The nominative case.
This is the base case, the form you would find in the dictionary when your look for a noun. The subject of a sentence, the person or thing doing the action is always expressed in the nominative case. The subject usually answers the question who? Or what? in front of the verb, and it normally is placed in front of the verb.
Der Vater diskutiert mit seiner Familie.
The father discusses with his family.
Die Reiseführerin beantwortet die Fragen der Touristen.
The travel guide answers the tourists questions.
Eine Reisende fragt nach einem Hotel
A female traveller asks for a hotel.
Table: Articles in the nominative case
masculine feminine neuter plural
definite article der die das die
indefinite article ein eine ein -
Nominative

(deleted)
May 27, 2008