German Nominative Case
The nominative case marks the subject of a sentence — the person or thing performing the action. It is also used after the verb 'sein' (to be) and determines the base form of articles: der, die, das.
The nominative case (Nominativ) is the most basic German case. It marks the subject of the sentence — the person or thing that performs the action or is being described.
When to Use the Nominative
Use the nominative for the subject of any sentence: Der Mann liest. (The man reads.) It is also used after the verb sein (to be) and werden (to become), because these verbs equate two things rather than acting on an object: Er ist ein guter Lehrer. (He is a good teacher.)
Nominative Articles
The definite articles in the nominative are der (masculine), die (feminine), das (neuter), and die (plural). The indefinite articles are ein (masculine/neuter) and eine (feminine). There is no indefinite article for plural.
Finding the Subject
To find the nominative in a sentence, ask: Wer oder was? (Who or what?) The answer is always in the nominative case. For example: Die Katze schläft. — Wer schläft? Die Katze. So die Katze is nominative.
Nominative Pronouns
Personal pronouns in the nominative are: ich (I), du (you informal), er (he), sie (she), es (it), wir (we), ihr (you plural), sie (they), and Sie (you formal).
Reference Tables
Nominative Articles
| Type | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Definite | der | die | das | die |
| Indefinite | ein | eine | ein | — |
| Negative | kein | keine | kein | keine |
Nominative Personal Pronouns
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | ich | wir |
| 2nd informal | du | ihr |
| 3rd masc. | er | sie |
| 3rd fem. | sie | sie |
| 3rd neut. | es | sie |
| 2nd formal | Sie | Sie |
Example Sentences
Der Lehrer erklärt die Aufgabe.
The teacher explains the task.
'Der Lehrer' is the subject (nominative)
Sie ist meine Schwester.
She is my sister.
Both 'sie' and 'meine Schwester' are nominative (after 'sein')
Ein Kind spielt im Garten.
A child plays in the garden.
'Ein Kind' is the subject in nominative
Die Bücher sind interessant.
The books are interesting.
'Die Bücher' is plural nominative
Common Mistakes
Mich bin müde.
Ich bin müde.
'Ich' (nominative) is the subject of 'sein'. 'Mich' is accusative and cannot be used as a subject.
Den Hund ist groß.
Der Hund ist groß.
After 'sein' (is), the subject stays in the nominative. Use 'der' (nominative), not 'den' (accusative).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nominative case in German?
The nominative case identifies the subject of a sentence — the person or thing performing the action. It is the dictionary form of articles (der, die, das) and the case used after 'sein' (to be).
How do I find the nominative in a sentence?
Ask 'Wer oder was?' (Who or what?) about the verb. The answer is the nominative. For example, in 'Der Hund bellt' (The dog barks), ask 'Wer bellt?' — 'Der Hund' is nominative.
Is the nominative always the first word in a German sentence?
No. German word order is flexible. The subject can appear after the verb, especially in questions or when another element is placed first for emphasis: 'Heute kommt der Bus.' (Today comes the bus.)
Related Grammar Topics
Related Words
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