Instrumental Endings for Nouns (All Genders)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Instrumental case describes 'with whom' or 'with what' you do something, usually adding -om, -em, or -im endings.
- Use it for accompaniment: 'Idem s prijateljem' (I go with a friend).
- Use it for tools: 'Pišem olovkom' (I write with a pencil).
- Use it after 's' (with): 'Kava sa šećerom' (Coffee with sugar).
Instrumental Case Endings
| Gender | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
|
Masculine
|
-om / -em
|
-ima
|
|
Feminine
|
-om
|
-ama
|
|
Neuter
|
-om / -em
|
-ima
|
Meanings
The Instrumental case indicates the instrument or means by which an action is performed, or accompaniment.
Accompaniment
Being with someone or something.
“Idem s majkom.”
“Razgovaram s kolegom.”
Instrument/Means
The tool used to perform an action.
“Pišem kemijskom.”
“Putujem avionom.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + Ending
|
Pišem olovkom.
|
|
Accompaniment
|
s + Noun(Instr)
|
Idem s prijateljem.
|
|
Negative
|
ne + Verb + s + Noun(Instr)
|
Ne idem s njim.
|
|
Question
|
S kim/čime + Verb?
|
S kim ideš?
|
|
Plural
|
Noun + -ima/-ama
|
Idem s prijateljima.
|
Espectro de formalidad
Idem s prijateljem. (Social)
Idem s prijateljem. (Social)
Idem s frendom. (Social)
Idem s frendom. (Social)
Instrumental Case Map
Tools
- olovkom with a pencil
People
- s mamom with mom
Ejemplos por nivel
Idem s prijateljem.
I am going with a friend.
Pišem olovkom.
I am writing with a pencil.
Jedem vilicom.
I am eating with a fork.
Putujem vlakom.
I am traveling by train.
Kava sa šećerom.
Coffee with sugar.
Razgovaram s učiteljem.
I am talking with the teacher.
Idem u školu autobusom.
I go to school by bus.
Radim s računalom.
I work with a computer.
Bavim se sportom.
I am involved in sports.
On je postao liječnikom.
He became a doctor.
Sretan sam s ovim rezultatom.
I am happy with this result.
Upravljam ovim projektom.
I am managing this project.
Ona se ponosi svojim radom.
She is proud of her work.
Slažem se s tvojim mišljenjem.
I agree with your opinion.
Putujemo cijelom Hrvatskom.
We are traveling through all of Croatia.
Služio se lažima.
He used lies.
Postao je cijenjenim stručnjakom.
He became a respected expert.
Smatraju ga velikim umjetnikom.
They consider him a great artist.
Oduševljen sam ovim prizorom.
I am thrilled by this scene.
Bori se s vjetrenjačama.
He is fighting windmills.
Pjesnik se služi metaforama.
The poet employs metaphors.
Ona vlada situacijom.
She is in command of the situation.
Zadovoljan sam postignutim uspjehom.
I am satisfied with the achieved success.
Živim s nadom u bolje sutra.
I live with the hope of a better tomorrow.
Fácil de confundir
Both use prepositions.
Used in predicate.
Both follow verbs.
Errores comunes
Idem prijatelj
Idem s prijateljem
Pišem olovka
Pišem olovkom
S mama
S mamom
Putujem vlak
Putujem vlakom
Sa prijateljem
S prijateljem
Radim s računal
Radim s računalom
Idem s prijatelji
Idem s prijateljima
On je liječnik
On je postao liječnikom
Slažem se s ti
Slažem se s tobom
Bavim se sport
Bavim se sportom
Smatraju ga umjetnik
Smatraju ga umjetnikom
Služi se laž
Služi se lažima
Oduševljen sam prizor
Oduševljen sam prizorom
Patrones de oraciones
Idem s ___.
Putujem ___.
Bavim se ___.
Slažem se s ___.
Real World Usage
Idem s frendom na kavu.
Kava s mlijekom, molim.
Radim s naprednim alatima.
Putujem vlakom u Zagreb.
Uživam s obitelji.
Pizza sa sirom.
The 'S' Rule
Don't skip the ending
Soft Consonants
Frend vs Prijatelj
Smart Tips
Always check for 's'.
Drop the 's'.
Use Instrumental.
Use Instrumental.
Pronunciación
Sa vs S
Use 'sa' before words starting with s, š, z, ž, or clusters.
Statement
Idem s prijateljem. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Instrumental is the 'Tool' case—think of an instrument in a band!
Asociación visual
Imagine holding a giant pen (olovka) that turns into a pencil (olovkom) when you touch it to paper.
Rhyme
With a friend or with a pen, add -om or -em.
Story
I went to the park with my dog (psom). I threw a ball with my hand (rukom). We traveled by bus (autobusom).
Word Web
Desafío
Describe your breakfast using the Instrumental case in 3 sentences.
Notas culturales
People often use 'frend' instead of 'prijatelj' in the Instrumental.
The Instrumental is used frequently in local songs.
Standard usage is very common in formal settings.
Derived from the Proto-Slavic *instrumentalis, denoting the means of action.
Inicios de conversación
S kim ideš na kavu?
Čime putuješ na posao?
Čime se baviš u slobodno vrijeme?
Slažeš li se s tom odlukom?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
Idem s ___ (mama).
Pišem ___ (olovka).
Find and fix the mistake:
Idem s prijatelj.
On je liječnik. (Postati)
A: S kim ideš? B: Idem s ___.
Which is Instrumental?
Pas (Instrumental)
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesIdem s ___ (mama).
Pišem ___ (olovka).
Find and fix the mistake:
Idem s prijatelj.
On je liječnik. (Postati)
A: S kim ideš? B: Idem s ___.
Which is Instrumental?
Pas (Instrumental)
Kava -> ?
Score: /8
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
Use 'sa' before words starting with s, š, z, ž to make pronunciation easier.
No, it's for tools, transport, and ingredients too.
Yes, when talking about tools or transport.
Feminine -a nouns change to -om.
Extremely common.
You need the preposition 's' for accompaniment.
Use 'sa mnom'.
Yes, usually -ima or -ama.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Mit + Dative
German uses Dative; Croatian uses Instrumental.
Avec + Noun
French has no noun declension.
Con + Noun
Spanish lacks noun declension.
De particle
Japanese is post-positional.
Bi- prefix
Arabic uses a prefix.
用 (yòng) + Noun
Chinese uses a verb, not a case.
