Declension overview

When Russian is taught to non-natives, the teacher must organize the nouns into some system so that the various endings can be learned gradually and rationally. Traditionally this is done by dividing them into six major cases, each of which has multiple uses. The major cases are:

Beginning students should be aware that there are two different orders that are commonly used to present the cases in table form. The one used on these web pages is chosen because it most clearly illustrates which case endings overlap. The other order is commonly used in Russian schools when teaching Russian students. The two approaches are contrasted below. Be careful to note which approach is being used when consulting a textbook, reference book, or work on linguistics. Notice how the linguistic order highlights the overlap of nominative and accusative in first declension nouns:

In second declension nouns the overlap of prepositional and dative singular is highlighted, as well as the overlap of accusative plural with nominative or genitive plural:

In third declension nouns the syncretism of genitive, prepositional and dative is highlighed, as well as the accusative syncretism.

Last but not least, notice that once you have the prepositional plural, you only have to change one letter to get the dative plural, to which you only have to add one letter to get the instrumental plural.

Since the linguistic order organizes overlapping case endings more logically than the traditional schoolbook order and also organizes the plural endings in a more rational fashion, it is an easier system to learn than the traditional system. There is no good reason to continue using the traditional system in new books.