Basic Details
Word: Nominative
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Relating to the subject of a sentence, usually the person or thing doing the action.
Synonyms: Subjective, nominational
Antonyms: Objective, accusative
Idioms and Phrases
- Nominative determinism: The hypothesis that people are often drawn to professions that fit their names. Example: "It seems like a case of nominative determinism that the doctor named 'Dr. Baker' became a chef instead."
- In the nominative case: Used to describe when a noun or pronoun serves as the subject of a verb. Example: "In the sentence 'She runs fast', 'She' is in the nominative case."
Usage Examples
Example 1: In the sentence "The cat sleeps on the mat", "The cat" is the nominative part because it is the subject.
Example 2: In English, the pronouns "I" and "he" function in the nominative case when they perform the action of the verb.
Example 3: Understanding the nominative case helps students recognise the subject in a sentence, which is crucial for grammar.
Fun Fact
Did you know that the term "nominative" comes from the Latin word "nominativus", which means "naming" or "naming case"? This reflects the role of the nominative as identifying the subject of a sentence.
Famous Quote
"Grammar is the logic of speech, even the most violent words are not as violent as the grammar of language." - William C. Henry
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "nominative" refer to?
a) A type of food
b) The subject of a sentence
c) A form of entertainment
d) A kind of emotion
Answer: b) The subject of a sentence
2. Which of these is a synonym of "nominative"?
a) Accusative
b) Objective
c) Subjective
d) Passive
Answer: c) Subjective
3. Which sentence uses "nominative" correctly?
a) The nominative form of 'he' is 'him'.
b) 'They' is in the nominative case when they are the subject.
c) The nominative object is the recipient of the action.
d) Nominative refers to adverbs in a sentence.
Answer: b) 'They' is in the nominative case when they are the subject.
4. Which idiom means relating to names and professions?
a) Nominative determinism
b) In the nominative case
c) A name to remember
d) As cute as a button
Answer: a) Nominative determinism
5. What is the opposite of "nominative"?
a) Subjective
b) Accusative
c) N/A
d) Verb
Answer: b) Accusative
