до/после + Genitive

Genitive After До and После

Level 2Sounds Like do/posle + roditelʹnyj

The prepositions до (before/until) and после (after) are used to describe the timing of events. Both require the noun that follows them to be in the Genitive case.

How It Works

In Russian, temporal prepositions like до and после act as 'triggers' for the Genitive case. This means you must change the ending of the noun, adjective, or pronoun that follows them.

1. Usage:

  • до: Before or until (e.g., до работы - before work; до вечера - until evening).
  • после: After (e.g., после школы - after school).

2. Noun Endings:

  • Singular: Masculine/Neuter take -а/-я; Feminine take -ы/-и.
  • 7-Letter Spelling Rule: In the Genitive, if a feminine noun ends in к, г, х, ж, ч, ш, щ, you must use -и instead of -ы (e.g., до книги, после дачи).
  • Plural: Nouns take endings like -ов/-ев, -ей, or a zero ending (e.g., после уроков, до праздников).

3. Adjective Agreement:
Adjectives must also change to the Genitive case to match the noun (e.g., до долгой встречи, после интересного фильма).

4. Pronouns:

  • 3rd Person: The pronouns он, она, оно, они add an 'н-' prefix after these prepositions: до него, после неё, до них.
  • 1st & 2nd Person: The pronouns я, ты, мы, вы do not add the 'н-' prefix: до меня, после тебя, до нас, после вас.

5. Important Distinction:
These prepositions are used with nouns. To say 'before/after I did something' (using a verb), you must use complex conjunctions like до того как or после того как. For more formal contexts, you can use verbal nouns.

Examples (5)

  1. Я пью чай до завтрака.

    I drink tea before breakfast.

    Word by Word: I drink tea before breakfast.

    'Завтрак' (breakfast) changes to the Genitive form 'завтрака' after 'до'.

  2. Мы пойдём гулять после урока.

    We will go for a walk after the lesson.

    Word by Word: We will go walk after lesson.

    'Урок' (lesson) changes to 'урока' in the Genitive case after 'после'.

  3. Магазин работает до семи вечера.

    The store is open until seven in the evening.

    Word by Word: Store works until seven evening.

    Here 'до' indicates a time limit ('until').

  4. Я позвоню тебе после него.

    I will call you after him.

    Word by Word: I will-call you after him.

    The pronoun 'он' becomes 'него' in the Genitive, and the 'н-' is added because it follows a preposition.

  5. Он пришёл до неё.

    He arrived before her.

    Word by Word: He arrived before her.

    The pronoun 'она' becomes 'неё' in the Genitive after 'до'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Nominative case after the preposition.

    после работа
    после работы

    Prepositions 'до' and 'после' always require the Genitive case. 'Работа' (feminine) must change to 'работы'.

  • Forgetting the 'н-' prefix for pronouns.

    после его
    после него

    When 3rd person pronouns (его, её, их) follow a preposition, they must start with 'н-'.

  • Using 'до' for spatial 'in front of'.

    Я стою до дома.
    Я стою перед домом.

    'До' means 'before' in time or 'up to' in space. To say 'in front of' a building, use 'перед' + Instrumental.

How It Connects

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до/после + GenitiveLevel 2Genitive After До and После

Learn This First

To use 'до' and 'после' correctly, a learner must first be familiar with the Genitive case endings for nouns. Since these prepositions are used to indicate time, understanding the basic 'when' question is also helpful for context.

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после