Topics, circumstances, and transport
о/об marks plural topics; при marks presence or circumstances; на can describe transport or medium.
- Transport expressions are lexical and construal-sensitive: е́хать на по́езде uses prepositional singular, while е́хать по́ездом uses instrumental singular. Both can express means with different framing.
- Case network: A preposition can contribute several related meanings, but it still governs a specific case in each construction.
| Preposition | Example | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| о | о пи́сателях; о друзья́х | topic |
| об | об имена́х; об усло́виях | topic before vowel |
| при | при де́тях | in the children's presence |
| при | при таки́х усло́виях | under such conditions |
| на | е́здить на поезда́х | by trains / using trains |
| на | рабо́тать на компью́терах | using/on computers |
Mini-check
1. Choose о or об: ___ друзья́х; ___ имена́х. 2. Give one plural transport phrase.
Apply this next
- Retrieve the rule without looking, then continue to the next lesson.