The Instrumental case marks the tool used to perform an action (doing something with something), as well as accompaniment (doing something with someone). In the plural, nouns take one of two Instrumental endings regardless of gender:
- -ами for hard stems (краска → красками, инструмент → инструментами).
- -ями for soft stems.
Note: Words that are always plural, like ножницы (scissors), also follow this rule (ножницами).
Adjectives and Pronouns in the Instrumental Plural
Adjectives and demonstrative pronouns modifying these nouns take matching plural endings:
- -ыми for hard-stem adjectives (новый → новыми, цветной → цветными).
- -ими for soft stems (синий → синими), plural pronouns (эти → этими), and stems ending in г, к, х, ж, ч, ш, щ due to spelling rules (хороший → хорошими).
Tools and Instruments (No Preposition)
When a noun is the literal tool used to complete an action (like paint, scissors, or your hands), use the Instrumental case directly, without the preposition с.
| We like to draw with colored paints. | Мы любим рисовать цветными красками. |
| Children cut paper with scissors. | Дети режут бумагу ножницами. |
| The boy is drawing with blue and red markers. | Мальчик рисует синими и красными фломастерами. |
| The engineers work with good tools. | Инженеры работают хорошими инструментами. |
| We like to create things with our own hands. | Мы любим создавать вещи своими руками. |
Accompaniment and Interaction (With "с")
When you do an activity alongside people, or interact with objects (like playing with something), use the preposition с followed by the Instrumental case.
| We are starting this project with new partners. | Мы начинаем этот проект с новыми партнёрами. |
| The cat is playing with colored threads. | Кот играет с цветными нитками. |
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