Nominatiivina

Nominatiivina is a term used in grammars of Finnic languages to indicate that a word or phrase is in the nominative case. The nominative is typically the base form of a noun and is commonly used to mark the subject of a sentence, or a predicative noun in copular clauses. In linguistic descriptions, nominatiivina serves as a label: a form described as nominatiivina is functioning as nominative, in contrast to other cases such as genitive or partitive.

Usage and scope: The phrase appears in language‑learning materials and grammars to label examples or to describe how a word is used in the nominative. It can refer to a noun phrase that occupies the subject position or to a form that is declined as nominative. In languages with overt case endings, nominativina may correspond to a specific ending; in languages with little or no case marking, the nominative form may coincide with the dictionary form.

Cross-language notes: The concept of the nominative is common across languages with inflectional case systems, though the exact role and marking of the nominative vary. In many languages the nominative primarily marks the subject, but there are variations in use, especially in languages with extended copular or predicative constructions.

See also: Nominative case; Case marking; Grammatical case; Finnic languages.