Identify the grammatical role
Nominative marks the subject in ordinary clauses. After sein, werden and bleiben, a noun identifying the subject is also normally nominative: Nora ist eine Kollegin.. Accusative is required by many object-taking verbs, while other verbs require dative. Learn jemanden sehen and jemandem helfen as different patterns; English object position cannot decide their German case.
Identify the grammatical role
Do not identify the subject simply as the first noun or as the person doing something. Den Besucher begrüßt Nora. still has Nora as its subject. In Der Besucher wird begrüßt., the visitor is the nominative subject although someone else performs the greeting. Start with the finite verb and its construction.
Definite article forms
| Kasus | Maskulin | Feminin | Neutrum | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | der Kurs | die Gruppe | das Ticket | die Kurse |
Indefinite article forms
| Kasus | Maskulin | Feminin | Neutrum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | ein Kurs | eine Gruppe | ein Ticket |
Check the construction in context
Choose your answer before opening the explanation. Check the whole phrase as well as the form.
1. Identify the case of der Besucher in Der Besucher wartet.
Nominative. The phrase is the subject of wartet, not an object selected by another word.
6. Choose: Nora ist eine / einer erfahrene Kollegin..
Nora ist eine erfahrene Kollegin. The noun phrase identifies Nora after ist and is nominative, not dative.
Start with the topic overview
The four German cases: roles and article tables · Find another grammar topic
Questions about this topic
Is the first noun always the subject?
No. A fronted object can come first, and a passive subject need not perform the action. Identify the grammatical role and agreement.
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