Thread: to be a guest....

Im a bit confused. Which of these is right?

мы были у бабушки в гости.

or

мы были у бабушки в гостях.

If they are both right...when do you use which?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by saibot

Im a bit confused. Which of these is right?

мы были у бабушки в гости.

or

мы были у бабушки в гостях.

If they are both right...when do you use which?

Thanks!

мы были у бабушки в гости.- this one you do not use. It is incorrect.
мы были у бабушки в гостях. - this one is correct

Why do you use that one though? When would you use the other one?

гости is nominative plural.

в is never followed by nominative

в + Accusative (through, towards, at)

or

в + Prepositional (as, while, in)

мы были у бабушки в гостях
We were at grandmother's (place) as guests.

You can use в гости.

Тимошенко приедет в гости к Путину

i was wondering if there is a rule of them when you use which

got that sentence off the internet

When preceded by a verb of motion "в гости" = visit.
NOT to be a guest.

Тимошенко приедет в гости к Путину
Тимошенко will arrive on a visit to Putin

I got the answer!

В гостях
in phrases with быть, сидеть, etc., e.g. быть в гостях to be in someone's home, to be visiting someone informally, to be at a small informal gathering

В гости
in phrases with идтй, ходить, etc., e.g. to visit informally, to go to a small informal gathering, to go see someone

Go to http://russian.dmll.cornell.edu/rdt/ and type "visit".

Sweet! Now it all makes sense.

Thanks!