Nominative Nouns

A noun is in the nominative case when it is the subject or the predicate nominative of a sentence.

Subject of a Sentence

In the sentence below, the noun lizard is in the nominative case because it is the subject of the sentence. Here, the word lizard is a nominative noun:

A lizard lies in the sun.

Predicate Nominative

A predicate nominative follows a linking verb ("to be" verbs—is, am, are, was, were, etc.) and renames the subject. In the sentence below, reptiles renames the subject, lizards. Reptiles is in the nominative case because it is a predicate nominative.

Lizards are reptiles.

In the next sentence, friends renames the compound subject, Margaret and Sheryl, and it is a predicate nominative.

Margaret and Sheryl were friends.

Below, we see verbals used as predicate nominatives:

• His hope was to cook. (infinitive)
• Your ideal exercise might be cycling. (gerund)

Examples

Tell whether the italicized nominative noun is the subject of the sentence or a predicate nominative.

1. A mouse nibbled my toe.
2. A cricket is an insect.
3. The glass fell and shattered
4. Grandpa Angles was a plumber.
5. This divide separates west-flowing from east-flowing rivers.
6. Davy Crockett was an American pioneer.
7. His decision was to obey.
8. Sherman came from Connecticut.
9. He was a skilled politician.

Solutions

1. The word mouse is the subject of the sentence.
2. The word insect is a predicate nominative; it follows the linking verb is and renames the subject.
3. The word glass is the subject of the sentence.
4. The word plumber is a predicate nominative; it follows the linking verb was, and it renames the subject.
5. The word divide is the subject of the sentence.
6. The word pioneer is a predicate nominative; it follows the linking verb was, and it renames the subject.
7. To obey is a predicate nominative.
8. The word Sherman is the subject of the sentence.
9. The word politician is a predicate nominative; it follows the linking verb was, and it renames the subject.