Week 37, Lesson 73, Monday
Say what you do: the instrumental
Russian says I work as a manager with a new case, the instrumental: ме́неджером. It also follows стать, to become, and был, was.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Month 9, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can say what I do, what I was before and what I want to become.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- What do you do?
- Was and will be
What do you do?
One case for jobs: the instrumental. Look at the endings first.
| Job | Working as … |
|---|---|
| ме́неджер | рабо́таю ме́неджером |
| врач | рабо́таю врачо́м |
| учи́тель | рабо́таю учи́телем |
| учи́тельница | рабо́тает учи́тельницей |
| медсестра́ | рабо́тает медсестро́й |
он words add -ом (-ем when soft); words in -а swap it for -ой (-ей). Ask: Кем вы рабо́таете?
Was and will be
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ра́ньше я был студе́нтом. | Before, I was a student. |
| Я хочу́ стать врачо́м. | I want to become a doctor. |
| Она́ ста́ла нача́льником отде́ла. | She became head of the department. |
быть, стать, рабо́тать: all three take the instrumental for the job.

4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: -ом and -ем
The instrumental endings are short and light, except stressed -о́м: врачо́м.
- ме́неджером [MYE-nid-zhi-ram] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- врачо́м [vra-CHOM] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- Кем вы рабо́таете?What do you do?
- Я рабо́таю …I work as …
- Я хочу́ стать …I want to become …
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
Кем вы рабо́таете?
What do you do?
рабо́тать ме́неджером
to work as a manager
врачо́м, учи́телем
as a doctor, as a teacher
учи́тельницей, медсестро́й
as a teacher, as a nurse (a woman)
стать кем?
to become
был студе́нтом
was a student
инжене́р
консульта́нт
consultant
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
Role-play
Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.
You
- Say what you do, what you did before, and what you want to become.
Екатери́на
- Ask Кем вы рабо́таете? and Кем вы хоти́те стать?
7Your turn 5 minutes
Write what you do, what you were before, and what you want to become.
See a model answer
Я рабо́таю ме́неджером. Ра́ньше я был консульта́нтом. Я хочу́ стать дире́ктором.
Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на together with Homework 73.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can say what I do, what I was before and what I want to become.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 73 on Tuesday: jobs and the instrumental.
I can say what I do, what I was before and what I want to become.