Need the rule behind this exercise? Read Noun gender. For the bigger picture, explore Russian grammar.
Russian Nouns: Gender, Animacy, and Singular Endings
Practise identifying noun gender and choosing core singular case forms for common Russian nouns.
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Browse Noun Declension practiceQuestion 1
Это новая ___.
English context
Choose the correct nominative singular form of «газета» (newspaper).
Options
- газета
- газету
- газеты
- газете
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- газета
Correct feedback
Correct. «Газета» is the feminine nominative singular form.
Grammar rule
The nominative singular is the dictionary form and names a subject or identifies something.
Question 2
Мой брат — хороший ___.
English context
Choose the nominative masculine singular of «учитель» (teacher).
Options
- учитель
- учителя
- учителю
- учителем
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- учитель
Correct feedback
Correct. «Учитель» is masculine and is nominative after «мой брат —».
Grammar rule
Gender is grammatical: «учитель» is masculine despite its soft sign ending.
Question 3
Большое ___ открыто.
English context
Choose the nominative singular of «окно» (window).
Options
- окно
- окна
- окну
- окном
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- окно
Correct feedback
Correct. «Окно» is a neuter noun ending in -о.
Grammar rule
Neuter nouns commonly end in -о or -е in the nominative singular.
Question 4
Я читаю ___.
English context
Choose the accusative singular of «книга» (book).
Options
- книгу
- книга
- книги
- книгой
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- книгу
Correct feedback
Correct. The feminine inanimate object is «книгу».
Grammar rule
First-declension feminine nouns ending in -а commonly take -у in accusative singular.
Question 5
Я вижу ___.
English context
Choose the accusative singular of the animate noun «собака» (dog).
Options
- собаку
- собака
- собаки
- собакой
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- собаку
Correct feedback
Correct. The animate feminine object takes accusative «собаку».
Grammar rule
Feminine nouns ending in -а use -у for both animate and inanimate accusative singular objects.
Question 6
У меня нет ___.
English context
Choose the genitive singular of «билет» (ticket).
Options
- билета
- билет
- билету
- билетом
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- билета
Correct feedback
Correct. «Нет» requires genitive: «нет билета».
Grammar rule
The genitive singular expresses absence and possession; many masculine nouns take -а.
Question 7
Мы подходим к ___.
English context
Choose the dative singular of «станция» (station).
Options
- станции
- станцию
- станцией
- станция
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- станции
Correct feedback
Correct. «К» governs dative, and «станция» becomes «станции».
Grammar rule
The preposition «к» always governs dative: «к станции».
Question 8
Он пишет ___.
English context
Choose the dative singular of «друг» (friend) in «writes to a friend».
Options
- другу
- друга
- другом
- друг
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- другу
Correct feedback
Correct. The recipient is dative: «пишет другу».
Grammar rule
The dative marks a recipient: «писать кому? — другу».
Question 9
Мы говорим о ___.
English context
Choose the prepositional singular of «музей» (museum).
Options
- музее
- музей
- музея
- музеем
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- музее
Correct feedback
Correct. «О» meaning “about” takes prepositional: «о музее».
Grammar rule
The preposition «о» governs prepositional: «говорить о музее».
Question 10
Она гордится ___.
English context
Choose the instrumental singular of «сын» (son).
Options
- сыном
- сына
- сыну
- сын
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- сыном
Correct feedback
Correct. «Гордиться» governs instrumental: «гордится сыном».
Grammar rule
The instrumental marks the object of «гордиться»: «гордиться кем? — сыном».