A noun that is used in the predicate with the verb to be to make a statement, is said to be in the predicate nominative case to the verb; as, This man is a poet.
Note.—The verb to be (am, is, are, was, were, shall be, will be, have been, had been, etc.,) expresses being, never action, and hence cannot take a grammatical object.
A noun that is added to another noun to explain it, is said to be in the appositive (apposition) nominative case; as Brown, the merchant, is here.
A noun that is used as the name of a person or thing addressed is said to be in the nominative of address; as I wish you long life, my friend.
A noun that has no relation to any word in the sentence is said to be in the nominative absolute; as, The game being over, I withdrew.
EXERCISE.
Select all the nominatives in the following sentences, and state the class to which each belongs:—
| 1. | Napoleon was a man of determination. | |
| 2. | My friend, the captain, is a citizen of Montreal. | |
| 3. | Good morning, Mr. Henry, will you come in? | |
| 4. | William the Norman, the enemy of Harold, crossed the Channel. | |
| 5. | The boat having disappeared, I turned my face homewards. |