Nominative case: the subject

In brief

In German, the subject of a sentence is in the nominative case (Nominativ). The subject is the person or thing doing something or being described. Ask ‘Who or what?’ about the verb to find it: In ‘Der Hund schläft,’ who is sleeping? ‘Der Hund.’

Form

Use the nominative form for the subject: der Mann, die Frau, das Kind; or the subject pronouns ich, du, er, sie, es, wir, ihr, sie.

Usage

• The subject can be a person, an animal, or a thing: Das Handy klingelt. (The phone is ringing.)
• The subject does not have to be the first word: Heute arbeitet Anna. (Anna is working today.)
• After sein (to be), the noun identifying the subject is also nominative: Er ist ein Lehrer. (He is a teacher.)

Examples

• Der Hund schläft. — The dog is sleeping.
• Heute arbeitet Anna. — Anna is working today.
• Das Kind lacht. — The child is laughing.
• Er ist ein Lehrer. — He is a teacher.

Common mistake

❌ Den Mann schläft.

✅ Der Mann schläft.

The man is the one sleeping, so he is the subject and needs the nominative form ‘der Mann’.

Remember

Find the subject by asking who or what does the action. Use the nominative for that subject.