Nominative case

In this guide, we explore the concept of the nominative case, its role in sentence structure, and how it functions with pronouns and nouns. We will learn about subject-verb agreement, the nominative case in questions and compound subjects, and its use with the linking verb "to be." We also cover how to identify the nominative case, distinguish it from other cases, and avoid common mistakes. Finally, practice exercises are provided to reinforce the concepts and improve understanding of the nominative case in different contexts.

Table of Contents

Definition of the Nominative Case

The **nominative case** is a grammatical case used to mark the subject of a verb. In English, it is primarily used for the subject of a sentence, the one performing the action or being described.

Oxford English Dictionary: The nominative case is the grammatical case typically used for the subject of a sentence or clause.

Cambridge English Dictionary: The nominative case is the form of a noun or pronoun that is used as the subject of a verb.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary: The nominative case is the form of a noun or pronoun that is used to identify the subject of a sentence.

Pronouns in the Nominative Case

In English grammar, **pronouns in the nominative case** function as the **subject** of a sentence or clause. These pronouns perform the action of the verb.

### **List of Nominative Case Pronouns**

1. Singular Pronouns

- **I** (e.g., *I love reading.*) - **You** (e.g., *You are my best friend.*) - **He** (e.g., *He plays soccer.*) - **She** (e.g., *She sings beautifully.*) - **It** (e.g., *It is raining outside.*)

2. Plural Pronouns

- **We** (e.g., *We went to the park.*) - **You** (e.g., *You all did a great job!*) - **They** (e.g., *They are coming to the party.*)

Key Rules for Nominative Case Pronouns

  • - Used as the subject of a sentence. (*She is my sister.*)
  • - Used as the subject complement after linking verbs. (*It was he who called you.*)
  • - Not used as an object in a sentence (e.g., **incorrect:** *Me went to the store.* → **correct:** *I went to the store.*)

Nouns in the Nominative Case

The **nominative case** (also called the **subjective case**) is the form of a noun that functions as the **subject** of a sentence. In English, the nominative case is primarily used for nouns and pronouns that perform an action in a sentence.

Examples of Nouns in the Nominative Case:

  • 1. **John** runs every morning. *(John is the subject of the verb "runs.")*
  • 2. **The cat** is sleeping on the couch. *(The cat is the subject of the verb "is sleeping.")*
  • 3. **Children** love to play outside. *(Children is the subject of the verb "love.")*
  • 4. **A doctor** helps sick people. *(A doctor is the subject of the verb "helps.")*

ey Features of the Nominative Case:

  • - It is used for the subject of the sentence.
  • - It answers the question **"Who?"** or **"What?"** before the verb.
  • - It remains unchanged in form (unlike pronouns, which change between subjective and objective cases).

Nominative Case vs. Other Cases:

Case Function Example Sentence
**Nominative** (Subject) Performs the action **Tom** reads a book.
**Objective** (Object) Receives the action I saw **Tom**.
**Possessive** Shows ownership That is **Tom's** book.

ominative Case in Pronouns: While nouns remain unchanged, pronouns **do change** between cases.

  • - **Nominative (Subjective) Case:** I, he, she, we, they, who
  • - **Objective Case:** me, him, her, us, them, whom

Example with Pronouns:

  • 1. **He** loves football. *(He = subject; nominative case)*
  • 2. I saw **him** at the park. *(Him = object; objective case)*

Subject-Verb Agreement

In English grammar, subject-verb agreement refers to the rule that the verb must agree with its subject in **number** and **person**. When the subject is in the **nominative case** (i.e., acting as the subject of the sentence), the verb form must correctly correspond to it.

Basic Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement in the Nominative Case

1. **Singular Subjects Take Singular Verbs: A singular subject requires a singular verb.

  • - The boy **plays** football.
  • - She **is** reading a book.

2. **Plural Subjects Take Plural Verbs: A plural subject requires a plural verb.

  • - The boys **play** football.
  • - They **are** reading books.

Special Cases

Subjects Joined by "and": If two or more subjects are joined by **"and,"** they are usually plural and take a plural verb.

Example:

    John and Mary **are** going to the park.
- **Exception:** If the subjects refer to a single entity or idea, a singular verb is used.

Example:

  • Bread and butter **is** my favorite breakfast.

    • Subjects Joined by "or" or "nor": When subjects are joined by **"or"** or **"nor,"** the verb agrees with the **nearest subject**.

    Example:

    • Neither the teacher nor the students **are** ready.
    • Either the students or the teacher **is** responsible.

    Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects: **Singular indefinite pronouns** (e.g., **everyone, someone, nobody**) take a **singular verb**.

    Example:

    • Everyone **wants** to succeed.
    • Somebody **is** knocking at the door.

    - **Plural indefinite pronouns** (e.g., **few, many, several**) take a **plural verb**.

    Example:

    • Many **were** invited to the party.

