When we talk about food and cooking, we use the instrumental case to convey the means or tools we use to eat or prepare food and to talk about the ingredients or components in a dish. For example:

Mы едим суп ложкой.
Я люблю бутерброды с сыром.

Review instrumental case endings in the table below.

Instrumental Case without Preposition “C”

Remember that when referring to the utensils or tools used in eating and cooking, we use the instrumental case without the preposition “с” . The instrumental case alone conveys the meaning of using a particular tool. For example:

• Mы едим суп ложкой.   – We eat soup with a spoon.
• Он нарезал хлеб ножом.  – He sliced bread with a knife.

Тhe instrumental case without the preposition “с” is аlso used with the verbs угощать/угостить (to treat),  кормить/накормить (to feed), and поить/напоить (to give a drink). The food or drink being offered is in the instrumental case, the recipient of food or drink is in the accusative case.  For example:

• Он угощал нас вкусными конфетами. – He treated us to delicious candy.
  Мы угостили гостей пирогом. – We treated the guests to a pie.
• Мать кормит ребëнка супом. – The mother feeds the child soup.
  Я накормил кота рыбой. – I fed the cat fish.
• По вечерам, она поила детей молоком. – In the evenings, she gave milk to the children.
  Мы напоили гостей чаем. – We gave the guests tea.

Instrumental Case with Preposition “C”

When we talk about ingredients or components in a dish, we use the instrumental case and include the preposition “с” before the ingredient to indicate “with.” For example:

• Я люблю бутерброды с сыром.  – I love sandwiches with cheese.
• На обед я приготовила салат с огурцами и помидорами. – I prepared a salad with cucumbers and tomatoes for dinner. 

The conjunction “чтобы” serves to convey purpose or intention. It can also be used used to express wishes and desires. For example:

• Я хочу, чтобы ты был счастлив. – I want you to be happy.
  
• Мы желаем, чтобы у вас всё получилось! – We wish that everything works out for you! 

When employing the conjunction “чтобы,” it is important to determine whether to use the infinitive or the past tense in the subordinate clause:

1. Infinitive: use the infinitive form when the subject is the same in both clauses.

• Я пишу, чтобы пожелать Вам удачи на новой работе. – I am writing to wish you luck with the new job.
  
• Он принёс цветы, чтобы поздравить её с днём рождения. – He brought flowers to congratulate her on her birthday.

2. Past Tense: use the past tense when subjects differ in the main and subordinate clauses. In the examples below different subjects are in bold:

• Я хочу, чтобы ты был счастлив. – I want you to be happy.
• Мы желаем, чтобы ваша поездка была безопасной и интересной. – We wish your trip to be safe and interesting.
• Папа пожелал, чтобы мне повезло на экзамене. – Dad wished me luck on the exam [to be lucky on the exam]. 

Note: In informal conversations, you may frequently come across a shortened or informal version of “чтобы” – “чтоб.” Both variations serve the same function and convey the same meaning.
For example:  Я звоню, чтоб узнать, как дела. – I am calling to find out how things are going.

To form the imperative (command form of the verb) in Russian, you need to know two forms of the present tense of the verb: the 1st person singular (the I form) and 3rd person plural (the They form).

The stem of the imperative is the same as the stem of the 3rd person plural, and the stress will be on the same syllable as in the 1st person singular.

The imperative of most Russian verbs is formed by removing the last two letters of the 3rd person plural of the present tense (to get the verbal “stem”) and adding a special imperative ending.

I. If the stem in the third person plural ends in a vowel, to form the imperative you add the ending -й for the singular, and the ending -йте for the plural:

II. If the stem ends in a consonant, then you need to look at the stress of the first person singular before you form the imperative.

a) If the stem ends in a consonant and the stress is on the ending of the first-person singular form (as in the word говорю, “I speak”), you add the ending –и for the singular form and –ите for the plural:

b) If the stem ends in a consonant and the stress is on the stem of the first person singular form, you add the ending -ь for the singular form and -ьте for the plural:     

III. If the stem ends in a consonant cluster we use the endings -и, -ите (unstressed), instead of the expected -ь, -ьте:

IV. For verbs with infinitives in –давать, form the imperatives from the infinitive: drop –ть and add –й(те)
Дава – ть             Дава + й(те)

V. The imperative of some verbs is irregular, and you simply have to memorize it:
Дать – Дай(те)              Пить – Пей(те)             Есть – Ешь(те)

VI. To form the imperative of reflexive verbs you follow the same rules, аdding the reflexive particle –ся after you have formed the imperative. Remember, the particle is reduced to –сь after the vowel endings –и and –ите

VII. The following verbs have no imperatives:
Видеть
Мочь
Слышать
Хотеть

In Russian, third-person imperatives are formed using the word “пусть” (let). This construction is often used to express wishes, suggestions, or indirect commands involving a third person or a group of people.  Here’s how third-person imperatives are structured:

“Пусть” + the subject  +  third-person singular or plural form of the verb.

• Пусть он придёт завтра. – Let him come tomorrow.
• Пусть они приготовят ужин. – Let them prepare supper.
• Пусть счастье всегда будет в вашем доме! – Let there always be happiness in your home!
• Пусть у вас всегда будет много друзей! – Let you always have lots of friends!

These constructions are commonly used to express hopes, wishes, or suggestions in a more indirect and polite manner. They can be employed in various situations, such as giving advice, making suggestions, or expressing desires for a certain outcome. You can also encounter them in toasts.