Instrumental case - narzędnik

The instrumental case is used after conjugations of być.  Like:
Jestem Anglikiem - I'm an Englishman
Jest kotem - it's a cat
Jesteś Polakiem? - You're a Polack?
and just as I began to think all instrumental endings were -em:
Jestem farmaceutą / farmaceutką - I'm a pharmacist (male/female)

After the following prepositions:
nad - above
pod - below
przed - in front of
za - behind
między ... a ... - in between ... and ...
z - with
NB: if nad, pod or przed are used with a verb of motion, then the accusative case is used instead.

The instrumental case is used when stating mode of transport.  Like:
Jeżdżę do pracy samochodem.  I go to work by car.
NB: samochód (car) is the mode of transport, so is in the instrumental case, samochodem; 
praca (work) follows the preposition, do, in expressing motion, so is in the accusative case, pracy.

The instrumental case, as I guess the name suggests, is used in expressing what tool, or instrument, you are using to perform an action.  Like:
Nie robię pierogów z foremką / maszynką do pierogów - I don't make pierogi with a mold / pirogi press.
NB: pirogi is used in the genitive case, pirogów, as the direct object of a negative verb and following do (used to describe what the maszynka (gizmo) is for



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