Cases ( English )

Question 1

Nominative

Answer 1

Subject of the sentence; “doer” of the action.

e.g. The caller put down the phone. Who put down the phone? The caller.

Question 2

Genitive

Answer 2

Denotes possession; “of”; “ ‘s”.

e.g. This is Robert’s house. Whose house? Robert’s.

e.g. We saw the committee’s report. Whose report? The committee’s (of the committee).

Question 3

Dative

Answer 3

Indirect object, e.g. giving, showing, telling to (someone or something).

e.g. The assistant gave the goods to the client. To whom did the assistant give the goods? To the client.

Question 4

Accusative

Answer 4

Direct object; the focus of the action of the verb.

e.g. We saw the film yesterday. What did we see? The film.

Question 5

Instrumental

Answer 5

Denotes “by means of”, “through the agency of”, “with”.

e.g. Ian went to the concert with Helen. With whom did Ian go to the concert? With Helen.

e.g. I repaired my watch with a screwdriver. With (by means of) what did I repair my watch? With a screwdriver.

Question 6

Locative

Answer 6

Denotes the place where someone or something is or happens.

e.g. He lives in Leicester. Where does he live? In Leicester.

Question 7

Vocative

Answer 7

Used when calling, greeting or addressing someone.

e.g. Hello, Sophie!

Dear Alex, (when writing a letter)

Well done, Mr. Brown!