Nominative vs. Accusative — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 25, 2023
Nominative is a grammatical case for the subject of a sentence. Accusative is grammatical case for the direct object of a verb.
Difference Between Nominative and Accusative
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Nominative: Used for sentence subjects. Accusative: Used for direct objects.
Nominative: Indicates who or what performs the action. Accusative: Indicates who or what receives the action.
Comparison Chart
Function
Used for sentence subjects
Used for direct objects
Role
Indicates the doer of the action
Indicates the receiver of the action
Sentence Position
Often found at the beginning (subject)
Often found after the verb (object)
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Changes in Languages
Often remains unchanged
May change word endings in some languages
Example
In "She sings," "She" is in the nominative case
In "He reads a book," "book" is accusative
Compare with Definitions
Nominative
Indicates the doer of the action.
She sings beautifully.
Accusative
Indicates the receiver of the action.
She baked a cake for her friend.
Nominative
Appointed to office.
Accusative
Of, relating to, or being the grammatical case that is the direct object of a verb or the object of certain prepositions.
Nominative
Nominated as a candidate for office.
Accusative
Accusatory.
Nominative
Having or bearing a person's name
Nominative shares.
Accusative
The accusative case.
Nominative
(-nə-tĭv) Grammar Of, relating to, or being the case of the subject of a finite verb (as I in I wrote the letter) and of words identified with the subject of a copula, such as a predicate nominative (as children in These are his children).
Accusative
A word or form in the accusative case.
Nominative
The nominative case.
Accusative
Producing accusations; in a manner that reflects a finding of fault or blame
Nominative
A word or form in the nominative case.
Accusative
(grammar) Applied to the case (as the fourth case of Latin, Lithuanian and Greek nouns) which expresses the immediate object on which the action or influence of a transitive verb has its limited influence. Other parts of speech, including secondary or predicate direct objects, will also influence a sentence’s construction. In German the case used for direct objects.
Nominative
Giving a name; naming; designating.
Nominative fair use
Accusative
(grammar) The accusative case.
Nominative
(grammar) Being in that case or form of a noun which stands as the subject of a finite verb.
Accusative
Producing accusations; accusatory.
Nominative
Making a selection or nomination; choosing.
Accusative
Applied to the case (as the fourth case of Latin and Greek nouns) which expresses the immediate object on which the action or influence of a transitive verb terminates, or the immediate object of motion or tendency to, expressed by a preposition. It corresponds to the objective case in English.
Nominative
The nominative case.
Accusative
The accusative case.
Nominative
A noun in the nominative case.
Accusative
The category of nouns serving as the direct object of a verb
Nominative
Giving a name; naming; designating; - said of that case or form of a noun which stands as the subject of a finite verb.
Accusative
Containing or expressing accusation;
An accusitive forefinger
Black accusatory looks
Accusive shoes and telltale trousers
His accusing glare
Nominative
The category of nouns serving as the grammatical subject of a verb
Accusative
Serving as or indicating the object of a verb or of certain prepositions and used for certain other purposes;
Objective case
Accusative endings
Nominative
Serving as or indicating the subject of a verb and words identified with the subject of a copular verb;
Nominative noun endings
Predicate nominative
Accusative
Grammatical case for direct objects.
He read the book yesterday.
Nominative
Named; bearing the name of a specific person;
Nominative shares of stock
Nominative
Appointed by nomination
Nominative
Grammatical case for sentence subjects.
He is the captain of the team.
Common Curiosities
Does the nominative case change in all languages?
No, in some languages, it remains unchanged.
Where is the nominative case typically found in a sentence?
It's often at the beginning, representing the subject.
How is the nominative case used in a sentence?
It indicates who or what performs the action.
What is the nominative case?
The nominative case is a grammatical case used for sentence subjects.
Does the accusative case change in all languages?
In some languages, word endings in the accusative case may change.
Where is the accusative case typically found in a sentence?
It often follows the verb, representing the object.
Can you provide an example of the accusative case?
In "He read the book," "book" is in the accusative case.
Can you provide an example of the nominative case?
In "She sings," "She" is in the nominative case.
What is the accusative case?
The accusative case is a grammatical case used for direct objects.
How is the accusative case used in a sentence?
It indicates who or what receives the action.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
