Nominative (Basic Form)
The nominative is the basic form of a word, with no ending in the singular: Koer magab. (The dog is sleeping.) In the plural it takes -d: Koerad magavad. (The dogs are sleeping.)
How It Works
The nominative is the starting point of every noun. It has no ending of its own in the singular, and the plural adds -d to the genitive stem: koer → koerad, laps → lapsed, raamat → raamatud.
Main uses
- Subject: Koer magab. The verb agrees with it: Koerad magavad.
- After olema: Mari on õpetaja. (Mari is a teacher.) Ilm on ilus.
- Calling someone: Tere, Mari!
- Some whole objects, for example in commands: Võta raamat! (Take the book!) You will learn this later in Whole Object in the Nominative.
Not after numbers
After numbers from two upwards, the noun is not in the nominative but in the partitive singular: kaks koera (two dogs), not kaks koerad. See Counting Takes the Partitive.
Good to know
The nominative is one of the fourteen cases, and it is the form you look up in the dictionary.
Examples (6)
- Koer magab.
The dog is sleeping.
Word by Word: dog sleeps
- Koerad magavad.
The dogs are sleeping.
Word by Word: dogs sleep
The plural subject takes -d, and so does the verb ending: magavad.
- Mari on õpetaja.
Mari is a teacher.
Word by Word: Mari is teacher
- Ilm on ilus.
The weather is nice.
Word by Word: weather is beautiful
- Lapsed mängivad õues.
The children are playing outside.
Word by Word: children play outside
The plural of laps is lapsed: the -d is added to the stem lapse-.
- Võta raamat!
Take the book!
Word by Word: take book
In a command, a whole object can stay in the nominative.
Common Mistakes
Using a plural nominative after a number.
Kaks koerad magavad.Kaks koera magavad.After a number from two upwards, the noun goes into the partitive singular.
Not matching the verb to a plural subject.
Koerad magab.Koerad magavad.A plural subject in the nominative needs a plural verb ending such as -vad.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The nominative is the first case in the system.
Related Patterns
- Plural (-d)
The plural nominative is formed with -d.
Level 1 - Genitive (Owner Form)
The genitive stem is the base for the plural -d: lapse → lapsed.
Level 1 - Partitive (Part Form)
The partitive is the other basic form learners compare with the nominative.
Level 1 - olema + PredicateSaying What Something Is
The word after olema is usually in the nominative.
Level 1 - Counting Takes the Partitive
Numbers from two upwards take the partitive, not the nominative.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Nominative (Basic Form) in Bubblegum
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