Thread: Instrumental Case and "с"

Because when you say "Я пошел сестрой" it looks like your sister is a chess-man and you move the piece. When you don't use "c" it implies that a subject manages (via a verb) an object (in instrumental) directly.
Я пошел королем = "I moved the king", like in a chess game
Я ударил по столу рукой = "I hit the table with my hand" (ударил рукой, рукой is instrumental)
Я воспользуюсь карандашом = "I'll use a pencil"
That's why this case is named "instrumental", because an object (in instrumental) implies sort of a tool.
When you use "c" it means that a subject and an object (in instrumental) act together or maybe an object is a part of the subject.

In addition to what was explained above.

["с" + instrumental] and [instrumental with no preposition] have completely different meanings. Some examples to illustrate the difference:

Он работает молотком. - He works with a hammer (by means of a hammer, using a hammer). Here "молоток" is a tool he uses to perform the action.
Он работает с улыбкой. - He works with a smile. "Улыбка" is not a tool, is it?

Он помог мне с улыбкой. - He helped me with a smile. (He was smiling while helping me).
Он помог мне улыбкой. - He helped me with his smile. (It is his smile which helped me. He smiled, and that helped me).

The instrumental can express a means of transportation as well:

Он путешествовал самолётом. - He travelled by plane. ("самолёт" is a tool he used for travelling).
Он путешествовал с самолётом. - He travelled with a plane. (Probably, he might have a small toy plane in his baggage).

The instrumental can express a role someone plays:

Я работаю инженером. - I work as an engineer (I am an engineer).
Я работаю с инженером. - I work with an engineer. (An engineer and I are doing some work together).

Он был архитектором. - He was an architect. (He played a role of an architect).
Он был с архитектором. - He was (together) with an architect (somewhere).

Based on the reasoning of the rule "tool - not tool" the following expressions should be correct:
1. он работает с энтузиазмом.
2. я жду с терпением.
3. Он пошел со своим братом.
My question is: Do the Russian sometimes ommit the "c" because the following word starts with "C"
Naprimer: Он пошел с Силвертером

Originally Posted by Antonio1986

Based on the reasoning of the rule "tool - not tool" the following expressions should be correct:
1. он работает с энтузиазмом.
2. я жду с терпением.
3. Он пошел со своим братом.

Perfect!

Originally Posted by Antonio1986

My question is: Do the Russian sometimes ommit the "c" because the following word starts with "C"
Naprimer: Он пошел с Силвертером

In writing - never!
In pronunciation, two "с" merge into a "long consonant", in careful speech it sounds distinctly due to its "length", in fast speech yes it can be hardly noticeable.

BTW, if a word starts with "с" + another consonant, then "с" is mostly replaced with "со":

с сестрой,
с солью,
с сахаром, but
со стаканом,
со светом,
со снегом,
со страусом...

Spasibo. The "со" is pronounced like "sa" or "so"