Pronouns are the backbone of English grammar, yet most learners make mistakes in their case forms. This article explains Nominative Case rules with clear bilingual examples, showing how pronouns function as subjects, after be, and in apposition. Mastering these rules ensures error‑free grammar and boosts exam performance.
Rule (1): Subject of a Verb — Verb ਦੇ Subject ਵਜੋਂ
When a Pronoun is used as the subject of a verb, it must be in the Nominative Case.
ਜਦੋਂ ਕੋਈ Pronoun ਕਿਸੇ sentence ਵਿੱਚ verb ਦੇ subject ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਤਾਂ ਉਸ Pronoun ਦੀ Nominative Case ਵਾਲੀ form ਵਰਤੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- He went to Jammu last month. (Correct)
Him / His went to Jammu last month. (Incorrect)
Here, He is the subject of the verb went, so the Nominative Case He is used.
- They come here by train. (Correct)
Them / Their / Theirs come here by train. (Incorrect)
Here, They is the subject of the verb come, so the Nominative Case They is used.
Rule (2): Two or More Pronouns Used as the Subject — ਦੋ ਜਾਂ ਦੋ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ Pronouns Subject ਵਜੋਂ
When two or more Pronouns are joined by a conjunction such as and, or, etc. and are used as the subject of a sentence, all the Pronouns should be in the Nominative Case.
ਜਦੋਂ ਦੋ ਜਾਂ ਦੋ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ Pronouns and, or ਆਦਿ conjunctions ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜ ਕੇ sentence ਦੇ subject ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਣ, ਤਾਂ ਉਹ ਸਾਰੇ Nominative Case ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਣੇ ਚਾਹੀਦੇ ਹਨ।
Examples:
- You and he were good friends. (Correct)
You and him were good friends. (Incorrect)
- You, he and I are clever. (Correct)
You, him and me are clever. (Incorrect)
Here, You, he and I are the subjects of the verb are, so Nominative Case forms are used.
Rule (3): A Noun and a Pronoun Used as the Subject — Noun ਅਤੇ Pronoun ਇਕੱਠੇ Subject ਵਜੋਂ
When a Noun and a Pronoun are joined by a conjunction such as and, or, etc. and are used as the subject of a sentence, the Pronoun should be in the Nominative Case.
ਜਦੋਂ ਇੱਕ Noun ਅਤੇ ਇੱਕ Pronoun and, or ਆਦਿ conjunction ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜ ਕੇ sentence ਦੇ subject ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਣ, ਤਾਂ Pronoun Nominative Case ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।
Example:
- Karishma and I go to college every day. (Correct)
Karishma and me go to college every day. (Incorrect)
Here, Karishma and I together form the subject of the verb go. Therefore, I, not me, is used.
Rule (4): Pronoun after Infinitive “to be” — Infinitive “to be” ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ
When to be is used as an Infinitive and it does not have a clearly expressed subject, the Pronoun used after it is traditionally taken in the Nominative Case.
ਜਦੋਂ to be ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ Infinitive ਵਜੋਂ ਹੋਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਸਦਾ ਕੋਈ clearly expressed subject ਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ Pronoun ਦੀ Nominative Case ਵਾਲੀ form ਵਰਤੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ।
Example:
- I would not want to be he. (Correct)
I would not want to be him. (Incorrect)
Here, he is used after the Infinitive to be.
Rule (5): Pronoun after “Be” — “Be” ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ Pronoun
When a Noun or Pronoun before a form of “be” such as is, am, are, was, were, has been, have been, etc. is in the Nominative Case, the Pronoun traditionally used after be is also in the Nominative Case.
ਜਦੋਂ is, am, are, was, were, has been, have been ਆਦਿ be ਦੀਆਂ forms ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ Noun ਜਾਂ Pronoun Nominative Case ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ be ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲਾ Pronoun ਵੀ Nominative Case ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- It is I. (Correct)
It is me. (Incorrect)
- It is he. (Correct)
It is him. (Incorrect)
Note (i): “who / which / that” + Clause
When who, which or that + clause follows a form of be, the Pronoun before the Relative Pronoun is traditionally used in the Nominative Case.
ਜਦੋਂ be ਦੀ ਕਿਸੇ form ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ who, which ਜਾਂ that + clause ਆਵੇ, ਤਾਂ Relative Pronoun ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਣ ਵਾਲਾ Pronoun Nominative Case ਵਿੱਚ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ।
Examples:
- It is I who have helped you. (Correct)
It is me who have helped you. (Incorrect)
- It is he who has stolen my pen. (Correct)
It is him who has stolen my pen. (Incorrect)
Note (ii): “to be” after an Objective Case
When to be is used as an Infinitive and the Noun or Pronoun before it is in the Objective Case, the Noun or Pronoun after to be is also traditionally used in the Objective Case.
ਜਦੋਂ to be ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ Infinitive ਵਜੋਂ ਹੋਵੇ ਅਤੇ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਵਾਲਾ Noun ਜਾਂ Pronoun Objective Case ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ to be ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਾਲਾ Noun ਜਾਂ Pronoun ਵੀ Objective Case ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਤਿਆ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
Example:
- I know the man to be him. (Correct)
I know the man to be he. (Incorrect)
Here, him is used because the construction is based on the Objective Case.
Rule (6): Pronoun in Apposition to the Subject — Subject ਦੇ Apposition ਵਜੋਂ Pronoun
When one or more Pronouns are used in Apposition to a word, and that word is the subject of the sentence, the Pronoun used in Apposition should be in the Nominative Case.
ਜਦੋਂ ਇੱਕ ਜਾਂ ਇੱਕ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ Pronouns ਕਿਸੇ word ਦੇ Apposition ਵਜੋਂ ਵਰਤੇ ਜਾਣ ਅਤੇ ਉਹ word sentence ਦਾ subject ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ Apposition ਵਿੱਚ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ Pronouns Nominative Case ਵਿੱਚ ਹੋਣੇ ਚਾਹੀਦੇ ਹਨ।
Example:
- The two of us — he and I — did not agree to her proposal. (Correct)
The two of us — him and me — did not agree to her proposal. (Incorrect)
Here, he and I are in Apposition to the two of us, which is the subject of the sentence. Therefore, he and I are used in the Nominative Case.
More Examples
- It is I who am guilty. (Correct)
It is me who am guilty. (Incorrect) - It was they who were to blame. (Correct)
It was them who were to blame. (Incorrect) - I found it to be he. (Correct)
I found it to be him. (Incorrect) - I guessed the woman to be she. (Correct)
I guessed the woman to be her. (Incorrect) - It is we who have helped you. (Correct)
It is us who have helped you. (Incorrect)