The prepositions ‘над’, ‘под’, ‘за’, ‘перед’, ‘рядом с’ and ‘между’ show the location of the object. All these prepositions require the Instrumental case after them.

1. над – above, over

Used to indicate that something is above something else.

1. Картина висит над диваном.
The painting is hanging above the sofa.

2. Смотри! Над лесом летит самолёт!
Look! A plane is flying over the forest!

2. под – under, below

Used to show that something is under something else.

1. Собака лежит под столом.
The dog is lying under the table.

2. A: Где наша машина?! В: Вон там, стоит под деревом.
A: Where is our car?! B: Over there, parked under the tree.

3. за – behind

Indicates that something is behind another object.

1. Парковка находится за домом.
The parking lot is behind the house.

2. А: Где Мурзик? В: Наверное, спит за диваном. 
A: Where is Murzik? B: He’s probably sleeping behind the sofa.

3. Почему ты опаздываешь? Мы все уже за столом.
Why are you late? We are all already at the table.

The phrase “за столом” literally means “behind the table” in English; however, over time, it has come to mean “at the table”. It is used to describe any number of people sitting at a table, usually to eat, work or converse.

4. перед – in front of

Used to show that something is in front of something else.

1. Машина стоит перед гаражом.
The car is parked in front of the garage.

2. Дети играют перед школой.
Children are playing in front of the school.

5. рядом с – next to, beside

Indicates proximity, that something is next to or near something else.

1. Кафе находится рядом с метро.
The cafe is next to the subway.

2. А: Ты не видел мои очки? В: Они лежат рядом с компьютером.
А: Did you see my glasses? B: They’re beside the computer.

6. между – between

Used when something is between two objects.

1. Часы висят между картинами на стене.
The clock is hanging between the paintings on the wall.

2. А: Извините, где здесь аптека? В: Она находится между банком и почтой.
A: Excuse me, where is a pharmacy near here? B: It’s between the bank and post-office.

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Photo credits: Westend61; AzmanL; onurdongel; Kinzie Riehm; Betsie Van der Meer; onurdongel/Getty Images