The Instrumental for Means

Level 2

No preposition: ísť vlakom (by train), platiť kartou (by card), písať perom (with a pen).

How It Works

Getting around

  • autobusom (by bus), vlakom (by train), autom (by car), električkou (by tram), lietadlom (by plane), loďou (by boat)
  • on foot is the adverb pešo. For a bike, na bicykli is very common.

Tools

  • písať perom, ceruzkou (write with a pen, a pencil)
  • jesť lyžicou, vidličkou (eat with a spoon, a fork)
  • krájať nožom (cut with a knife)
  • umyť si ruky mydlom (wash your hands with soap)

Paying and sending

  • platiť kartou (pay by card); for cash, say v hotovosti
  • poslať poštou, e-mailom (send by post, by email)

s or no s? Both can appear in one sentence: Idem s kamarátom autom. (I'm going with a friend by car.) The friend comes along (s); the car is the means (no preposition).

Ask čím? Čím ideš do školy? — Autobusom. (How do you get to school? By bus.)

For the endings, see Instrumental Singular Endings. The instrumental alone can also name the route: see The Way You Go: Instrumental.

Examples (6)

  1. Do Košíc pôjdem vlakom.

    I'll go to Košice by train.

  2. Môžem platiť kartou?

    Can I pay by card?

  3. Deti píšu ceruzkou.

    The children are writing with a pencil.

  4. Polievku jeme lyžicou.

    We eat soup with a spoon.

  5. Pošlem ti to e-mailom.

    I'll send it to you by email.

  6. Čím ideš do práce? Električkou.

    How do you get to work? By tram.

    čím? asks about the means.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding s for a tool.

    Píšem s perom.
    Píšem perom.

    S means together with. A tool takes the instrumental with no preposition.

  • Adding s for a vehicle.

    Cestujem s vlakom.
    Cestujem vlakom.

    The way you travel takes the bare instrumental: vlakom means by train.

  • Using the accusative for the means of payment.

    Platím kartu.
    Platím kartou.

    Platiť with the accusative names what you pay for, as in Platím účet (I'm paying the bill). The means of payment is in the instrumental.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

The Instrumental for MeansLevel 2

Learn This First

Before The Instrumental for Means, learn Instrumental Singular Endings. The instrumental of means uses the instrumental endings.