Surnames and identity-sensitive declension
Surname declension depends on form, gender of the bearer, origin, and established norm; classification must precede any ending.
- Real surnames contain exceptions and family preferences, especially across languages. Formal writing should verify the name in an authoritative record or specialised reference.
| Surname type | Typical behaviour | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ов/-ев/-ин | gendered adjectival pattern | Ивано́в - с Ивано́вым; Ивано́ва - с Ивано́вой |
| -ский/-цкий | full adjectival pattern | Достое́вский - о Достое́вском |
| male consonant-final foreign | usually declines | Бра́ун - с Бра́уном |
| female consonant-final foreign | usually indeclinable | А́нна Бра́ун - с А́нной Бра́ун |
| -ых/-их; many -енко | normally indeclinable | о Долги́х; с Шевче́нко |
Mini-check
1. Form: с + Ивано́в (man); с + Ивано́ва (woman). 2. Would a woman's consonant-final foreign surname normally decline?
Apply this next
- Retrieve the rule without looking, then continue to the next lesson.