How to Use the Instrumental Case for Means and Accompaniment in Ukrainian

What is the Instrumental Case in Ukrainian?

The instrumental case in Ukrainian is used to indicate the means by which an action is performed or to show accompaniment. It answers the questions "with what?" or "by means of what?" and "with whom?".

Using the Instrumental Case to Express Means

When you want to say that something is done using a tool, instrument, or means, you use the instrumental case. For example, to say "I write with a pen," the word for "pen" will be in the instrumental case.

Examples of Means in Instrumental Case

• Я пишу ручкою. (I write with a pen.)
• Він їде автомобілем. (He is going by car.)
• Ми говоримо телефоном. (We speak by phone.)

Using the Instrumental Case to Express Accompaniment

The instrumental case is also used to indicate that someone is accompanied by someone else. It answers the question "with whom?".

Examples of Accompaniment in Instrumental Case

• Вона йде з другом. (She is going with a friend.)
• Ми працюємо з колегами. (We work with colleagues.)
• Він живе з батьками. (He lives with his parents.)

Forming the Instrumental Case

The endings for the instrumental case depend on the gender and number of the noun. Here are some common endings:

• Masculine singular nouns often end with -ом or -ем.
• Feminine singular nouns often end with -ою or -ею.
• Plural nouns usually end with -ами or -ями.

Important Notes and Tips

Remember that some nouns have irregular instrumental forms, and adjectives also change to agree with the noun in the instrumental case.

Common Phrases Using the Instrumental Case