The Nominative Case for Subjects

Level 1

The nominative is the dictionary form of a noun. It marks the subject of the sentence and answers kto? (who?) or čo? (what?).

How It Works

The nominative (nominatív) is the basic form of a noun, the one listed in the dictionary. It answers kto? (who?) and čo? (what?).

Its main job is to mark the subject, the person or thing doing the action or being described:

  • Peter pracuje. (Peter works.)
  • Kniha je nová. (The book is new.)
  • Deti sa hrajú. (The children are playing.)

The verb agrees with the subject. A plural subject like deti needs a plural verb like hrajú.

After byť (to be), a noun that says what the subject is also stays in the nominative: Moja sestra je učiteľka. (My sister is a teacher.)

The ending shows the subject, so Slovak word order is flexible. Peter pije pivo. and Pivo pije Peter. both mean that Peter is drinking beer. The second order puts the focus on Peter, as if answering "Who is drinking the beer?"

When the subject is a pronoun like ja or my, it is usually left out, because the verb ending already shows it: Pracujem. (I work.)

Examples (6)

  1. Peter pracuje.

    Peter works.

    Peter is the subject, so it is in the nominative.

  2. Kniha je nová.

    The book is new.

    Kniha is the subject being described.

  3. Deti sa hrajú.

    The children are playing.

    Deti is a plural subject, so the verb is plural too.

  4. Mama varí obed.

    Mom is cooking lunch.

    Mama is the subject. Obed is the object.

  5. Moja sestra je učiteľka.

    My sister is a teacher.

    After je, učiteľka also stays in the nominative.

  6. Pivo pije Peter.

    It is Peter who is drinking the beer.

    Word by Word: Beer drinks Peter.

    Peter is still the subject, even at the end of the sentence.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the subject in the accusative.

    Mamu varí obed.
    Mama varí obed.

    Mama is doing the cooking, so it must be in the nominative. Mamu is the object form, so this sentence would say that the lunch is cooking Mom.

  • Using a singular verb with a plural subject.

    Deti sa hrá.
    Deti sa hrajú.

    Deti means children, which is plural. The verb must be plural too: hrajú.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

The Nominative Case for SubjectsLevel 1

Learn This First

Before The Nominative Case for Subjects, learn The Six Cases. The nominative is the first of the six cases.