Instrumental of Comparison
Вецер выў ваўком. The instrumental ваўком means like a wolf. No preposition and no як are needed.
How It Works
You already know the instrumental of means: пішу ручкай (I write with a pen). The same bare instrumental can also make a comparison. The noun then names the image that the action resembles:
- Вецер выў ваўком. The wind howled like a wolf.
- Час ляцеў птушкай. Time flew like a bird.
- Дарога вілася змяёй. The road wound like a snake.
How it works. Put the noun in the instrumental and place it next to the verb, usually right before or after it. Use no preposition and no як. The comparison describes the manner of the action, so it answers the question як? (how?).
Where you meet it. This is a feature of poetry, fiction and folk style. It is also frozen in many everyday idioms: стаяць слупам (to stand stock-still, like a post), ляцець стралой (to fly like an arrow), маланкай (like lightning, very fast).
The everyday version. In ordinary speech, compare with як and the nominative. The phrase is set off with a comma: Вецер выў, як воўк. Both versions are correct, but do not mix them: either ваўком alone, or як воўк.
Do not confuse it with other uses. After быць or працаваць the instrumental names a real role: Ён працаваў настаўнікам means he really was a teacher. With verbs of motion it can name a route: ісці лесам (to walk through the forest, see the instrumental of route). The comparison reading appears when the noun clearly cannot be a tool, a role or a road, as with ваўком after выць.
Examples (6)
- Вецер выў ваўком.
The wind howled like a wolf.
Word by Word: Wind howled wolf-INSTR.
- Час ляцеў птушкай.
Time flew like a bird.
Word by Word: Time flew bird-INSTR.
- Дарога вілася змяёй праз поле.
The road wound like a snake across the field.
Word by Word: Road wound snake-INSTR across field.
- Слёзы цяклі ручаём.
Tears flowed like a stream.
Word by Word: Tears flowed stream-INSTR.
- Навіна маланкай абляцела ўсю вёску.
The news spread through the whole village like lightning.
Word by Word: News lightning-INSTR flew-around whole village.
- Ён стаяў слупам і маўчаў.
He stood stock-still and said nothing.
Word by Word: He stood post-INSTR and was-silent.
Стаяць слупам is a fixed idiom built on the same comparison.
Common Mistakes
Adding як to the instrumental.
Вецер выў як ваўком.Вецер выў ваўком.Як takes the nominative: Вецер выў, як воўк. The bare instrumental already means like, so it needs no як.
Using з with the instrumental.
Час ляцеў з птушкай.Час ляцеў птушкай.З with the instrumental means together with, so the incorrect sentence says time flew along with a bird. Leave out the preposition to compare.
Leaving the noun in the nominative.
Вецер выў воўк.Вецер выў ваўком.Without як, the noun must be in the instrumental. The nominative would make воўк a second subject.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Comparison needs the instrumental.
Related Patterns
- як in ComparisonsComparing with Як
The everyday way to say the same thing: як with the nominative.
Level 3 - Instrumental of Route
With verbs of motion, a bare instrumental can name the route instead.
Level 6 - працаваць / быць / стаць + InstrumentalInstrumental for Roles and Jobs
After быць and працаваць the instrumental names a real role, not a likeness.
Level 2 - Instrumental Singular Endings
The endings you need, such as -ам, -ом, -ай and -ой: ваўком, птушкай.
Level 2 - быццам / як быццамAs if with Быццам
Another way to compare, with a whole clause: as if.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice Instrumental of Comparison in Bubblegum
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