oblique case
Noun: * In grammar, an oblique case is any grammatical case used for a noun, pronoun, or adjective when it is not functioning as the subject of a verb (which is the role of the nominative case). It typically marks objects, possessors, or other relationships indicated by prepositions.
The term "oblique case" is used to collectively refer to all non-subject cases in a language's case system. It is a general linguistic category rather than a specific case itself. * In the sentence "I gave the book to her," the pronouns "me" (implied object of 'gave') and "her" (object of the preposition 'to') are in the oblique case. * When analyzing "The cat's toy," the word "cat's" is in the genitive (possessive) case, which is an oblique case.
- In languages with rich case systems (e.g., Latin, Russian, Sanskrit), the dative, accusative, genitive, ablative, instrumental, and locative cases are all considered oblique cases.
- In English, which has largely lost its case system, the distinction is primarily seen in pronouns. For example, "he" (nominative) versus "him" (oblique).
- Objective Case: This term is often used synonymously with "oblique case" in the context of English pronouns, specifically covering the accusative and dative functions (e.g., , , , ).
- Nominative Case: The direct opposite of the oblique case; the case of the subject of a finite verb.
- Non-nominative case
- Objective case (in specific contexts, particularly for English pronouns)
- Nominative case
- Subjective case
- any grammatical case other than the nominative