Noun Cases

Case refers to how nouns and pronouns are used in relation to the other words in a sentence.

There are five kinds of Noun Cases.

1. Nominative Case.

2. Objective Case.

3. Accusative Case.

4. Vocative Case.

5. Possessive Case.

1. Nominative Case

When a noun or pronoun is used as the subject of the verb in a sentence, is said to be in the Nominative or Subjective case.

for example,

1. Satish sang a song.

2. She wrote a letter.

3. Sunny ate an apple.

4. We played baseball.

In above examples
Satish (noun)
She (pronoun)
Sunny (noun)
and We (pronoun) are subject of the verb sang, wrote, ate and played respectively. Therefore, their case in the sentence is Nominative case.

Note:
The Nominative Case generally takes place before the verb

2. Objective Case

When a noun or pronoun is used as the Object of the verb in a sentence, is said to be in the Objective Case.
Or
A noun or pronoun recieves the action in a sentence, it is in the Objective Case.

for example,

1. He saw a theif.

2. Teacher punished me.

3. John killed a bird.

4. Police arrested them.

In above examples Thief, Me, Bird, Them are objects of the verb saw, punished, killed, arrested respectively and are in the objective case.

Note:
The Objective Case generally takes place after a verb.

3. Accusative Case

A noun or a pronoun which comes after a preposition, is said to be in the Accusative Case.
Or
It is a case which is used to denote an indirect object; as,

For example,

1. The book is in the cupboard.

2. The toy is on the table.

3. She writes with a chalk.

4. Iqbal goes to school.

5. He gave five dollars to Aslam.

Cupboard, table, chalk, school and Aslam are in accusative case because they have come after prepositions in, on, with, to and to respectively.

4. Vocative Case

When a noun is used to name a person or a thing addressed is said to be in the Vocative Case.
Or
When a noun is addressed (or called) in a sentence is said to be in the Vocative Case; as,

For example,

1. James! Where is your book.

2. Julie! Sit down.

3. Jean! Read your lesson.

4. O death! You are very cruel.

In above examples James, Julie, Jean and death are in Vocative case, because they are addressed in the sentence.

5. Possessive Case

When a noun or a pronoun shows its ownership or relationship to another thing is said to be in the Possessive Case; as,
Or
If a noun or pronoun shows possession or relationship, it is in the Possessive Case.

For example,

1. This is Aslam’s pen.

2. John’s car is green.

3. Satish’s book is old.

4. Mohan’s dog is big.

In above sentences Aslam’s ownership is with pen, John’s relationship is with car, Satish’s relationship is with book and Mohan’s ownership is with dog. Therefore, their case in the sentences are in Possessive Case.