nominativeoblique

Nominativeoblique, sometimes written nominative-oblique, is a term used in linguistic typology to describe a noun inflection pattern in which the forms used for the nominative (subject) and oblique (non-subject) cases are closely related. In such systems, the oblique forms are often derived from or identical to the nominative forms, or they follow a regular, predictable relationship to the nominative stem. The term is used to characterize languages that do not maintain a fully separate set of nominal endings for all oblique roles.

Two common realizations appear in descriptions of nominativeoblique systems. In one, the nominative and oblique share a single paradigm with a unified set of endings, producing syncretism between subject and some non-subject forms. In another, the nominative remains distinct while the oblique forms follow a regular pattern that marks various non-subject relations (such as possessive, indirect object, or instrumental), but with partial overlap between the sets. The specific distribution of overlap and distinction varies across languages.

The nominativeoblique pattern interacts with broader grammatical features such as word order, agreement, and determiner use, and it may influence how subjects and oblique arguments are tracked in the syntax. It is one of several ways languages organize case marking and noun declension, sitting alongside more clearly nominative-accusative and ergative-absolutive systems. The term highlights the sometimesPartial syncretism between nominative and oblique forms found in certain language grammars.

See also: nominative, oblique, case system, syncretism, grammatical case.