Formal-register prepositions
Written and administrative style: ввиду, вследствие, согла́сно, вопреки, наря́ду с, по ме́ре.
⚡Key points
Bookish prepositions
B1 covered благодаря, из-за, несмотря на, в тече́ние… B2 adds formal-register prepositions (written, administrative), each with its case. Careful: some govern the dative (согла́сно, вопреки), which often surprises learners.
Cause and consequence (formal)
ввиду / вследствие (+ genitive)
| ввиду + genitive (due to) | formal cause | Ввиду боле́зни встре́ча отменена. (Due to illness…) |
| вследствие + genitive (as a result of) | cause / consequence | Вследствие ава́рии движе́ние закры́то. (As a result of the accident…) |
Usage
Administrative / formal cause
Ввиду непогоды рейс задержан. (Due to bad weather, the flight is delayed.)
Вследствие рефо́рмы измени́лись пра́вила. (As a result of the reform, the rules changed.)
согла́сно / вопреки (+ dative!)
Conformity, opposition, addition, progression
| согла́сно + dative (according to) | conformity | Согла́сно зако́ну, э́то запрещено́. (According to the law…) |
| вопреки + dative (contrary to) | opposition | Вопреки прогнозу, было со́лнечно. (Contrary to the forecast…) |
| наря́ду с + instrumental (alongside) | addition | Наря́ду с рабо́той он у́чится. (Alongside his work, he studies.) |
| по ме́ре + genitive (as / in proportion to) | progression | По ме́ре роста города расту́т про́бки. (As the city grows, traffic jams grow.) |
Usage
согла́сно: “according to”
Согла́сно расписанию, по́езд в 9. (According to the schedule, the train is at 9.)
вопреки: “against all odds”
Вопреки всему, он доби́лся це́ли. (Against all odds, he reached his goal.)
💡⚠️ согла́сно / вопреки + DATIVE (not genitive!)
Dialogue: a press statement
Journalist: Why was the event cancelled? — Press officer: Due to weather conditions, according to the commission’s decision. — Journalist: And contrary to the rumours, will it take place later? — Press officer: Yes. As the weather improves, we will announce the date.