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The Noun: Case

Introduction to Noun Cases

In English grammar, the concept of case refers to the function a noun (or pronoun) performs in a sentence. The different cases in which nouns appear indicate whether they act as the subject, object, or possessive element within a sentence.

Understanding the Nominative and Accusative Cases

Consider the following examples:

  1. John threw a stone.

  2. The horse kicked the boy.

  3. In the first sentence, John is the Subject because it answers the question: "Who threw a stone?"

  4. The phrase threw a stone forms the Predicate and contains the verb threw.

  5. The noun stone answers the question: "What did John throw?" This means stone is the Object.

Similarly, in the second sentence:

  • The horse is the Subject because it answers: "Who kicked the boy?"

  • The boy is the Object since it answers: "Whom did the horse kick?"

When a noun or pronoun functions as the subject of a verb, it is in the Nominative Case. When a noun or pronoun functions as the object of a verb, it is in the Objective (or Accusative) Case.

Identifying Nominative and Accusative Cases:

  • To find the Nominative Case, ask: Who? or What? before the verb.

  • To find the Accusative Case, ask: Whom? or What? before the verb along with its subject.

The Accusative Case with Prepositions

Nouns following prepositions are also considered to be in the Accusative Case. Example:

  • The book is in the desk.

    • Desk is in the Accusative Case because it is governed by the preposition in.

The Role of Word Order in Nominative and Accusative Cases

Unlike some languages where case is marked by changes in word endings, English nouns generally retain the same form in both the Nominative and Accusative Cases. The position of the noun in the sentence determines its case:

  • The Nominative usually precedes the verb.

  • The Accusative follows the verb.

Example:

  • Hari broke the window. (window is the object)

  • The window was broken. (window is now the subject)

Direct and Indirect Objects

Compare the following sentences:

  1. Rama gave a ball.

  2. Rama gave Hari a ball.

  3. In both sentences, ball is the Direct Object as it directly receives the action.

  4. In the second sentence, Hari is the Indirect Object, indicating the person who receives the object.

Rewritten forms:

  • Rama gave Hari a ball. → Rama gave a ball to Hari.

  • Will you do me a favor? → Will you do a favor for me?

  • She made Ruth a new dress. → She made a new dress for Ruth.

An Indirect Object generally denotes the person to whom something is given or for whom something is done.

The Possessive (Genitive) Case

Consider the sentence:

  • This is Ram's umbrella.

    • Ram's umbrella implies the umbrella belonging to Ram.

The possessive form (Ram’s) is used to indicate ownership or possession. The noun in this form is said to be in the Possessive (or Genitive) Case.

The Possessive Case answers the question: Whose?

  • Whose umbrella? → Ram’s umbrella.

Uses of the Possessive Case

The possessive case does not always indicate ownership. It can denote:

  1. Authorship – Shakespeare’s plays (plays written by Shakespeare)

  2. Origin – A mother’s love (love shown by a mother)

  3. Kind – A children’s playground (a playground for children)

  4. Duration – A week’s holiday (a holiday lasting a week)

Formation of the Possessive Case

  1. For singular nouns, add ’s:

    • The boy’s book

    • The king’s crown

  2. For plural nouns ending in 's', add only an apostrophe ('):

    • Boys’ school

    • Girls’ hostel

  3. For plural nouns not ending in 's', add ’s:

    • Children’s books

    • Men’s club

  4. For compound nouns and titles, attach the possessive to the final word:

    • The Prime Minister of India’s address

    • The King of Bhutan’s visit

  5. For two nouns in apposition, add the possessive to the latter:

    • That is Tagore the poet’s house.

  6. For closely connected nouns, add the possessive to the last noun:

    • Karim and Salim’s bakery.

    • William and Mary’s reign.

  7. For separately owned items, each noun takes the possessive form:

    • Raja Rao’s and R.K. Narayan’s novels.

    • Goldsmith’s and Cowper’s poems.

Usage of the Possessive Case

  • The possessive case is mainly used with living things:

    • The lion’s mane

    • The teacher’s book

  • Exceptions: Personified objects can also take the possessive:

    • India’s heroes

    • Fortune’s favor

  • For non-living things, use of-phrases instead:

    • The roof of the house (not the house’s roof)

    • The cover of the book (not the book’s cover)

The Possessive Case in Time, Space, and Weight Expressions

  • A day’s march

  • A week’s holiday

  • A foot’s length

  • A pound’s weight

Common expressions:

  • For mercy’s sake

  • To his heart’s content

  • At death’s door

The Possessive Case to Indicate Places

  • She has gone to the baker’s (= baker’s shop)

  • I am dining at my uncle’s (= uncle’s house)

  • He was educated at St. Joseph’s (= St. Joseph’s school)

Choosing Between Possessive Case and 'of' Phrases

Use the possessive case when indicating ownership. However, sometimes an of-phrase is preferable:

  • The defeat of the enemy (instead of the enemy’s defeat).

The Noun in Apposition

Consider the example:

  • Rama, our captain, made fifty runs.

    • Rama and our captain refer to the same person.

    • Captain is in apposition to Rama and is in the Nominative Case.

Further examples:

  1. Kabir, the great reformer, was a weaver. (Nominative Case)

  2. Yesterday I met your uncle, the doctor. (Accusative Case)

  3. Have you seen Ganguli, the artist’s drawings? (Genitive Case)

Conclusion

Understanding noun cases is crucial for proper sentence structure. The nominative, accusative, and possessive cases help define relationships between subjects, objects, and possession, ensuring clarity in communication.


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