What Is the Nominative Case? Definition, Uses & Examples
The nominative case in English is used for nouns or pronouns that act as the subject of a verb. Understanding nominative case rules is essential for clear writing and speaking. Mastery of the nominative case improves exam performance, daily communication, and prevents common grammar mistakes.
| Sentence | Subject (Nominative Case) | Verb | Object |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark eats cakes. | Mark | eats | cakes |
| He eats cakes. | He | eats | cakes |
| They eat cakes. | They | eat | cakes |
What Is the Nominative Case?
The nominative case is the grammatical case used for a noun or pronoun functioning as the subject of a sentence. For example, in "He runs fast," "He" is in the nominative case. This case is important for choosing the correct form of personal pronouns.
- I study every day. ("I" is nominative)
- The dogs bark loudly. ("dogs" is nominative)
Nominative Case for Subject Complements
The nominative case is also used for subject complements, also called predicate nominatives. A subject complement renames or describes the subject, usually after linking verbs like "am," "is," "are," "was," or "were."
- Mark is a businessman. ("Mark" and "businessman" are both nominative)
- It was I. ("I" follows the linking verb and uses nominative case)
How Nouns and Pronouns Change in Case
Nouns and pronouns can shift from subject to object position, changing their case accordingly. Pronoun forms change, but the form of nouns usually stays the same.
| Nominative | Verb | Objective |
|---|---|---|
| The woman | saw | the cat. |
| The cat | saw | the woman. |
| I | saw | the cat. |
| The cat | saw | me. |
Nominative Pronouns
Recognizing nominative pronouns helps avoid common “I/me” and “who/whom” errors. Use these forms as the subject of verbs or as subject complements.
| Nominative Pronoun | Objective Pronoun | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| I | me | |
| you | you | There is no change. |
| he | him | |
| she | her | |
| it | it | There is no change. |
| we | us | |
| they | them | |
| who | whom | |
| whoever | whomever |
Why the Nominative Case Is Important
A strong understanding of the nominative case helps you:
- Choose correct subject pronouns ("She and I went," not "Her and me went")
- Avoid errors in subject-verb agreement
- Score better in grammar exams and competitive tests
- Improve spoken English and formal writing
- Prepare for learning other languages, as many use cases
Common Mistakes Explained
- Avoid saying: "They invited my wife and I." (Should be "my wife and me" – object case)
- Never use "myself" as a subject ("Myself will edit the essay" is incorrect)
- Only say "who" if it is the subject: "Who is calling?"
Real-World Examples and Rules
Subject-Verb Agreement
The subject in the nominative case controls the verb. Agreement errors usually happen when the nominative pronoun or noun is misidentified.
- Error: A list of names were written on the paper.
- Correct: A list of names was written on the paper.
Use in Subject Complements
- Correct (formal): It was I.
- Common (informal): It was me. (Acceptable in speech, avoid in exams)
Who vs. Whom
- Who is the nominative (subject) form.
- Whom is the objective (object) form.
- Example: Who brought the book? (subject of "brought")
- Whom did you meet? (object of "meet")
Quick Rules for the Nominative Case
- Use nominative forms for sentence subjects and subject complements.
- Never use "I" or "who" as an object.
- Don't use "myself" as a subject—only as a reflexive object.
- Check verb agreement by identifying the nominative subject.
Practice Questions: Test Your Nominative Case Skills
| Choose the Correct Pronoun | Answer |
|---|---|
| ___ and Sam are friends. (I / Me) | I and Sam |
| The winner was ___. (he / him) | he |
| ___ will call you tomorrow. (Who / Whom) | Who |
| Between you and ___, this is a secret. (I / me) | me |
Related Vedantu Grammar Resources
- Personal Pronouns
- Objective Pronouns
- Subject-Verb Concord
- Grammar Basics
- Pronoun Rules
- Reciprocal Pronouns
- Parts of Speech
- Types of Sentences
The nominative case is a key part of English grammar, helping writers and speakers choose the right subject pronoun and ensure subject-verb agreement. Whether preparing for exams, improving spoken English, or learning a new language, knowledge of the nominative case is essential. For detailed lessons and more practice, explore Vedantu’s grammar resources.
