Case is the form of a noun (or pronoun) which shows its relation to other words in the sentence, - its construction. Nouns have the same form in both the nominative and the objective case, but a different form in the possessive.

71. The Nominative Case

Nouns in the nominative case have several constructions:

1. The subject of a verb. (The boat moves.) 2. Subjective complement, or predicate nominative. (It is a box).

Note. Some verbs, like be, become, seem, or appear, need a complement to form the simple predicate. They are called copulative ("link") verbs. The "completing" word is called the complement; and as it refers to the subject, it is known as the subjective complement. If a noun, it is in the nominative case, and is sometimes called the predicate nominative. If an adjective, it modifies the subject, and is sometimes called a predicate adjective. Examine these illustrations, and compare the objective complement.

She looked a queen.

The house seemed a palace to him.

His brother was a soldier in the Spanish War.

One of my neighbors has been elected governor.

I am confident that he is wise.

He is well.

3. In apposition with another noun in the nominative case. (Bob, my dog, is coming).

4. In direct address. {Mary, where are you?)

5. Nominative absolute. {Dinner being ready, we sat down).

Exercises

204. In the following sentences, point out instances of (1) the appositive and (2) the nominative absolute:

1. School having been dismissed, we went home.

2. The sun having risen, we started on our journey.

3. One of our best men, the catcher, was hurt.

4. The enemy having ceased firing, we withdrew to the trenches.

5. The author having suddenly died, his work remained unfinished.

205. Point out the difference between the subjective complement after an intransitive or passive verb and the direct object (see sect. 72) in the following sentences:

1. He is the right man.

2. He called the right man.

3. He is called John.

4. Edward was proclaimed Prince of Wales.

5. Young Edward was the first Prince of Wales.

6. King Edward proclaimed his son Prince of Wales.

7. Ohio was made a state in 1803.

8. Williams was chosen captain of the football team.

9. Williams himself chose the captain of the team.

10. John seems an attentive student.

11. They had been good friends for years.

12. They have many strong friends in the county.

13. In a few years he became a wealthy man.

14. Wilhelmina was crowned Queen of the Netherlands.

72. The Objective Case

Nouns in the objective case may have several constructions:

1. The direct object of a verb. (He broke the chimney).

2. The indirect object of a verb. (He gave the dog a lesson).

3. The objective complement. (They chose him president).

4. In apposition with another noun in the objective case. (He saw Edward, the king of England).

5. The object of a preposition. (We go to school).

6. The adverbial noun. (He walked a long distance).

7. The subject of an infinitive. (He thought the bay to be honest).

8. The complement of the infinitive "to be." (He believed the man to be a spy).

Note. "Spy" is in the objective case, agreeing with man, the subject of the infinitive.

Exercises

206. In the following sentences, point out instances of (a) the indirect object, (b) the objective complement, (c) the apposi-tive, (d) the subject of an infinitive:

1. The teacher advised the student to study harder.

2. He paid me the money.

3. I signaled the engineer to stop.

4. We urged him to be captain.

5. The boys elected Henry cheer leader.

6. He told the child a story.

207. In rewriting these sentences, see that the indirect object follows a preposition:

1. The boy sent his father a telegram.

2. James lent me his book.

3. He sold me the house.

73. The Possessive Case

The Anglo-Saxons had inflections which we lack. For example, the noun man, which they spelled matin, had the following case forms in the singular number:

Instead of writing the genitive, or possessive, mannes, we have long been in the habit of dropping the e and substituting an apostrophe. The point is that we are to think of the 's as a case ending that belongs to the nouns in the possessive case. Hence our best way is to write the entire word and then add the 's; for example, John's, Charles's, Dickens's, Burns's.

If, however, it pleases the ear to drop the second s, we may do so. Many, although perhaps not the most careful writers, prefer James', Dickens', Burns'. All would agree, probably, in saying for old acquaintance' sake, for conscience' sake.

So much for the possessive singular. To form the possessive plural we add merely the apostrophe to the regular plural in s; for example, the boys' hats, the girls' drawings. When, however, the plural does not end in s, we add 's; as, sheep's, oxen's.

We form the possessive case of a compound noun by adding the 's, or the apostrophe at the end; for example, mother-in-law's.

The same principle applies to groups of nouns; for example, Lincoln and Davis's goods, the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company's record, Weeks and Potter's store. But it is often smoother to use of; for example, the statement of the governor of Massachusetts, rather than the governor of Massachusetts' statement.

This case denotes ownership, or possession, and is almost always used with reference to persons or animals. We say the President's message, but the President of the United States, not the United States' President. In connection with nouns that denote inanimate things, we use of.

Note. Anybody else's vote seems to have better authority than anybody's else vote. We often think of the adjective else as a part of the noun anybody. If, however, our ear prompts us to say anybody's else at the end of a clause or sentence, we should feel free to do so.

Exercises

208. Write the possessive case, singular and plural, of: man, sheep, deer, ox; the possessive case of: Holmes, Jones, man-of-war, James the First.

209. In the following. instances, tell whether you prefer the possessive case or the possessive phrase, and why:

The ocean's roar, the whistle of the engine, the woman's shriek, the bicycle's gear, Roosevelt's administration, the administration of the war department.

210. Point out the difference in meaning between the following. May any of them be interpreted in two ways?

211. Show that in each of the following sentences the use of the apostrophe is correct:

1. Noel prized the society of the Paladin above everybody else's; the Paladin preferred anybody's to Noel's.

2. Moses' sisters dressed him up very fine, and after breakfast he set out.

3. The secretaries' reports are kept in this book.

4. The Young Men's Club held a meeting last night.

5. The Gibson Company's electric sign was torn down by the gale.

212. Copy the following sentences, inserting the apostrophe where it is needed:

1. This is Johns copy of "Captains Courageous."

2. Burns poems are not published in this edition.

3. The Duke of Yorks castle is a mile beyond.

4. The ladies waiting-room is on the first floor.

.5. Many attended the luncheon of the Womens Club.

6. This months Artisan gives full accounts of the games.

7. Gorham-Jones superintendent visited our mill yesterday.

8. They have demanded thirty days vacation.

213. Write sentences containing the possessive case of the following: fox, princess, child, children, girls, son-in-law, Charles, Prince of Wales, The Oliver Ditson Company.