Instrumental of means

Level 2

In Czech, when you want to say you do something "by means of" or "using" a tool or vehicle, you use the instrumental case without any preposition.

How It Works

To express the means or instrument of an action, use the bare instrumental case.

1. Forming the Instrumental (Singular)

  • Masculine: Most nouns take -em (e.g., vlak → vlakem, klíč → klíčem, soudce → soudcem). Nouns ending in -a take -ou (e.g., kolega → kolegou). Nouns ending in -í take -m (e.g., průvodčí → průvodčím).
  • Neuter: Nouns ending in -o, -e, or -ě take -em (e.g., pero → perem, moře → mořem). Note that neuter nouns of the kuře declension (typically baby animals) add the infix -et- before the -em ending (e.g., kuře → kuřetem). Nouns ending in -í take -m (e.g., nádraží → nádražím). Foreign neuter nouns ending in -um drop the -um and add -em (e.g., centrum → centrem, muzeum → muzeem).
  • Feminine: Change -a to -ou (e.g., tužka → tužkou). Change -e to -í (e.g., židle → židlí). For nouns ending in a consonant, add -í (e.g., tramvaj → tramvají).

2. Physical Tools and Instruments
The most prototypical use of the instrumental is to indicate the physical tool used to perform an action. For example, psát perem (to write with a pen), krájet nožem (to cut with a knife), or jíst lžící (to eat with a spoon).

3. Intangible Means and Technology
You also use the instrumental for non-physical means, methods, or technology. Common examples include platit kartou (to pay by card) and poslat e-mailem (to send by email).

4. Means of Transport
You use the bare instrumental for vehicles you travel in or by (e.g., autem, vlakem, autobusem, lodí). For open-air or straddled transport like bicycles, motorcycles, and animals, there is a strong preference to use na + locative (e.g., na kole - by bike, na koni - on horseback). While the instrumental is not strictly forbidden (you might occasionally hear jet motorkou or jet bicyklem), the locative is much more natural and common.

5. Body Parts
When you perform an action using a body part (like nodding your head or shrugging your shoulders), the body part is expressed in the bare instrumental case. This differs from English, which often uses a direct object or possessive pronoun (e.g., kývat hlavou - to nod one's head, pokrčit rameny - to shrug one's shoulders).

6. Spoken vs. Formal Czech
In standard formal Czech, plural instrumental endings vary depending on the noun's gender and declension type (typically -y, -i, -mi, -emi, or -ami). However, in casual spoken Czech, plural nouns typically take the endings -ama (hard/neutral), -ema (soft), or -ma/-íma (e.g., autama, strojema, věcma, nádražíma). You will hear this constantly in everyday conversation.

Examples (5)

  1. Krájím cibuli ostrým nožem.

    I am cutting the onion with a sharp knife.

    Word by Word: I-cut onion sharp knife.

    The adjective and noun (ostrým nožem) are both in the bare instrumental case to show the tool being used.

  2. Do práce jezdím autem.

    I go to work by car.

    Word by Word: To work I-go car.

    Enclosed vehicles used for transport take the bare instrumental case.

  3. Zaplatím to kartou.

    I will pay for it by card.

    Word by Word: I-will-pay it card.

    The feminine noun karta changes to kartou to indicate the means of payment.

  4. Píšu to modrým perem.

    I am writing it with a blue pen.

    Word by Word: I-write it blue pen.

    The neuter noun pero changes to perem to show the instrument of writing.

  5. Učitelka pomalu kývala hlavou.

    The teacher was slowly nodding her head.

    Word by Word: Teacher slowly nodded head.

    The feminine noun hlava (head) changes to hlavou because body parts used to perform actions take the bare instrumental case.

Common Mistakes

  • Translating the English "with" literally by adding the preposition "s" before a tool.

    Píšu s perem.
    Píšu perem.

    The preposition s/se means "together with" or "in the company of" (like a person). When using a tool, the bare instrumental case ending itself means "using." Saying "s perem" sounds comical to native speakers, as if you and the pen are writing together as friends.

  • Using the verb "jít" (to go on foot) when traveling by a vehicle.

    Jdu do práce autem.
    Jedu do práce autem.

    English speakers often use "go" for any type of movement. However, Czech strictly distinguishes between jít (to go on foot) and jet (to go by vehicle). If you are using a vehicle in the instrumental case, you must use "jet".

How It Connects

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Instrumental of meansLevel 2

Learn This First

To use the instrumental of means, a learner must already be familiar with the basic case endings of the instrumental (usually introduced via the preposition 's') and understand how these endings vary based on the gender of the noun. Additionally, knowledge of common verbs of motion or action is necessary to provide a context for using a 'means' or 'vehicle'.

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