CasesA1

1. pád – podstatná jména

Nominative case of nouns: subject function, kdo?/co? questions, basic declension patterns

Learning Goal

Can identify and use the nominative case for subjects and after 'to je' in basic sentences

Exam Skills:ReadingWriting

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Student čte knihu.

The student is reading a book.

To je nová restaurace.

This is a new restaurant.

Počítač a telefon jsou na stole.

The computer and phone are on the table.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

První pád (nominativ) odpovídá na otázky kdo? (pro osoby) a co? (pro věci). Je to základní tvar slova, který najdete ve slovníku.

RodVzorPříklad 1. páduOtázka
M životnýpán, mužstudent, mužKdo to je?
M neživotnýhrad, strojdům, počítačCo to je?
Ženskýžena, růžežena, uliceKdo/Co to je?
Středníměsto, mořeměsto, náměstíCo to je?

Použití: Nominativ se používá pro podmět věty: Student čte knihu. (Kdo čte? → Student.) Také po slovese být: To je dobrý učitel.

Vzory: Každý rod má několik vzorů (declension patterns), které určují, jak se slovo mění v dalších pádech. V 1. pádě je slovo v základním tvaru.

Beginners use accusative or other case forms where nominative is needed, especially after 'to je'. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English nouns don't change form for cases, so the concept of a 'base form' for subjects is unfamiliar. Learners may not realize that Czech nouns change in other positions.

Common Error Patterns

Used a non-nominative form where nominative is required (e.g., *Studenta čte instead of Student čte)

The subject of a sentence always takes nominative — the dictionary/base form of the noun

Used accusative or another case for the subject of the sentence

Ask kdo?/co? to identify the subject. The answer should be in nominative (base form).

Student čte knihu.

The student is reading a book.

Student is the subject (kdo čte?) → nominative. Knihu is accusative (what is being read).

To je nová restaurace.

This is a new restaurant.

After 'to je' (this is), use nominative. Restaurace is feminine, so nová has feminine ending.

Počítač a telefon jsou na stole.

The computer and phone are on the table.

Both subjects are in nominative (co je na stole?). Na stole uses locative (different case).

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course
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