nominativedeterminer

The nominative determiner is a term used in linguistic typology to refer to the form of a determiner that is used with a noun when the noun is in the nominative case. In languages that have grammatical case and inflectible determiners, the determiner may take distinct forms for nominative, accusative, and other cases.

Function and pattern: A nominative determiner often carries information about gender and number, aligning with the noun phrase in its subject position. The nominative form is used when the noun phrase serves as the subject or otherwise bears nominative marking in the sentence. In languages with robust case systems, determiners may agree with the noun in person, number, and gender, producing a clearly identifiable nominative form.

Examples: German provides clear nominative determiner forms: der Mann (the man) in nominative masculine singular; die Frau (the woman) in nominative feminine singular; das Kind (the child) in nominative neuter singular; die Bücher (the books) in nominative plural. The corresponding forms change in other cases, as in den Mann (accusative masculine singular). Indefinite articles also show nominative forms: ein Mann, eine Frau, ein Kind.

Notes: The concept is most relevant in languages with a robust system of case inflection on determiners or articles. In languages without article systems, or where determiners do not inflect by case, the nominative determiner may be indistinguishable from other forms or may not exist as a separate category.

See also: nominative case, determiner, article, case agreement.