Derek Offord - Using Russian - A Guide to Contemporary Usage

оn days of the week and in other expressions of time to indicate regular occurrence:

по понeдe´льникaм

оn Mondays

по прa´здникaм

оn holidays

по утрa´м

in the mornings

(g)

+ the numeral оди´н, оne , and also the nouns ты´сячa, thousand , and миллио´н, million , to indicate distribution; cf. по+ acc in this sense with other numerals (see 11.4.9):

Mы получи´ли по одному´

We received a pound each .

фу´нту.

(h)

+ the negative particle нein phrases in which inconsistency is indicated; in this sense поmay sometimes be translated by the English for :

Oн нe по во´зрaстувысо´к.

He is tall for his age .

Э

´ тa мaши´нa мнe нe по

I can’t afford this car .

кaрмa´ну.

Note:

as pointed out by Wade (see Sources), поhas also made some progress in the language at the expense of more precise prepositions in phrases such as прогрa´ммa по литeрaту´рe(= прогрa´ммa литeрaту´ры), programme of literature ; приз по стрeльбe´(= приз зa стрeльбу´), prize for shooting .

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10.1

Valency of prepositions

ПOд ´

OБHO

like, similar to :

кричa´ть подо´бно сумaсшe´дшeму

to shout like a madman

COГл ´

ACHO

in accordance with ; official in tone, characteristic of R3b: соглa´сно глa´вной стaтьe´

in accordance with the main article of

догово´рa

the treaty

10.1.5

Prepositions governing the instrumental

зA

behind, beyond, on the far side of , and at or over in the sense of behind ; when location is being defined; cf. зa+ acc when movement into a position is indicated:

зa до´мом

behind the house

зa грaни´цeй

abroad (beyond the border)

зa бо´ртом

overboard

зa столо´м

at the table

зa роя´лeм

at the piano

зa пи´вом

over a beer

M ´

EждУ

between ; followed only by the instrumental case except in a few fixed expressions in which it governs the genitive (see 10.1.3):

мe´жду пaрaллe´льными

between parallel lines

ли´ниями

мe´жду нa´ми

between ourselves

HAд (H ´

AдO)

over, above, on top of , used only with the instrumental:

Haд столо´мвиси´т лю´стрa.

A chandelier hangs over the table .

нaдо мно´й

over me

П ´

EPEд (П ´

EPEдO)

used only with the instrumental:

(a)

in front of or before in a spatial sense:

сидe´ть пe´рeд тeлeви´зором

to sit in front of the television

пe´рeдо мной

in front of me

(b)

before in a temporal sense, especially shortly before ; cf. до(see 10.1.3)

which may indicate any time before:

пe´рeд смe´ртью

before death

ПOд (П ´

OдO)

(a)

under, below, beneath , when actual or figurative location is defined; cf.

под+ acc when movement into a position is indicated:

под мосто´м

under the bridge

под aрe´стом

under arrest

под влия´ниeм

under the influence

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10

Prepositions

(b)

with a certain dressing, in culinary expressions, in which the literal meaning of under is retained:

ры´бa под томa´тным со´усом

fish in tomato sauce

яйцо´ под мaйонe´зом

egg mayonnaise

(c)

in the region of :

под Mоскво´й

in the region of Moscow

(d)

of in the names of battles:

би´твa под Полтa´вой

the Battle of Poltava

C (CO)

(a)

with , when with means together with or in the company of , or when it refers to some connection or attendant characteristic; cf. omission of cwhen with denotes instrument (see 10.4):

Oн пошёл в кино´ с сeстро´й.

He went to the cinema with his sister .

в связи´ с э´тим

in connection with this

чeловe´к с голубы´ми глaзa´ми

a person with (light) blue eyes

c рa´достью

gladly (with gladness)

(b)

together with personal pronouns in an inclusive sense, e.g.:

он c сeстро´й

he and his sister

мы с брa´том

my brother and I

мы с мa´тeрью

my mother and I

(c)

in the expression что c вa´ми/с тобо´й? What’s the matter with you ?

(d)

with the passage of time, e.g. c кa´ждым днём, with each (passing) day 10.1.6

Prepositions governing the prepositional or locative

The prepositional case, as its name suggests, may only be used with

certain prepositions ( в, нa, о, по, при). It is also sometimes called the locative case, since when used with the prepositions вand нait may define location.

B (BO)

(a)

in or at to define location, the place where sth is situated or happening; cf. use of accusative when movement is involved:

Oн живёт в Mосквe´.

He lives in Moscow .

Mы сидe´ли в спa´льнe.

We were sitting in the bedroom .

(b)

to express the distance at which sth is located:

в одно´м киломe´трeот

a kilometre from the centre of town

цe´нтрa го´родa

в трёх мину´тaхходьбы´ от

three minutes’ walk from the school

шко´лы

в пяти´ чaсa´хeзды´ от Пaри´жa

five hours’ journey/travel from Paris