CasesNominative case

The nominative case is the form in which nouns appear in a vocabulary list and a dictionary, eg:

• der Hund – dog
• die Katze – cat
• das Kaninchen – rabbit

Use the nominative case for the subject of the sentence. The subject is the person or thing doing the action.

The subject is often the word right at the start of the sentence.

• Das Mädchen singt das Lied. – The girl is singing the song.

Das Mädchen is the subject because 'the girl' is doing the singing.

• Ich kaufe Sportschuhe. – I buy trainers.

Ich is the subject of this sentence, because 'I' am doing the buying.

• Meine Tante wohnt in Ulm. – My aunt lives in Ulm.

Meine Tante is the subject as 'my aunt' is doing the living.

The nominative is always used after sein (to be), werden (to become) and heißen (to be called).

Here are some examples:

• Er ist mein Freund. – He is my friend.

Er and mein Freund are the same person so both are the subject.

• Einstein war ein genialer Physiker. – Einstein was a brilliant physicist.

Einstein and ein genialer Physiker are the same person, so both are the subject.

• Mein Lehrer heißt Herr Klinsmann. – My teacher is called Mr Klinsmann.

Mein Lehrer and Herr Klinsmann are the same people so both are the subject.