Noun or pronoun cases/Subjective, objective, dative cases of nouns

In english grammar, there are six types of noun or pronoun cases. These are Nominative, objective, dative, vocative, possessive, and case in apposition. To express the relations of Noun or pronoun to the rest of the word unit, noun or pronoun cases are used.

Definition of cases of noun Or pronoun

Noun or pronoun cases are nothing but relations of nouns or pronouns with the rest of word units of the sentences.

Nowadays, prepositions are largely used to play the role of showing relationship of nouns or pronouns. However, these types of cases are still actively used with personal pronouns.

Understanding types of noun or pronoun cases

There are six major types of noun or pronoun cases commonly used to express relations of noun or pronoun with rest of the words. The list is as following :-

Subjective case /Nominative case — for subject of sentence.
Dative case — for both indirect objects.
Objective case — for direct objects.
Vocative case — for addressing things or persons.
Case in apposition — for similar description of same words.
Possessive case — for possessed things by someone/something.

Usages of noun or pronoun cases

Let’s learn all the above mentioned six types of noun or pronoun cases in the derailed ways.

1. Subjective /Nominative case

Whenever a noun or pronoun acts as subject of the verb, then, such noun or pronoun is used to say in the nominative or subjective case.

John kicked the football.
She jumped in the water.
Himalaya is lofty mountain.

Clearly, John, she, Himalaya are in the subjective case in relation to the rest of the grammar.

2.Possessive case of noun or pronoun

Ganga river nourishes Indian/India’s alluvial plain regularly.
She broke her routine yesterday.

“Her, India’s” are in the possessive case as they shows possessed or owned things.

Possessive case of noun shows possessiveness or belonging of a noun with another words in a sentence. We often become confuse about nature of possessive case of nouns in English grammar.

Proper use of apostrophe (’) with or without S brings more clarity of a sentence.

Rules for making possessive case of noun

1.By adding apostrophe (’) + s that is (’s) at the end of a noun:

When a noun (singular or plural) ends without s syllable then its possessive is made by adding apostrophe +s at its end.

Examples:

Boy’s habit,
player’s potential
people’s demand,
thinker’s contribution,
children’s demand.

2. When a noun (singular or plural) ends with syllable s then apostrophe mark is used at the end of noun to make its possessive case.

Examples:

Massachusetts’ culture ,
Philips’ friends,
Boys’ hostel,
James’ kingdom,
Pythagoras’ theorem,
men’s parlour.

3. To make possessive case of compound nouns or noun phrase: Possessive case is made of last word in case of compound nouns or noun in phrase.

Examples:

Alexander the great’s empire,
Luis the sixteenth’s regime.

4. When separate possession is required for separate noun:

Examples:

President’s house and Senator’s office
Lion’s and Tiger’s canines
David’s and Robin’s schools

5. The letter s is removed and only apostrophe is added when too many hissing sounds appear. It happens when the last syllable of a word ends with s or when s or Ce is followed by word sake.

Examples:

For Jesus’ sake
For Conscience’ sake.

6. Do not make possessive case of non-living things unless they are personalised things or nouns related to time, space or weight.

Examples:

At hand’s distance,
Duty’s call,
a month’s bill

Note:– while forming possessive case, you need to be aware of spelling rules of adding -s.

3.Case in apposition explained

Simply, case in apposition is generally used to describe the main subject in more detailed manner in the form of noun phrase separated by comma.

“Case in apposition” adds extra similar information, separated with punctuation marks — commas.

The Himalaya, a folded mountain, is located in South Asia.
COVID-19, a virus borne disease, badly damaged global economies.

‘Folded mountain, a virus borne disease’ are in the case in apposition as both describe subjects in more detailed manner.

Using case in apposition

Use of case in apposition to describe subject or add similar information to noun or pronoun.

1.Comma is essential to separate similar information.

2.Singular auxiliary verb is used.

3.Case in apposition = similar information + subject with comma.