FAQs on Nominative Case in English Grammar: Easy Guide for Students
1. What is a nominative case with examples?
The nominative case in English grammar refers to the grammatical form of a noun or pronoun when it's the subject of a verb. For example, in the sentence "She sings beautifully," "She" is in the nominative case because it performs the action of singing. Other examples include: "He plays the guitar," and "They went to the park."
2. What is the difference between nominative and accusative cases?
While English doesn't strongly distinguish between nominative and accusative cases like some other languages (e.g., Latin, German), the nominative case marks the subject performing the action, while the accusative (or objective) case marks the object receiving the action. This difference is clearer with pronouns: "I saw him" (nominative "I," objective "him").
3. What is the difference between nominative case and objective case?
The nominative case indicates the subject of a verb (the one performing the action), while the objective case indicates the object of a verb (the one receiving the action). Pronouns show this difference most clearly: "He (nominative) gave it to me (objective)."
4. What is the difference between subject and nominative?
The terms are closely related. The subject of a sentence is the noun or pronoun performing the action. The nominative case is the grammatical form that noun or pronoun takes when it's the subject. They're essentially two sides of the same coin: the subject *is* in the nominative case.
5. Which pronouns are nominative?
The nominative pronouns in English are: I, you, he, she, it, we, they, and who. These are used when the pronoun is the subject of the verb.
6. What is the nominative case in English?
The nominative case in English is the grammatical function of a noun or pronoun that serves as the subject of a verb. In the sentence "The dog barked," "The dog" is the subject and is in the nominative case. The same applies to pronouns: "He is running."
7. What are examples of nominative case pronouns?
Nominative pronouns are those used as the subject of a sentence. Examples include: I, you, he, she, it, we, they, who. For instance, in "She went to the store," "She" is a nominative pronoun.
8. How is a nominative case different from an objective case?
The key difference lies in their grammatical function. The nominative case marks the subject (performing the action), while the objective case marks the object (receiving the action). This is particularly noticeable with pronouns: "He (nominative) saw her (objective)."
9. When do you use “who” and “whom”?
Use "who" as the subject of a verb (nominative case), and "whom" as the object of a verb or preposition (objective case). For example: "Who is coming?" (subject) vs. "To whom did you give the book?" (object).
10. Can “myself” be used as the subject?
No, "myself" is a reflexive pronoun and cannot be used as the subject of a sentence. It's used to refer back to the subject. Incorrect: "Myself went to the store." Correct: "I went to the store myself."
11. What is a predicate nominative?
A predicate nominative is a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb (like "is," "are," "was," "were") and renames or identifies the subject. It's always in the nominative case. Example: "The winner is she." Here, "she" renames the subject "winner."
12. Why do some languages have more cases than English?
Many languages (like Latin, German, Russian) have more grammatical cases than English because they use case endings on nouns and pronouns to indicate their grammatical function (subject, object, possessive, etc.) more explicitly. English relies more on word order to convey these meanings.
13. Are all subjects always in the nominative case?
Yes, in standard English, the subject of a verb is always in the nominative case. This means that the subject pronoun used should always be in its nominative form.
14. Is “It was I” correct English?
Grammatically, "It was I" is correct because "I" is a predicate nominative and requires the nominative case. However, "It was me" is more commonly used in informal speech. The formal choice is "It was I."
15. Why do native speakers make nominative/objective errors?
Native speakers sometimes make nominative/objective errors because informal speech often doesn't strictly adhere to grammatical rules. The distinction between nominative and objective pronouns can be subtle, especially for "I/me" and "he/him." Formal writing, however, requires correct case usage.
