Russian grammar > Nouns in Russian Language - Part III (Declension of feminine nouns)
Nouns in Russian Language - Part III (Declension of feminine nouns)
Singular
In this table you can see endings for transforming a feminine noun to a certain case in singular.
| case | endings | exceptions |
| N | -А | -Я/-Ь |
| G | -Ы | -И |
| D | -Е | -И |
| A | -У | -Ю/-Ь |
| I | -ОЙ | -ЕЙ/-ЬЮ |
| P | -Е | -И |
Let's take a look at the exceptions.
GENITIVE
- behind К, Г, Х, Ч, Ж, Ш and Щ use -И.
- if the noun ends on Я or Ь, use -И
DATIVE
- if the noun ends on -ИЯ or -Ь, use -И
ACCUSATIVE
- if the noun ends on -Я, use -Ю
- if the noun ends on -Ь, add no ending
INSTRUMENTAL
- if the noun ends on -Я or the noun base ends on Ч, Ж, Ш or Щ use -ЕЙ, unless ending is accented
- if the noun ends on -Ь, use -ЬЮ
PREPOSITIONAL
- if the noun ends on -ИЯ or -Ь, use -И
| case | standard | -Я | -ИЯ | -Ь |
| N | МАШИНА | ИДЕЯ | ГИМНАЗИЯ | БОЛЬ |
| G | МАШИНЫ | ИДЕИ | ГИМНАЗИИ | БОЛИ |
| D | МАШИНЕ | ИДЕЕ | ГИМНАЗИИ | БОЛИ |
| A | МАШИНУ | ИДЕЮ | ГИМНАЗИЮ | БОЛЬ |
| I | МАШИНОЙ | ИДЕЕЙ | ГИМНАЗИЕЙ | БОЛЬЮ |
| P | МАШИНЕ | ИДЕЕ | ГИМНАЗИИ | БОЛИ |
Plural
In this table you can see endings for transforming a feminine noun to a certain case in plural.
| case | endings | exceptions |
| N | -Ы | -И |
| G | - | -Ь/-Й/-ЕЙ |
| D | -АМ | -ЯМ |
| A | Nom | -И/-ЕЙ |
| I | -АМИ | -ЯМИ |
| P | -АХ | -ЯХ |
Let's take a look at the exceptions. I should mention one problem with this rules. In case noun ends on Я, there are several endings to use in genitive and accusative depending on the character before Я.
NOMINATIVE
- if the noun ends on -Я or soft sign Ь, or the base part of the noun ends on К, Г, Х, Ч, Ж, Ш and Щ, use -И
GENITIVE
- if the noun ends on -Я, noun in genitive can end on soft sign -Ь, -Й or -ЕЙ
- if the noun ends on soft sign Ь, use -ЕЙ
DATIVE
- if the noun ends on -Я or on soft sign Ь, use -ЯМ
ACCUSATIVE
- if the noun is not animate, accusative is same as nominative
- if the noun ends on -Я or on soft sign Ь, use -И or -ЕЙ
INSTRUMENTAL
- if the noun ends on -Я or on soft sign Ь, use -ЯМИ
PREPOSITIONAL
- if the noun ends on -Я or on soft sign Ь, use -ЯХ
See the table below as an illustration for the rules.
| case | standard | -Я | -ИЯ | -Ь |
| N | МАШИНЫ | ИДЕИ | ГИМНАЗИИ | БОЛИ |
| G | МАШИН | ИДЕЙ | ГИМНАЗИЙ | БОЛЕЙ |
| D | МАШИНАМ | ИДЕЯМ | ГИМНАЗИЯМ | БОЛЯМ |
| A | МАШИНЫ | ИДЕИ | ГИМНАЗИИ | БОЛИ |
| I | МАШИНАМИ | ИДЕЯМИ | ГИМНАЗИЯМИ | БОЛЯМИ |
| P | МАШИНАХ | ИДЕЯХ | ГИМНАЗИЯХ | БОЛЯХ |
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