Russian Grammar: Nominative Case (Singular)
The Nominative Case (Именительный падеж) is the dictionary form of words. It is used for the subject of a sentence—the person or thing performing the action.
1. Full Adjectives (Long Form)
Full adjectives usually come before the noun and agree with its gender. They describe qualities or characteristics.
- Masculine: Ends in -ый or -ий.
Example: новый стол (novyy stol - a new table)
- Feminine: Ends in -ая.
Example: новая книга (novaya kniga - a new book)
- Neuter: Ends in -ое or -ее.
Example: новое окно (novoye okno - a new window)
2. Short Adjectives
Short adjectives are typically used as the predicate (after the noun) to indicate a temporary state or a specific quality at that moment. They do not have the long endings.
- Masculine: Zero ending (consonant) or -ен / -ок.
Example: Он готов (On gotov - He is ready)
- Feminine: Ends in -а.
Example: Она готова (Ona gotova - She is ready)
- Neuter: Ends in -о.
Example: Оно готово (Ono gotovo - It is ready)
3. Possessive Adjectives (My and Your)
Possessives change their endings to match the gender of the object being possessed.
- My: мой (masc.), моя (fem.), моё (neut.)
Example: мой папа (moy papa), моя мама (moya mama), моё имя (moyo imya)
- Your (Informal): твой (masc.), твоя (fem.), твоё (neut.)
Example: твой друг (tvoy drug), твоя сестра (tvoya sestra), твоё фото (tvoye foto)
4. The Word "All" (Весь)
The word for "all" or "whole" also changes based on gender:
- Masculine: весь (ves) - Example: весь день (ves den' - all day)
- Feminine: вся (vsya) - Example: вся страна (vsya strana - the whole country)
- Neuter: всё (vsyo) - Example: всё вино (vsyo vino - all the wine)
5. Demonstratives and Question Words
- Это (Eto): When used to mean "This is..." or "It is...", it is invariable. It does not change regardless of the noun's gender.
Example: Это стол (This is a table), Это книга (This is a book).
- Кто (Kto) / Что (Chto): These mean "Who" and "What." In the nominative case, they have only one fixed form.
6. Personal Pronouns
Personal pronouns refer to the speaker or others. Only the third person (he/she/it) changes based on gender.
- Я (ya): I
- Ты (ty): You (singular, informal)
- Он (on): He (masculine)
- Она (ona): She (feminine)
- Оно (ono): It (neuter)