́фе)
По́сле рабо́ты зайдём в магази́н о́коло до́ма.
After work let's pop into the shop near the house. (по́сле + gen., о́коло + gen.)
Все пришли́, кро́ме Анто́на.
Everyone came except Anton. (кро́ме + genitive)
The full treatment of these is on genitive after prepositions.
Dative prepositions: just two to remember
The dative has the smallest preposition family — effectively two you use constantly. The dative's core sense is "toward / along," so both fit naturally.
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| к (ко) | toward, to (a person) | к врачу́ (to the doctor) |
| по | along, around, according to, per | по у́лице (along the street) |
Я иду́ к врачу́, а пото́м к подру́ге.
I'm going to the doctor, then to a friend's. (к + dative — used for going to a person)
Мы гуля́ли по на́бережной до ве́чера.
We strolled along the embankment until evening. (по + dative: по на́бережной)
The preposition по has many other meanings (per, by means of, about) — they get their own page, the many uses of по — but in its core spatial sense it takes the dative.
Accusative prepositions: motion and crossing
The accusative collects prepositions of directed motion and passage — going into, across, through, over the time of. Three of them (про, че́рез, сквозь) take only the accusative; the others (в, на, за, под) are the chameleons covered below.
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| про | about (colloquial = о) | фильм про войну́ (a film about war) |
| че́рез | across, through; in (time) | че́рез мост (across the bridge); че́рез час (in an hour) |
| сквозь | through (a barrier) | сквозь туман (through the fog) |
| в / на / за / под | into / onto / behind / under (motion only) | see "chameleons" below |
Че́рез неде́лю мы перее́дем в но́вую кварти́ру.
In a week we'll move into a new flat. (че́рез + accusative for 'in [time]': че́рез неде́лю)
Расскажи́ мне про свою́ пое́здку.
Tell me about your trip. (про + accusative, colloquial for 'about')
Instrumental prepositions: "with" and spatial position
The instrumental gathers с ("together with") and a cluster of spatial-position prepositions — over, under, before, behind, between. Note that the static position versions (under, behind) take the instrumental, while the motion versions take the accusative (the chameleon split, below).
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| с (со) | (together) with | с дру́гом (with a friend) |
| над | above, over | над столо́м (above the table) |
| под | under (location) | под столо́м (under the table) |
| пе́ред | in front of, before | пе́ред до́мом (in front of the house) |
| за | behind (location) | за до́мом (behind the house) |
| ме́жду | between | ме́жду на́ми (between us) |
Я пойду́ в кино́ с друзья́ми в суббо́ту.
I'll go to the cinema with friends on Saturday. (с + instrumental: с друзья́ми)
Ко́шка спря́талась под столо́м, за коро́бкой.
The cat hid under the table, behind a box. (под + instr. and за + instr. — both static location)
More on these is on instrumental spatial prepositions.
Prepositional prepositions: the location-and-topic set
The prepositional case is the only one that cannot appear without a preposition. The four that govern it cover location, topic, and presence.
| Preposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| в | in (location) | в Москве́ (in Moscow) |
| на | on, at (location) | на столе́ (on the table) |
| о / об | about (topic) | о любви́ (about love) |
| при | attached to, in the presence/era of | при университе́те (attached to the university) |
Мы живём в Москве́, в но́вом до́ме на берегу́ реки́.
We live in Moscow, in a new building on the riverbank. (в + prep. в Москве́, в до́ме; на берегу́ is a second-locative form)
The chameleons: prepositions that switch case AND meaning
This is the part English speakers most need to internalize. A handful of prepositions take different cases for different meanings — and the case is what tells the listener which meaning you intend. English collapses these distinctions; Russian forces you to choose.
| Preposition |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| в | into (motion): в лес (into the forest) | in (location, PREP): в лесу́ |
| на | onto (motion): на стол (onto the table) | on (location, PREP): на столе́ |
| за | behind/for (motion, ACC): за стол (sit down at the table) | behind (location, INSTR): за столо́м (sitting at the table) |
| под | under (motion, ACC): под стол (go under the table) | under (location, INSTR): под столо́м |
| с | — | GEN = off/from: с по́лки; INSTR = with: с дру́гом |
Кот за́лез под стол, а тепе́рь спит под столо́м.
The cat climbed under the table, and now it's sleeping under the table. (под + acc. for the movement; под + instr. for the resting position)
Поста́вь ча́шку на стол. — Она́ уже́ стои́т на столе́.
Put the cup on the table. — It's already on the table. (на + acc. for putting; на + prep. for being there)
Сними́ кни́гу с по́лки и сядь ря́дом со мной.
Take the book off the shelf and sit down next to me. (с + genitive 'off' с по́лки; со + instrumental 'with' со мной)
Common Mistakes
❌ Я иду́ к врача́.
Incorrect — к always governs the dative, never the genitive: к врачу́.
✅ Я иду́ к врачу́.
I'm going to the doctor. (к + dative)
❌ Ко́фе без са́хар.
