Help!!!!! Nominative case Vs. Objective case

Nidhs

My question basically refers to the usage of nominative case vs the objective case

According to the rule;
A nominative case should be used as the complement of the verb to be when to be has no subject
for example

It is I
To be she would be a hardhip
They need the quarterback to be he who has a cool head and a strong throwing arm

and a objective case should be used as the complement of the verb to when to be has a subject
for example

What I wouldnt give to be her

I am thoroughly confused at this point withthe usage of nominative vs objective in "to be" especially the last example.
also
This is the man (who / that/whom) I wanted to speak to and whose name I'd forgotten

Danielle · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject:

Hey -- just a quick review. Pronouns have something called case, and there are three: nominative, objective and possessive. Nominative vs. objective is one that a lot of folks struggle with. Here is the quick and dirty rule:

Nominative case pronouns are I, she, he, we, they, and who. They are used as subjects, predicate nominatives, and appositives when used with a subject or predicate nominative.

Objective case pronouns are me, her, him, us, them, and whom. They are used as direct objects, indirect objects, objects of the preposition, and appositives when used with one of the objects.

In the example you quoted, "What I wouldn't give to be her", the pronoun is in the objective case because the verb of the sentence is give, not "to be" or any form of be, which would mandate the nominative case.

Applying the quick and dirty rule, the last sentence you mentioned would read: This is the man who I wanted to speak to and whose name I've forgotten.

Nidhs · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:37 am Post subject:

Thanks Danielle. That information really helped.

For those who may require further clarification, visit
http://grammar.uoregon.edu/case/nomcase.html

hillzheng · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject:

Danielle's explanation is great.

netigen · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 7:33 pm Post subject:

The last sentence would read: This is the man whom I wanted to speak to and whose name I've forgotten.

http://www.beatthegmat.com/who-vs-whom-t9099.html