1. My _hands_ are cold.
2. He is a _lawyer_.
3. Smith, the _grocer_, has moved away.
4. _John_, shut the door.
5. The _storm_ having ceased, I went on.
A noun that is used as the subject of a sentence is said to be in the
=subject nominative case=, or briefly in the =nominative case=; as, The
_sun_ shines brightly.
A noun that is used in the predicate with the verb _to be_ to make a
statement, is said to be in the =predicate nominative case= to the verb;
as, This man is a _poet_.
_Note._—The verb _to be_ (am, is, are, was, were, shall be, will be,
have been, had been, etc.,) expresses _being_, never action, and hence
cannot take a grammatical _object_.
A noun that is added to another noun to explain it, is said to be in the
=appositive= (apposition) =nominative case=; as Brown, the _merchant_,
is here.
A noun that is used as the name of a person or thing addressed is said
to be in the =nominative of address=; as I wish you long life, my
_friend_.
A noun that has no relation to any word in the sentence is said to be in
the =nominative absolute=; as, The _game_ being over, I withdrew.