📘 Cases in English Grammar: Nominative, Objective, Possessive, Vocative

Key nouns, pronouns, and case markers are highlighted in bold + italic.

🔷 What is Case?

Case shows the grammatical relationship of a noun or pronoun to other words in a sentence. English has four cases:

• Nominative Case (Subject Case) – The doer of the action.
• Objective Case (Accusative/Dative Case) – The receiver of the action or object of preposition.
• Possessive Case (Genitive Case) – Shows ownership or relationship.
• Vocative Case (Nominative of Address) – Direct address (calling someone).

Pronoun Case Forms:

🔷 1. NOMINATIVE CASE (Subject Case)

🔹 Definition: A noun or pronoun is in the Nominative Case when it functions as the subject of a verb or as a predicate nominative (complement after a linking verb).

🔹 Uses:

• Subject of a verb: Who or what performs the action.
• Predicate Nominative: Follows a linking verb (is, am, are, was, were, become, seem) and renames the subject.
• Nominative of Address (Vocative): Direct address (covered separately).

🔹 Pronouns in Nominative Case: I, we, you, he, she, it, they, who

✅ 20 Examples of Nominative Case

• 1. She is a doctor. — वह एक डॉक्टर है। (Subject)
• 2. I love to read books. — मुझे किताबें पढ़ना पसंद है। (Subject)
• 3. They are playing cricket. — वे क्रिकेट खेल रहे हैं। (Subject)
• 4. He works at a bank. — वह एक बैंक में काम करता है। (Subject)
• 5. We will arrive tomorrow. — हम कल आएंगे। (Subject)
• 6. You are my best friend. — तुम मेरे सबसे अच्छे दोस्त हो। (Subject)
• 7. It is raining outside. — बाहर बारिश हो रही है। (Subject)
• 8. John bought a new car. — जॉन ने एक नई कार खरीदी। (Subject)
• 9. The winner is she. — विजेता वह है। (Predicate Nominative)
• 10. It was I who called you. — वह मैं था जिसने तुम्हें फोन किया। (Predicate Nominative)
• 11. The best student is he. — सबसे अच्छा छात्र वह है। (Predicate Nominative)
• 12. Mother cooks delicious food. — माँ स्वादिष्ट खाना बनाती है। (Subject)
• 13. They have finished their homework. — उन्होंने अपना होमवर्क खत्म कर लिया है। (Subject)
• 14. Who is at the door? — दरवाजे पर कौन है? (Subject)
• 15. She and I are going together. — वह और मैं एक साथ जा रहे हैं। (Subjects)
• 16. The president is he. — राष्ट्रपति वह हैं। (Predicate Nominative)
• 17. Birds fly in the sky. — पक्षी आकाश में उड़ते हैं। (Subject)
• 18. It was they who helped me. — वे ही थे जिन्होंने मेरी मदद की। (Predicate Nominative)
• 19. You and I are friends. — तुम और मैं दोस्त हैं। (Subjects)
• 20. The author of this book is she. — इस पुस्तक की लेखिका वह हैं। (Predicate Nominative)

🔷 2. OBJECTIVE CASE (Accusative / Dative Case)

🔹 Definition: A noun or pronoun is in the Objective Case when it functions as the direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition.

🔹 Uses:

• Direct Object: Receives the action of a transitive verb (answers “what?” or “whom?”).
• Indirect Object: Indicates to whom or for whom the action is done.
• Object of Preposition: Follows a preposition (to, for, with, by, etc.).
• Object of Infinitive/Gerund.

🔹 Pronouns in Objective Case: me, us, you, him, her, it, them, whom

✅ 20 Examples of Objective Case

• 1. She called me yesterday. — उसने कल मुझे फोन किया। (Direct Object)
• 2. I gave him a gift. — मैंने उसे एक उपहार दिया। (Indirect Object)
• 3. Please listen to her. — कृपया उसकी बात सुनो। (Object of preposition “to”)
• 4. They invited us to the party. — उन्होंने हमें पार्टी में आमंत्रित किया। (Direct Object)
• 5. I saw them at the mall. — मैंने उन्हें मॉल में देखा। (Direct Object)
• 6. She bought me a present. — उसने मेरे लिए एक उपहार खरीदा। (Indirect Object)
• 7. He is waiting for you. — वह तुम्हारा इंतज़ार कर रहा है। (Object of preposition “for”)
• 8. The teacher praised him. — शिक्षक ने उसकी प्रशंसा की। (Direct Object)
• 9. Please pass me the salt. — कृपया मुझे नमक दो। (Indirect Object)
• 10. I don’t know her. — मैं उसे नहीं जानता। (Direct Object)
• 11. They gave us a warm welcome. — उन्होंने हमें गर्मजोशी से स्वागत किया। (Indirect Object)
• 12. She is sitting next to me. — वह मेरे बगल में बैठी है। (Object of preposition “to”)
• 13. I love you. — मैं तुमसे प्यार करता हूँ। (Direct Object)
• 14. He told them a story. — उसने उन्हें एक कहानी सुनाई। (Indirect Object)
• 15. The ball hit him. — गेंद उसे लगी। (Direct Object)
• 16. She is looking at us. — वह हमें देख रही है। (Object of preposition “at”)
• 17. I want to see her again. — मैं उसे फिर से देखना चाहता हूँ। (Object of infinitive)
• 18. He sent me a message. — उसने मुझे एक संदेश भेजा। (Indirect Object)
• 19. They blamed us for the mistake. — उन्होंने गलती के लिए हमें दोषी ठहराया। (Direct Object)
• 20. Please give them the documents. — कृपया उन्हें दस्तावेज़ दे दो। (Indirect Object)

🔷 3. POSSESSIVE CASE (Genitive Case)

🔹 Definition: A noun or pronoun is in the Possessive Case when it shows ownership, possession, origin, or relationship.