Useful examples of case in apposition

He is a talented student.
Teacher taught them a learning method.
Students donated some money in charity.

1.In the first example, “He” personal pronoun is placed in the “Subjective case”.

2. Whereas, in the second example, “them” is placed as an indirect object in the “Dative case”.

3.And, in the third example, “Some money” is placed in the “Objective case.

As I stated earlier that case in apposition is generally used to describe the main subject in more detailed manner.

“Case in apposition” adds extra similar information, separated with punctuation marks — commas.

Andes, a folded mountain, is located in South America continent.
Donald Trump, the president of USA, is going to contest presidential election second time.
Apple, a multinational corporation, is planning to shift theirs production base.

There are certain words or phrases are also used as “appositives” to extend the meaning of subject of the sentence.

First, ‘Such as and like” are taken as appositives in this regard.

Second, “Such as”- appositives phrase“

Third, Such as” phrase is used to add extra similar information to noun or pronoun to make it clearer.

Perennial rivers Ganga, Amazon, and Mekong are act as boon for humanity.
Folded mountains such as Himalayas, Andes, and Atlas are product of collision of tectonic plates
“Singular auxiliary for appositives”

Singular auxiliary verb is preferred when we add similar information. But, plural auxiliary verb is taken in case of different information joined by “and” conjunction.

Maasai Mara, national park of Kenya, is my favourite place to stay.
Ganga, a perennial river of India, emerges out Gangotri glacier.
Cricket, a national game of England, is highly popular in the Asian nations.

This is all about the correct use of case in apposition.

4.Vocative case

Eventually, Vocative case — it shows relations for addressing things or persons.

Tom! don’t go there.
Calm down, players.

Tom, players are in the vocative case in relations with rest of unit.

5.Objective and dative cases difference

Objective case of noun is used to indicate the position of noun or pronoun as direct object. Whereas, dative case is used to express indirect object.

Meaning and examples of objectives case

Objective case of noun means a word used to show relations of noun or pronoun as direct object in the given sentence.

Object is one of the most important elements of the sentence in the english language. It is a noun or pronoun on which the action is performed.

So, object is the direct or indirect receiver of the action.
Sentences with object is called transitive whereas, sentences without object is called intransitive.

Examples of objective and dative cases of noun

Indirect object in the sentence is called dative case. Whereas, direct object is known as objective case of noun.

Nature gives us life supporting elements. (life supporting elements – objective case and, us – in the dative case)
They delivered my luggage.(My luggage – objective case)
My teacher teaches me the importance of moral values. (Me – dative case, and the importance of moral values – objective case)
Alex damaged my bike. ( bike- objective case )

In the above examples, us and me, are placed in the indirect object of dative case. And, my bike, my language, the importance of moral values are placed in the direct object of objective case.

Difference between objective and dative Case of noun

Similarly, you know that the word used as objective or dative cases is direct or indirect object. And, it can either be a noun or pronoun. So, it may be person or thing on which action is performed.

Examples of objective case of noun

Company is offering bonus for employees. (Direct object in objective case)
He donated hundred dollars for my treatment.
Students helped poor tribals.

Here, all the three examples show the pattern of direct objects.

Examples of dative case of noun

My father gifted me a fountain pen on my birthday.
Our teacher gave all of us a better advice.
We are bequeathing our future generations a polluted environment.

Obviously, In all the above examples, “me, all of us, our future generations” are used in the dative case.

For more clearity about objective and dative cases of noun..

Whenever a noun or pronoun is used as the direct object, then it creates the objective or accusative case.

And, In case of indirect object, dative case is formed.

Most importantly, direct object and object complement are two different components and do not mix with each other.

My friend taught me about right approach of study.
In this example, ‘Me’ is the direct object, but — about right approach of study–is the object complement.

Finally, Subjective, objective, possessive,dative,vocative and case in apposition are six major cases of noun or pronoun.

Now, let’s see some useful solved questions. It will further enrich your knowledge regarding noun or pronoun cases.