The Nominative Case
The nominative names who or what does the action.
How It Works
| Declension | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| first | puella | puellae |
| second | amicus | amici |
| second (neuter) | verbum | verba |
| third | rex | reges |
The nominative also names the noun after est: Marcus est puer.
A subject can be left out when the verb ending already shows it: Cantat means He or she sings.
Find the nominative first. It is the word that agrees with the verb: if the verb ends in -nt, look for a plural nominative. Third declension nominatives vary, so check the genitive: rex, regis and nomen, nominis.
Latin also uses the nominative to name something, as on a sign or a list: Roma, Via Appia.
Examples (4)
- Marcus legit.
Marcus reads.
Marcus is the subject, so it is nominative.
- Puellae cantant.
The girls sing.
Puellae is nominative plural, and the verb is plural.
- Dominus regnat.
The Lord reigns.
Dominus is the subject.
- Pueri et puellae rident.
The boys and the girls laugh.
Two nominatives joined by et take a plural verb.
Common Mistakes
Putting the subject in the accusative.
Marcum cantat.Marcus cantat.Intended meaning: Marcus sings. Marcum is accusative, the form of an object, so the sentence would say that someone sings Marcus.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The nominative is the first of the six cases, so the case overview comes first.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice The Nominative Case in Bubblegum
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