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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

Russian Grammar

Spelling Rules Reference Nouns I Nouns II Nouns III Nouns IV Verbs I Verbs II Verbs III Adjectives I Adjectives II Pronouns I