Я стою у кассы.

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Breakdown of Я стою у кассы.

• стоять: to stand
• у: at
• касса: the cash desk

Questions & Answers about Я стою у кассы.

What case is кассы and why?

Кассы is the genitive singular form of касса. The preposition у always governs the genitive case when indicating proximity, so у кассы literally means “by the checkout/register.”

What does the preposition у mean in this sentence?

Here у means “by” or “at” in the sense of standing next to something. It does not imply movement; it simply locates the subject near the cash desk.

How do you pronounce Я стою у кассы, and where are the stresses?

Pronounce it approximately as “ya sta-YU oo KAH-ssy.” The stress falls on the -ю in стою́ and on the first А in ка́ссы.

Why is the verb стоя́ть used in the present tense? Does it express an ongoing action like “I am standing”?

Yes. In Russian the simple present tense of стоя́ть inherently expresses a continuous or ongoing action, just as English uses the present continuous for “I am standing.” There is no separate progressive form.

Could you say Я стою на кассе instead of Я стою у кассы? What would that imply?