Substantivformulierungen

Substantivform, or nominal form, refers to the morphological shape a noun takes in a language to convey grammatical information. This information typically includes number (singular or plural), case (the noun’s role in the sentence), and sometimes gender, definiteness, or declension class. The nominal form often interacts with determiners and adjectives, which may also change to agree with the noun’s form.

In languages with rich inflection, nouns change form across several cases and numbers. German, for example, uses four cases (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive) and distinct plural forms that may require different articles and adjective endings. Other languages, such as Russian or Finnish, display even more extensive noun inflection, including variations for gender and animacy. The Substantivform is determined by systematic patterns called declensions or inflection classes, and learners must memorize or infer these patterns for correct grammar.

English contrasts with this approach by inflecting nouns relatively little. Most English nouns form only a plural and a possessive, with case largely unmarked on nouns themselves and indicated instead by word order or pronouns. Nevertheless, some English nouns undergo irregular pluralization or rely on possessive constructions, illustrating a limited but present Substantivform.

Nominalization is another related aspect, where words from other parts of speech are converted into nouns with their own Substantivform. This process can create new noun forms that inherit or adapt existing declension patterns. The study of Substantivform thus helps explain how languages encode grammatical relationships and how nouns function within sentences.