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Advanced Prepositions: Multiple Cases and Fixed Patterns
Distinguish advanced meanings and case patterns with с, за, под, по, and при.
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Browse Prepositions practiceQuestion 1
Самолёт прилетел ___ Москвы рано утром.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'The plane arrived from Moscow' (source city).
Options
- с Москвы
- из Москвы
- от Москвы
- к Москве
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- из Москвы
Correct feedback
Correct! Из Москвы means 'from Moscow.' Cities and countries are normally treated as enclosed areas with из for an origin.
Grammar rule
Из + genitive marks origin from a city, country, or enclosed area: из Москвы, из России, из аэропорта.
Question 2
Она вернулась ___ конференции с важными заметками.
English context
Choose the conventional phrase meaning 'She returned from the conference.'
Options
- из конференции
- с конференции
- от конференции
- к конференции
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- с конференции
Correct feedback
Well done! С конференции is the conventional expression for returning from an event; с governs the genitive here.
Grammar rule
С + genitive can express departure from an event, activity, or open destination: с конференции, с работы, с концерта.
Question 3
Я пришёл на встречу ___ коллегой.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'I came to the meeting with a colleague.'
Options
- с коллеги
- с коллегой
- из коллеги
- к коллеге
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- с коллегой
Correct feedback
Correct! С коллегой means 'with a colleague.' In this meaning с governs the instrumental case.
Grammar rule
С + instrumental means 'with/together with': с коллегой, с другом, с командой.
Question 4
Мы обсуждали план ___ новым руководителем.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'We discussed the plan with the new manager.'
Options
- с нового руководителя
- с новым руководителем
- за нового руководителя
- к новому руководителю
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- с новым руководителем
Correct feedback
Exactly! С новым руководителем means 'with the new manager'; с has the instrumental meaning of participation or accompaniment.
Grammar rule
С + instrumental marks a companion or participant, while с + genitive marks movement away from a surface, event, or open place.
Question 5
Дети забежали ___ угол, чтобы спрятаться.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'The children ran behind the corner to hide' (movement to the far side).
Options
- за углом
- за угол
- под угол
- по углу
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- за угол
Correct feedback
Correct! За угол uses the accusative for movement behind/to the far side of the corner.
Grammar rule
За + accusative expresses movement behind or beyond something; за + instrumental expresses location behind it.
Question 6
Мы сидели ___ большим столом и разговаривали.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'We sat at the large table' (stationary location).
Options
- за большой стол
- за большим столом
- под большим столом
- по большому столу
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- за большим столом
Correct feedback
Perfect! За большим столом describes a stationary position at/behind the table, so за takes the instrumental.
Grammar rule
За + instrumental expresses location behind or at a table: за столом, за большим столом.
Question 7
Кошка спряталась ___ кроватью.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'The cat hid under the bed' (location beneath something).
Options
- под кровать
- под кроватью
- на кровать
- по кровати
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- под кроватью
Correct feedback
Correct! Под кроватью expresses a stationary location under the bed and therefore uses the instrumental.
Grammar rule
Под + instrumental expresses location under something; под + accusative expresses movement to a position under it.
Question 8
Он работает ___ контракту с зарубежной компанией.
English context
Choose the fixed phrase meaning 'He works under a contract with a foreign company.'
Options
- по контракт
- по контракту
- при контракте
- за контрактом
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- по контракту
Correct feedback
Exactly! По контракту is a fixed expression meaning 'under/on the basis of a contract'; по governs the dative here.
Grammar rule
По + dative can express accordance with a basis, system, or document: по контракту, по закону, по расписанию.
Question 9
При необходимости позвоните в службу поддержки.
English context
Choose the meaning of the fixed phrase при необходимости in this formal instruction.
Options
- during the necessity
- if necessary
- because of necessity
- without necessity
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- if necessary
Correct feedback
Correct! При необходимости is a fixed formal phrase meaning 'if necessary' or 'when necessary.'
Grammar rule
При + prepositional appears in fixed conditional patterns such as при необходимости, при желании, and при возможности.
Question 10
Вопросы распределили ___ участниками группы.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'The questions were distributed among the group participants.'
Options
- по участники группы
- по участникам группы
- при участниках группы
- под участниками группы
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- по участникам группы
Correct feedback
Well done! По участникам means 'among/to the participants,' distributing something across recipients; по governs the dative.
Grammar rule
По + dative can express distribution among recipients or units: по участникам, по студентам, по группам.