Examine the construction of the italicized nouns in the following
sentences:—
1. _Trees_ grow.
2. This man is a _carpenter_.
3. Mr. Brown, the _merchant_, has retired.
4. _Boys_, close the doors.
5. The _wheel_ being broken, I walked home.
6. John lost his _knife_.
7. She lives in the _city_.
8. I bought the _boy_ a hat.
9. We visited our _mother’s_ grave.
10. He lived here ten _years_.
11. I was taught _music_ by my mother.
12. This boy ran a _race_ yesterday.
13. I told him to be a good _boy_.
14. The people chose him _ruler_.
1. =Subject nominative.= The noun may be used as the subject of a verb;
as, _Boys_ play. The subject of a verb is in the _nominative case_.
2. =Predicate nominative.= A noun that is used to form a complete
predicate, and refers to the same person or thing as the subject, is in
the =nominative case= after the verb; as, John became _king_. A noun so
used is called a =predicate noun= or =predicate nominative=. The verbs
_be_, _seem_, _become_, _appear_, _look_ are followed by a =predicate
nominative=.
3. =Apposition.= A noun added to another noun to explain its meaning is
said to be in apposition to the first noun; as,