Nominative Case in English Grammar: Definition, Meaning and Examples

In English Grammar, the nominative case refers to the noun and pronoun used as a verb’s subject. It is easier to learn this case when you know about subjects and predicates well but if don’t then you can understand it easily. You must learn to identify the nominative case to be able to incorporate it in your writing. They are very useful, especially at the time of your English learning journey. In this blog, we will learn about the Nominative case in a detailed manner along with its definition, meaning, usage and examples. 

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What is a Nominative Case? Definition and Meaning

Nominative Case alludes to the noun or pronoun that comes as the subject of the verb in a certain sentence. It is also known as the subjective case which denotes that the particular noun or pronoun is the subject of the sentence. 

The Nominative Case can be defined in different ways. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the word related to the case of a noun or a pronoun indicates that it is the subject of the word and is known as the nominative. On the other hand, the Oxford Learner Dictionary describes the nominal case as the noun or pronoun form showing that the word is the form of the verb and its subject.

Also Read: Adverb and Verb: Meaning, Types, Differences with Examples

Types of Nominative Cases

Nominative Cases are of different types which can be written according to the sentence. They play an important role in English grammar giving informative details about the subject. Here, are some of the types of nominative cases allowing you to form different sentences. 

1. Basic Nominative Case

It is a kind of nominative case that is used for the subject given in a sentence.

Example: 

They are playing in the garden.

They are good players.

2. Appositive Nominative

It is a kind of noun or pronoun that comes after and replaces the subject of the sentence. 

Example: Tony, a talented artist, painted the classic painting.

His brother, Chris, is a painter. 

3. Predicative Nominative

It is a kind of noun or pronoun that recognises the subject and follows the linking verb.

Example: He is a teacher

His dream became a reality.

4. Independent nominative

It is a noun or pronoun that refers to or talks about someone independently. 

Example: Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to the greatest show of the year.

William, you rocked the party. 

5. Nominal nominative

It is a noun or pronoun that provides detailed, additional information and works as a subject. 

Example: The popular scientist Albert Einstein discovered the theory of relativity.

My friend Sam is coming from Italy tomorrow.

6. Nominative Absolute

The kind of noun or pronoun that gives some extra information about the main clause subject.

Example: I played well, and my coach celebrated my success by throwing a party.

How to Identify Nominative Case?

The nominative case can be easily identified through a question. Before the verb, you can put ‘what to find the nominative case.’ It is one of the grammatical cases of the parts of speech or the noun normally marking the subject of the sentence. Let’s take a look at some of the sentences to find out the nominative case.

Example 1: The dog ate all the milk. 

By asking the question “Who ate all the milk? The dog” the answer is a dog so it is a nominative case.

Example 2: They were playing.

In this case, let’s convert it into the form of the question “Who was playing?” the answer is they which is a nominative case.

Example 3:  Trevor is a good friend. 

In the above example, the question can be asked “Who is a good friend?” The answer is Trevor. Hence, Trevor is a subject as well as a nominative noun. 

Example 4: Drake is a clever player.

Drake is the subject in the given sentence so it is the nominative noun.

Example 5: David ate an orange.

David is the answer to the question when you put the sentence in the question format. Moreover, it is also the subject so David is the nominative noun here.

Also Read: Subject vs Predicate: Types, Examples, Practice Questions

Why is a Nominative Case Important?

Nominative case plays an important role in English Grammar. Here, we will explore several reasons why the Nominative Case is important. 

• The noun or pronoun of the nominative case should agree with its verb in number. It means that the singular noun must match with the singular verb. 
• The nominative case or the subject case is the main case. Any changes that occur in the other cases can be considered to be the changes in the nominative case version. 
• The nominative case pronoun ‘I’ can be used as the verb’s subject but it cannot used as the object of the verb or preposition.
• Never use “myself” with an order. “Yourself” or “yourselves” can only be used with imperative sentences(or an order). 
• The word “Who” can be used in the nominative case when it is the verb’s subject. If it is not the verb’s subject then “Whom” can be used.

Examples of Nominative Case

There are several ways by which you can write the examples of the Nominative case which better describes these sentences. You can include a simple sentence that consists of nouns in the nominative case, or as a subject-verb agreement. Moreover, there are nominative cases that have nouns as subject and a predicate nominative case. Here, are some of the examples of this case that will help you use it properly in the sentences.

• He is a professor.
• Bryan is reading the book.
• The answer is not correct
• John dances beautifully.
• Michael ate an apple.
• I am going to the store.
• Each of the girls has a different opinion.
• Sam is finding out the problem. 
• A sparrow sat on the wall.
• They love playing cricket.

Also Read: Subject Verb Agreement Worksheet With Answers

Nominative Case Exercise

You can check your understanding of the nominative case by doing the exercise given below. Some sentences are given below you have to underline the word which is a Nominative case.

1. They had a big house.
2. She looks very talented.
3. The group is going on a trip next week.
4. The book is mine.
5. Yohan plays basketball well. 

Answers

1. They had a big house.
2. She looks very talented.
3. The group is going on a trip next week.
4. The book is mine.
5. Yohan plays basketball well.

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