🔹 Formation:

• Singular nouns: Add ‘s → Rahul’s book, the cat’s tail
• Plural nouns ending in s: Add only ‘ → the boys’ school, the teachers’ lounge
• Plural nouns not ending in s: Add ‘s → children’s toys, women’s rights
• Compound nouns: Add ‘s to the last word → mother-in-law’s house
• Joint possession: Add ‘s only to the last noun → Ram and Shyam’s shop
• Separate possession: Add ‘s to each noun → Ram’s and Shyam’s shops

🔹 Possessive Pronouns (replace nouns): mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs

🔹 Possessive Adjectives (before nouns): my, your, his, her, its, our, their

✅ 20 Examples of Possessive Case

• 1. This is Rahul’s car. — यह राहुल की कार है।
• 2. My mother is a teacher. — मेरी माँ एक शिक्षिका हैं। (Possessive Adjective)
• 3. That book is mine. — वह किताब मेरी है। (Possessive Pronoun)
• 4. Her dress is beautiful. — उसकी पोशाक सुंदर है। (Possessive Adjective)
• 5. The children’s toys are scattered. — बच्चों के खिलौने बिखरे हुए हैं।
• 6. This pen is yours. — यह कलम तुम्हारी है। (Possessive Pronoun)
• 7. Our team won the match. — हमारी टीम ने मैच जीता। (Possessive Adjective)
• 8. The dog’s tail is wagging. — कुत्ते की पूँछ हिल रही है।
• 9. Is this bag hers? — क्या यह बैग उसका है? (Possessive Pronoun)
• 10. Their house is very big. — उनका घर बहुत बड़ा है। (Possessive Adjective)
• 11. The teachers’ meeting is at 9 AM. — शिक्षकों की बैठक सुबह 9 बजे है।
• 12. This idea is his. — यह विचार उसका है। (Possessive Pronoun)
• 13. James’s car is new. — जेम्स की कार नई है।
• 14. Its color is red. — उसका रंग लाल है। (Possessive Adjective – no apostrophe)
• 15. The women’s rights must be protected. — महिलाओं के अधिकारों की रक्षा की जानी चाहिए।
• 16. That laptop is ours. — वह लैपटॉप हमारा है। (Possessive Pronoun)
• 17. Ritu and Simran’s project won first prize. — रितु और सिमरन के प्रोजेक्ट ने प्रथम पुरस्कार जीता। (Joint possession)
• 18. Your phone is ringing. — तुम्हारा फोन बज रहा है। (Possessive Adjective)
• 19. The cat’s whiskers are long. — बिल्ली की मूंछें लंबी हैं।
• 20. These shoes are theirs. — ये जूते उनके हैं। (Possessive Pronoun)

🔷 4. VOCATIVE CASE (Nominative of Address)

🔹 Definition: A noun or pronoun is in the Vocative Case when it is used to address someone directly. It is set off by commas.

🔹 Uses:

• Direct address: Calling someone by name or title.
• Expressions with “O” or “Oh”: Poetic or emotional address.
• Commands or requests with the person’s name.
• Exclamations addressing someone.

🔹 Punctuation: The vocative noun is always separated by commas from the rest of the sentence.

✅ 20 Examples of Vocative Case

• 1. John, please come here. — जॉन, कृपया यहाँ आओ।
• 2. Can you help me, Sarah? — क्या तुम मेरी मदद कर सकती हो, सारा?
• 3. Sir, may I ask a question? — सर, क्या मैं एक प्रश्न पूछ सकता हूँ?
• 4. Don’t do that, children! — वह मत करो, बच्चों!
• 5. O God, please help me. — हे भगवान, कृपया मेरी मदद करो।
• 6. Listen to me, Rahul. — मेरी बात सुनो, राहुल।
• 7. Mom, I am hungry. — माँ, मुझे भूख लगी है।
• 8. Thank you, teacher. — धन्यवाद, शिक्षक।
• 9. Friends, let’s work together. — दोस्तों, चलो एक साथ काम करें।
• 10. Be careful, son! — सावधान रहो, बेटा!
• 11. Doctor, is there any cure? — डॉक्टर, क्या कोई इलाज है?
• 12. You are wrong, my friend. — तुम गलत हो, मेरे दोस्त।
• 13. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show. — देवियो और सज्जनो, शो में आपका स्वागत है।
• 14. Don’t be late, Riya. — देर मत करना, रिया।
• 15. Officer, I need your help. — अधिकारी, मुझे आपकी मदद चाहिए।
• 16. Wake up, brother! — जाग जाओ, भाई!
• 17. Sweetheart, I love you. — प्रिय, मैं तुमसे प्यार करता हूँ।
• 18. Excuse me, madam. — माफ़ कीजिए, मैडम।
• 19. Mr. President, your speech was inspiring. — श्रीमान राष्ट्रपति, आपका भाषण प्रेरणादायक था।
• 20. Come here, little one. — यहाँ आओ, छोटू।

📊 Comparison: Nominative vs Objective vs Possessive

📌 Quick Identification Tips

• Nominative: Subject of verb → She runs. / Predicate nominative → It is I.
• Objective: Direct/Indirect Object → I gave her a book. / Object of preposition → with me.
• Possessive: Shows ownership → Rahul’s car, my house, that book is mine.
• Vocative: Direct address, set off by commas → John, come here.

✅ Summary: Complete guide to the four cases in English — Nominative, Objective, Possessive, and Vocative. 20 examples for each case with bilingual translations. All key case markers are highlighted in bold + italic