Incorrect — без always takes the genitive; the noun must change: без са́хара.
✅ Ко́фе без са́хара.
Coffee without sugar. (без + genitive)
❌ Кни́га лежи́т на стол.
Incorrect — for location ('on the table'), на takes the prepositional, not the accusative: на столе́. The accusative на стол means 'onto the table' (motion).
✅ Кни́га лежи́т на столе́.
The book is lying on the table. (на + prepositional = location)
❌ Я пойду́ с дру́га.
Incorrect — 'with a friend' is с + instrumental (с дру́гом). С + genitive (с дру́га) would mean 'off / from a friend'.
✅ Я пойду́ с дру́гом.
I'll go with a friend. (с + instrumental)
❌ Мы говори́ли о поли́тике… по́сле о́н ушёл.
Incorrect mindset — don't guess a preposition's case from English; each is fixed. Storing 'по́сле' alone is useless — store 'по́сле + genitive'.
✅ по́сле + genitive, к + dative, без + genitive — always store the pair.
Memorize each preposition together with its case as one unit.
Key Takeaways
- A Russian preposition governs a fixed case; you cannot use the preposition without putting the noun in that case. Store each preposition with its case as one unit.
- Genitive is the biggest family: без, для, до, из, от, у, о́коло, по́сле, про́тив, среди́, вокру́г, кро́ме — and a good default guess.
- Dative: к, по (core spatial sense). Accusative: про, че́рез, сквозь (+ the motion uses of в/на/за/под).
- Instrumental: с (with), над, под, пе́ред, за, ме́жду. Prepositional (only after a preposition): в, на, о/об, при.
- The chameleons (в, на, за, под, с) switch case and meaning: accusative = motion-to, prepositional/instrumental = location, and с = "off" (gen.) vs "with" (instr.). Tie the case to the question where to? vs where at?
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- Prepositions and Case: How They Work TogetherA1 — The single biggest idea about Russian prepositions: every preposition GOVERNS a case — it is never used alone, and you cannot choose a preposition without also choosing the case it demands. A map of the system by case (genitive: из, от, до, у, для, без, о́коло; dative: к, по; accusative: в, на, за, под, че́рез; instrumental: с, над, под, пе́ред, ме́жду; prepositional: о, при, в/на for location), plus the two-case prepositions where the case itself carries the meaning.
- Motion vs Location: The Case-Switching PrepositionsA2 — Four everyday prepositions — в, на, за, под — each take two cases, and the case answers one question: are you moving TO a place (motion) or already AT it (location)? Motion-to always takes the accusative (в шко́лу, на рабо́ту, за стол, под стол); location takes the prepositional for в/на (в шко́ле, на рабо́те) and the instrumental for за/под (за столо́м, под столо́м). The verb's directionality picks the case, and the 'from' direction is из/с + genitive.
- Genitive After Prepositions (без, для, до, из, от, у, около, после)A2 — Most of the genitive you'll ever use is triggered by prepositions: без са́хара (without sugar), для тебя́ (for you), до конца́ (until the end), из го́рода (from the city), от врача́ (from the doctor), у окна́ (by the window), о́коло до́ма (near the house), по́сле уро́ка (after the lesson), plus про́тив, вокру́г, кро́ме, среди́, ра́ди, ми́мо. Practising the genitive THROUGH its prepositions builds the form and the construction at once — and the из↔в, от↔к, с↔на 'from/to' symmetry ties them together.
- Instrumental After Spatial PrepositionsB1 — The instrumental after location prepositions: над (above), под (under), пе́ред (in front of), за (behind), ме́жду (between), ря́дом с (next to) — над столо́м, под крова́тью, за угло́м. Crucially, за and под switch to the accusative for motion-to: стои́т под столо́м (instr, location) vs поста́вить под стол (acc, destination).
- Accusative After Prepositions (в, на, за, под, через, про)A2 — The accusative is the case of DESTINATION and DURATION after prepositions: в/на/за/под switch to the accusative the moment there is motion toward a place (иду́ в шко́лу, кладу́ под стол), paired against their prepositional/instrumental location forms (я в шко́ле); plus through/across/in-a-time че́рез + acc (че́рез мост, че́рез час), the barrier-piercing сквозь, the colloquial 'about' про, and о/об in the sense of 'against' (уда́риться о ка́мень).
- Decision Guide: Which Case Do I Need?A2 — A practical decision tree that takes you from an English sentence to the right Russian case while you're actually composing. Walk the checks in order: is the noun the subject? → nominative. The direct object of a non-negated verb? → accusative. After a preposition? → that preposition's case. A recipient or an experiencer (cold, age, necessity)? → dative. A tool/means, or a predicate after быть/стать? → instrumental. 'Of'/possession, quantity, negated existence, or 'than'? → genitive. Location after в/на or topic after о? → prepositional. Keyed to QUESTIONS (who's doing it? to whom? with what? where?), not grammar labels, so you never freeze mid-sentence.