üldnominatiivne

üldnominatiivne refers to a grammatical concept primarily found in certain Finnic languages, particularly Estonian. It describes a grammatical case that functions as the unmarked or default form of a noun. Unlike other cases that indicate specific roles such as possession, direction, or location, the üldnominatiivne typically denotes the subject of a sentence or the object when it is the direct object of a transitive verb.

In Estonian, the üldnominatiivne is often the base form of a noun that one would find in a dictionary. It is the form that is learned first when acquiring the language. For example, in the sentence "Koer jookseb" (The dog runs), "koer" is in the üldnominatiivne case, serving as the subject. Similarly, in "Ma näen koera" (I see the dog), "koera" is in the partitive case, but if the sentence were "Ma armastan koera" (I love the dog), "koera" would again be in the üldnominatiivne as the direct object, indicating a completed action or a strong connection. The absence of a specific case ending is a hallmark of this form. Understanding the üldnominatiivne is crucial for comprehending sentence structure and noun declension in languages that employ it.