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Preposition Contrasts: Direction, Source, and Purpose
Practice choosing between Russian prepositions that express location, movement, source, and purpose.
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Browse Prepositions practiceQuestion 1
Летом мы поедем ___ море.
English context
Choose the natural preposition and case for 'to the seaside' (movement toward a destination).
Options
- в море
- на море
- на пляже
- к морю
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- на море
Correct feedback
Correct! На море is the conventional expression for going to the seaside or coast; movement takes the accusative здесь.
Grammar rule
На + accusative expresses movement to many open areas, activities, and conventional destinations: на море, на работу, на концерт.
Question 2
Дети играют ___ дворе.
English context
Choose the natural phrase for 'The children are playing in the courtyard' (location, not motion).
Options
- в двор
- во дворе
- на дворе
- к двору
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- во дворе
Correct feedback
Exactly! Во дворе means 'in the courtyard.' The location meaning requires the prepositional case, and в becomes во before the consonant cluster.
Grammar rule
В + prepositional expresses location: во дворе. В + accusative expresses movement into a place: во двор.
Question 3
Она вернулась ___ университета поздно вечером.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'She returned from the university' (from inside a building).
Options
- с университета
- из университета
- от университета
- к университету
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- из университета
Correct feedback
Correct! Из университета means 'from the university' as a building or institution one has left.
Grammar rule
Из + genitive means 'from/out of' an enclosed place: из дома, из школы, из университета.
Question 4
Мы спустились ___ горы на лыжах.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'We came down from the mountain' (a surface or elevated area).
Options
- из горы
- с горы
- от горы
- к горе
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- с горы
Correct feedback
Well done! С горы means 'down/from the mountain.' A mountain is treated as an open surface or elevated area, so с takes the genitive.
Grammar rule
С + genitive expresses movement from a surface, open area, or elevated place: с горы, со стола, с работы.
Question 5
После лекции я пойду ___ преподавателю.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'I will go to the professor after the lecture' (toward a person).
Options
- в преподавателя
- на преподавателя
- к преподавателю
- у преподавателя
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- к преподавателю
Correct feedback
Correct! К преподавателю means 'to/toward the professor.' The preposition к governs the dative case.
Grammar rule
К + dative expresses movement toward a person or an object: к врачу, к преподавателю, к окну.
Question 6
По выходным они ходят ___ рынок за овощами.
English context
Choose the natural phrase for 'They go to the market on weekends' (a conventional market destination).
Options
- в рынок
- на рынок
- к рынку
- о рынке
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- на рынок
Correct feedback
Exactly! На рынок is the standard expression for going to the market; the destination takes the accusative.
Grammar rule
Russian uses на + accusative for several conventional destinations and activities: на рынок, на работу, на урок.
Question 7
Мы долго говорили ___ новом проекте.
English context
Choose the correct phrase for 'We talked about the new project.'
Options
- о новый проект
- об нового проекта
- о новом проекте
- к новому проекту
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- о новом проекте
Correct feedback
Correct! О новом проекте means 'about the new project.' О governs the prepositional case in this meaning.
Grammar rule
О/об + prepositional expresses the topic of thought or speech: о проекте, об экзамене.
Question 8
Мы поговорим ___ экзамене после занятия.
English context
Choose the correct form before a vowel sound for 'We will talk about the exam.'
Options
- о экзамене
- об экзамене
- об экзамен
- к экзамену
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- об экзамене
Correct feedback
Perfect! Об экзамене is used before the vowel sound in экзамене to make pronunciation smoother; экзамене is prepositional.
Grammar rule
О changes to об (or обо in some fixed expressions) before a vowel sound and governs the prepositional case: об экзамене.
Question 9
Нам нужно закончить работу ___ пятницы.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'by Friday' (a deadline).
Options
- для пятницы
- до пятницы
- без пятницы
- к пятницу
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- до пятницы
Correct feedback
Correct! До пятницы means 'by/before Friday' and sets a deadline; до governs the genitive case.
Grammar rule
До + genitive expresses a limit in time or space: до пятницы, до вечера, до станции.
Question 10
Этот документ нужен ___ оформления визы.
English context
Choose the phrase meaning 'This document is needed for processing the visa.'
Options
- до оформления визы
- для оформления визы
- без оформлению визы
- к оформлении визы
Accepted answers and explanation
Accepted answers
- для оформления визы
Correct feedback
Exactly! Для оформления визы means 'for processing the visa.' Для governs the genitive, and the verbal noun оформление takes the genitive form оформления.
Grammar rule
Для + genitive expresses purpose or intended recipient: для работы, для детей, для оформления визы.