Introduction
<< Chapter 24:  The Dative Case
Chapter 26:  The Prepositional Case >>

Chapter 25

The Instrumental Case

25.1        Use of the instrumental case

    This case is used by certain prepositions and also to signify that the noun functions as some means for an action.  The direct object of some verbs, especially those that translate as to be, also takes this case.  A word in the instrumental case can often be translated into English by preceding it with the preposition “with.”

Галоўнай іх сілай былі гранаты.
 Their main weapon was grenades.
Мы давай паедзем машінай.
 Let's take the car.
Ты павінна валодаць гэтай мовай так, каб чулася як удома між людзей, якія па-беларуску гавораць.
 You should have such control of this language that you feel at home among people, who speak Belarusian.

   
25.2        Prepositions with the instrumental case

    The following prepositions can be followed by the instrumental case.  The meaning of each preposition in that context is given.


з
 with



Я пайшоў з імі.
 I went with them.




за
 behind



Ідзі за мною.
 Walk behind me.




між
 between



Дарога ўецца між палямі.
 The road winds between fields.




над
 over



Над лесам навісла хмара.
 A stormcloud hung over the forest.

exceeding



Мароз над усімі маразамі.
 A frost exceeding all frosts.




пад
 beneath



Жыта залоціцца пад сонцам.
 The rye ripened beneath the sun.

under



Быць пад строгай аховай.
 To be under heavy guard.




паміж
 between



Паміж небам і зямлёю.
 Between heaven and earth.




перад
 in front of



Не адступаць перад цяжкасцямі.
 Do not retreat in the face of difficulty.

before



Перад тым, трэба падумаць.
 Before that, one must think.

compared to



Яны нішто перад ім.
 They are nothing compared to him.


<< Chapter 24:  The Dative Case
Chapter 26:  The Prepositional Case >>

Introduction
























Copyright (c)  2004  Christian Cardell Marchant.
      Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
      under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2
      or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
      with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover
     Texts.  A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU
      Free Documentation License".