    - **Some indefinite pronouns** (e.g., **all, some, none**) can be singular or plural, depending on the noun they refer to.

    Example:

    • Some of the cake **is** left. (Singular)
    • Some of the students **are** absent. (Plural)

    Collective Nouns as Subjects: A **collective noun** (e.g., **team, family, audience**) can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group is considered as one unit or as individuals.

    Example:

    • The team **is** playing well. (Considering the team as one unit)
    • The team **are** arguing among themselves. (Considering the team members individually)

    Inverted Sentences: When the subject follows the verb (especially in **questions** or **there is/there are** structures), the verb still agrees with the subject.

    Example:

    • Where **is** the book? (Singular subject: book)
    • Where **are** the books? (Plural subject: books)
    • There **is** a problem.
    • There **are** many problems.

    Titles, Names, and Quoted Words: Titles, book names, and quoted words take a **singular verb** even if they appear plural.

    Example:

    • "The Chronicles of Narnia" **is** a famous book series.

    Expressions of Quantity: Singular verbs are used for expressions like **"one of the," "each of," "every,"** etc.

    Example:

    • Each of the students **has** a book.
    • One of my friends **is** coming.

    - Plural verbs are used for **"a number of"** but singular verbs for **"the number of"**.

    Example:

    • A number of people **are** waiting.
    • The number of students **is** increasing.

    Nominative Case in Questions

    The **nominative case** in English grammar refers to the form of a noun or pronoun that acts as the subject of a verb. In questions, the **nominative case** is used when the subject of the sentence is being discussed or when the subject is a pronoun like **I, you, he, she, it, we, or they**.

    ### **Examples of the Nominative Case in Questions**

    • 1. **Who is calling?**
      • - *"Who"* is the subject of the verb *"is calling."*
    • 2. **Who wrote this book?**
      • - *"Who"* is the subject of the verb *"wrote."*
    • 3. **Who will help me with my homework?**
      • - *"Who"* is the subject of *"will help."*
    • 4. **Which student won the competition?**
      • - *"Which student"* is the subject of the verb *"won."*
    • 5. **What happened here?**
      • - *"What"* is the subject of the verb *"happened."*

    Nominative Case in Compound Subjects

    A **compound subject** consists of two or more subjects joined by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., *and, or*). When pronouns are part of a compound subject, they must be in the **nominative case**.

    Examples:

    • ✓ **She** and **I** went to the store.
    • ✘ **Her** and **me** went to the store.
    • ✓ **He** or **they** will present the project.
    • ✘ **Him** or **them** will present the project.
    • ✓ **My brother** and **I** are playing football.
    • ✘ **My brother** and **me** are playing football.

    ### **Tip for Correct Usage: If you're unsure whether to use "I" or "me," "he" or "him," etc., try removing the other subject and checking if the sentence still makes sense:

    • - **"She and I went to the store."** → Remove "She" → **"I went to the store."** (Correct )
    • - **"Her and me went to the store."** → Remove "Her" → **"Me went to the store."** (Incorrect )

    Nominative Case with the Linking Verb "to be"

    When the linking verb **"to be"** (is, are, was, were, etc.) connects the subject to a noun or pronoun, that noun or pronoun **must also be in the nominative case**. This is because the linking verb does not show action but rather equates the subject with the complement.

    Examples with Nouns

    • - **She** is a doctor. (Not "Her is a doctor.")
    • - **They** were the winners. (Not "Them were the winners.")

    Examples with Pronouns

    • - **It is I.** (Not "It is me.")
    • - **This is he.** (Not "This is him.")
    • - **The winners were they.** (Not "The winners were them.")

    Note: While "It is I" is grammatically correct, many native speakers use "It is me" in casual speech.

    Identifying the Nominative Case

    The **nominative case** in English grammar is used for nouns and pronouns that function as the **subject** of a sentence. It identifies the **doer of the action** in a sentence.

    Examples of the Nominative Case

    1. Nouns in the Nominative Case

    • - *John* runs every morning. (*John* is the subject.)
    • - *The cat* is sleeping. (*The cat* is the subject.)

    2. Pronouns in the Nominative Case

    • - *She* loves to read. (*She* is the subject.)
    • - *They* went to the park. (*They* is the subject.)

    Key Points About the Nominative Case

    It answers **"Who?"** or **"What?"** before the verb.

    • - *Who* is playing? → **Tom** is playing.
    • - *What* is making noise? → **The machine** is making noise.

    Subject pronouns are always in the nominative case: I, you, he, she, it, we, they.

    • - *He* is my best friend.
    • - *We* are going to the store.

    Nominative Case vs. Other Cases

    **Case** refers to the role a noun or pronoun plays in a sentence. The **nominative case** is one of the primary cases, but English also has other cases. Let’s break them down.

