To describe the circumstances, conditions, or environment in which an action takes place, use the preposition при followed by the Prepositional case. It is highly versatile and translates to "under," "in," "during," or "in case of," depending on context.
Here is how nouns change in the Prepositional case for these common situations:
| Noun Ending | Prepositional Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Consonant | -е | пожар → при пожаре |
| -ие | -ии | чтение → при чтении |
| -ь (feminine) | -и | необходимость → при необходимости |
Physical and Environmental Conditions
Use при to establish the physical environment or literal conditions surrounding an action, such as lighting.
| In natural light, these colors look different. | При естественном свете эти цвета выглядят по-другому. |
During an Activity
При is frequently paired with process nouns (like reading or connecting) to mean "while" or "when [doing something]." Notice how common it is to use nouns ending in -ие for these actions.
| When reading a text, you should use natural lighting. | При чтении текста тебе нужно пользоваться естественным освещением. |
| When connecting to the internet, you just press this button. | При подключении к интернету просто нажимаешь эту кнопку. |
Emergencies and Abstract Requirements
You will often see при in formal instructions, safety warnings, or conditional statements. It translates smoothly to "in case of" or "if [a condition exists]."
| If necessary, we permit the use of this equipment. | При необходимости мы разрешаем использование этого оборудования. |
| In case of fire, you must urgently leave the building. | При пожаре вам надо срочно выйти из здания. |
Formal Prerequisites
In business, legal, and technical contexts, при is heavily used to establish prerequisites.
| If internet is available, we will be able to discuss the project. | При наличии интернета мы сможем обсудить проект. |
| In case of problems, we count on cooperation. | При возникновении проблем мы рассчитываем на сотрудничество. |