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Czech grammar · Level A1–A2

Instrumentál: the instrumental case

The instrumental answers “kým? čím?” (with whom? with what?). It’s easy to spot: -em for masculine and neuter, -ou for feminine. Most often after s (“with”): káva s mlékem, and for transport: Do práce jezdím autobusem.

QuizContents
Contents
  1. Endings
  2. When to use it
  3. Prepositions of place
  4. Common mistakes
  5. Quiz
  6. FAQ

Endings

Masculine and neuter take -em: autobus → autobusem, auto → autem, učitel → učitelem; neuters in -í take -ím: nádraží → nádražím. Feminines in -a take -ou: žena → ženou, káva → kávou; those in -e or a consonant take -í: kuchyně → kuchyní, tramvaj → tramvají. Plural: -y (s kamarády, s auty), -ami (se ženami), -i (s učiteli).

Instrumental
NominativeinstrumentálExample
autobusautobusemJezdím autobusem.
mlékomlékemKáva s mlékem.
kamarádkakamarádkouJdu s kamarádkou.
tramvajtramvajíJedu tramvají.
kamarádikamarádyJdu s kamarády.

When to use it

S / se meaning “with”: s bratrem, se sestrou. Transport with no preposition: jezdit autobusem, vlakem, tramvají, letět letadlem. Stát se (to become) + instrumental: Chci se stát lékařem. After být Czech usually keeps the nominative (Jsem student); the instrumental is more formal or used in past and future: Byl učitelem.

  • Do práce jezdím autobusem.I go to work by bus.
  • Dám si kávu s mlékem.I’ll have a coffee with milk.
  • Chce se stát lékařkou.She wants to become a doctor.

Tip: Zajímat se (to be interested in) takes o + accusative in Czech, not the instrumental: Zajímám se o hudbu (Polish says interesuję się muzyką).

Prepositions of place

For “where?”, před (in front of), za (behind), nad (above), pod (under), mezi (between) take the instrumental: před domem, pod stolem, mezi oknem a dveřmi.

  • Kočka spí pod stolem.The cat is sleeping under the table.
  • Čekám před kinem.I’m waiting in front of the cinema.

Common mistakes

The mistakes people make most often — and the right way.

  • Wrong: Jezdím na autobusu.

    Right: Jezdím autobusem.

    Transport: instrumental, no preposition.

  • Wrong: káva s mléko

    Right: káva s mlékem

    S + instrumental.

  • Wrong: Jdu s kamarádka.

    Right: Jdu s kamarádkou.

    Feminine -a nouns take -ou.

  • Wrong: Zajímám se hudbou.

    Right: Zajímám se o hudbu.

    Zajímat se o + accusative.

The instrumental: autobusem, s mlékem

Quiz

10 questions: choose the right option — the explanation appears straight away.

  1. Question 1

    Do práce jezdím _____.

  2. Question 2

    Kávu s _____, prosím.

  3. Question 3

    Jdu do kina s _____.

  4. Question 4

    Kočka spí pod _____.

  5. Question 5

    Do centra jedu _____.

  6. Question 6

    Chci se stát _____.

  7. Question 7

    Čekám před _____.

  8. Question 8

    Bydlím se _____.

  9. Question 9

    Byl jsem v kině s _____.

  10. Question 10

    Zajímám se _____ historii.

Correct: 0 of 10

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FAQ

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.

S or se?

Se goes before words starting with s, z, š, ž and before consonant clusters: se sestrou, se mnou, se ženou. Otherwise s: s bratrem.

Jsem student or jsem studentem?

Both are correct. In speech Jsem student is usual; studentem is more formal. After stát se only the instrumental works: stal se učitelem.

Why tramvají and not tramvajou?

Tramvaj is a feminine noun ending in a consonant, and those take -í: tramvají, kostí, písní. -ou is only for nouns in -a.

Other topics

All topics50 most common Czech wordsCzech level test

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