    ### **1. Nominative Case (Subjective Case)**

    The **nominative case** is used for nouns and pronouns that act as the **subject** of a sentence.

    **Examples:**

    • - **She** runs every morning.
    • - **John** is a doctor.
    • - **They** love reading books.

    **Key Points:**

    • - Answers "Who?" or "What?" before the verb.
    • - Used as the subject of the sentence.

    #### **Nominative Pronouns:**

    • I, you, he, she, it, we, they

    ### **2. Objective Case**

    The **objective case** is used for nouns and pronouns that function as **objects** in a sentence (direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition).

    Examples:

    • - She called **him**. (Direct object)
    • - He gave **her** a gift. (Indirect object)
    • - They walked with **me**. (Object of a preposition)

    **Objective Pronouns:**

    • Me, you, him, her, it, us, them

    ### **3. Possessive Case**

    The **possessive case** shows ownership or belonging.

    Examples:

    - This is **his** book. - **Sarah’s** phone is on the table. - The cat licked **its** paw.

    Possessive Pronouns:

    • My, your, his, her, its, our, their
      (Mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs are used independently.)

    Comparison Table: Nominative vs. Other Cases

    Case Function Example Pronouns Example Sentence
    **Nominative** Subject I, he, she, we, they **He** is tall.
    **Objective** Object Me, him, her, us, them She called **me**.
    **Possessive** Ownership My, his, her, our, their This is **her** bag.

    Summary

    • Nominative case is for subjects.
      • He runs.
    • Objective case is for objects.
      • She called him.
    • Possessive case shows ownership.
      • This is his book.

    Common Mistakes

    The nominative case refers to the form of a noun or pronoun used as the subject of a sentence or clause. Here are some common mistakes people make when using the nominative case:

    1. Using an Object Pronoun Instead of a Subject Pronoun:

    • ✘ Her and me are going to the store.
    • ✓ She and I are going to the store.

    Explanation: "She" and "I" are in the nominative case because they are the subjects of the sentence. "Her" and "me" are object pronouns and should not be used as subjects.

    2. Using a Subject Pronoun Instead of an Object Pronoun:

    • ✘ The teacher gave the books to he and I.
    • ✓ The teacher gave the books to him and me.

    Explanation: "Him" and "me" are object pronouns, which are required after a preposition like "to".

    3. Misusing "Who" and "Whom":

    • ✘ Whom is coming to the party?
    • ✘ To who should I give this book?
    • ✓ Who is coming to the party? (Subject)
    • ✓ To whom should I give this book? (Object)

    Explanation: "Who" is in the nominative case (subject), while "whom" is in the objective case.

    4. Confusion in Compound Subjects

    • ✘ My brother and me went to the park.
    • ✓ My brother and I went to the park.

    Tip: Remove the other subject and check if it still makes sense:

    • ✘ Me went to the park.
    • ✓ I went to the park.

    5. Incorrect Case in Comparisons ("Than" and "As"):

    • ✘ She is taller than me.
    • ✓ She is taller than I (am).

    Explanation: The full sentence is 'She is taller than I am'. The subject pronoun "I" is correct. However, in informal speech, "than me" is commonly used.

    Practice Exercises

    Here are some practice exercises to help you understand the nominative case in English grammar. The nominative case is used for the subject of the sentence.

    Exercise 1: Identify the Nominative Case

    In each sentence, underline the word or words in the nominative case (subject of the sentence).

    • 1. John is going to the store.
    • 2. The cat chased the mouse.
    • 3. They are planning a surprise party.
    • 4. She loves to read books.
    • 5. My friends and I went to the beach yesterday.
    • 1. John is going to the store.
    • 2. The cat chased the mouse.
    • 3. They are planning a surprise party.
    • 4. She loves to read books.
    • 5. My friends and I went to the beach yesterday.

    Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Nominative Case Pronouns

    Choose the correct nominative case pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) to fill in the blanks.

    • 1. **_____** am going to the library. (I / Me)
    • 2. **_____** likes playing soccer. (He / Him)
    • 3. **_____** are going to the concert tonight. (We / Us)
    • 4. **_____** is my best friend. (She / Her)
    • 5. **_____** are very excited about the vacation. (They / Them)
    • 1. I am going to the library.
    • 2. He likes playing soccer.
    • 3. We are going to the concert tonight.
    • 4. She is my best friend.
    • 5. They are very excited about the vacation.

    Exercise 3: Correct the Mistakes

    Each sentence below contains an error in the nominative case. Identify and correct the error.

    • 1. Me and my brother went to the park.
    • 2. The teacher gave it to she.
    • 3. Him and his friends are playing basketball.
    • 4. Us are ready to go now.
    • 5. They have completed the project.
    • 1. My brother and I went to the park.
    • 2. The teacher gave it to her.
    • 3. He and his friends are playing basketball.
    • 4. We are ready to go now.
    • 5. They have completed the project.