XXXI. NOUNS: CASE
120. We have seen that a noun may be used in different relations to other words in the sentence. It may be related to a verb, for instance, as subject, as object, and as subjective complement. That property of a noun which shows its relation to some other word in the sentence is called case.
121. The three most important and striking relations that a noun may bear are these: subject of a verb, object of a verb, and possessive modifier. Hence there are three cases.
When a noun is the subject of a verb, we say that it is in the nominative case.
When it is the object of a verb, we say that it is in the objective case.
When it is a possessive modifier, we say that it is in the possessive case.
The pronoun has the same three cases as a noun.
122. A noun is said to be declined when we give its three case forms in both the singular and the plural number.
Declension of child
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Nom. | child | children |
| Poss. | child’s | children’s |
| Obj. | child | children |
123. The noun in the nominative case is used in other relations besides that of subject of a verb. The subjective complement is in the nominative case, as well as the noun used independently.
When a noun is object of a preposition, it is in the objective case.
Summary.—Case is that property of a noun or a pronoun which shows its relation to some other word in the sentence.
There are three cases.
A noun used as subject of a verb, as subjective complement, as an exclamatory noun, or as a term of address is in the nominative case.
A noun used as object of a verb or of a preposition is in the objective case.
A noun used as a possessive modifier is in the possessive case.
Declension is the arrangement of the three case forms of a noun in the two numbers.
Exercise.—Tell the use, the case, the number, and the gender of every noun in these sentences.
1. The chill glitter of the northern summer sunrise was washing down over the rounded top of old Sugar Loaf.
2. Thank him according to our customs, Mowgli.
3. What a good draught the nag takes!
4. Alas! Kitty Clover, they say it is wicked; that I must not catch grasshoppers for a pussy cat on Sunday.
5. Why doesn’t your mother make a fresh cup of coffee?
6. We might shovel off the snow, and dig down to some of last year’s onions.
7. Pilgrim fathers! why should we not glorify the pilgrim mothers?
8. What did Peterson Sahib mean by the elephant dance?
9. The boy is the shoemaker’s friend.
10.
Mistress Mary, quite contrary,How does your garden grow?11. I didn’t ask the captain’s leave when I attended this ceremony, for I had a general idea that he wouldn’t give it.
12. Cæsar is certainly the handsomest and most gentlemanly cat I ever saw.
13. How was the Princess’s nose ring the cause of your misfortune?
14.
Comrade, where wilt thou be to-night.When the loosed storm breaks furiously?15. Indeed all the really pretty girls that you see are Americans.
16. When I opened the goldfinch’s door on the morning of the blackbird’s arrival, he paid no attention to his beloved bath, but instantly flew over and alighted on the cage of the newcomer.
17. These ten cows knew their names after a while, and would take their places as I called them.
18. Oh! but he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, was Scrooge.
19.
O time and change! how strange it seemsWith so much gone to still live on!