Уро́к 7
7.6 Grammar: Предло́ги ‘из’, ‘с’, ‘от’, ‘для’
Люби́мая Грамма́тика
Genitive Case Prepositions:
из, с, от, для
On the topic of going places or to see people, it also warrants note how to say one is going ‘from’ those places or people. For this we need a set of Genitive Case prepositions. Read the following examples and see if you can deduce when to use which. Note, ALL of these prepositions take the Genitive Case.
Examples
Я иду́ с рабо́ты. Я иду́ домо́й.
I am walking / leaving from work. I am going home.
Они́ бы́ли в Евро́пы, но сейча́с уже́ е́дут из Евро́пы.
They were in Europe, but now they are already on their way back from Europe.
Ма́ма была́ у ба́бушки весь день. Она́ сейча́с идёт от ба́бушки.
Mom was at Grandma’s all day. Now she is leaving (from) Grandma’s.
Мы шли с конце́рта, когда́ уви́дили вас в кафе́.
We were coming from the concert when we saw you at the cafe.
Вот, ви́дишь, как Ко́ля идёт с по́чты.
See how Kolya is coming from the post office.
Оле́г был у профе́ссора, но он сейча́с идёт от него́.
Oleg was at the professor’s (place), but he’s now leaving (from his place).
Викто́рия путеше́ствовала по Росси́и. Она́ сейча́с е́дет из Москвы́ в Вашингто́н.
Victoria was traveling around Russia. Now she is on her way from Moscow to Washington.
The RULES
Maybe you noticed. Maybe you figured it out. Whenever you use в + Accusative Case to indicate direction towards a place, you use из + Genitive to indicate motion away from that place. Whenever you use на + Accusative to indicate direction towards a place or event, you use с + Genitive to indicate motion away from that place or event. Finally, where you use к + Dative to indicate motion towards a person, you use от + Genitive to indicate motion away from that person.
And, finally, a note about the preposition для – ‘for’ + Genitive Case. This preposition is NOT used with direction but simply is used when we intend something ‘for’ something or someone, as in:
Э́то коро́бка для шокола́да.
This is a box for chocolate
Э́то буты́лка для воды́.
This is a bottle for water.
Э́то ко́мната для ба́бушки.
This is a room for Grandma.
Э́то мы́ло для посу́ды.
This is soap for the dishes.
