The spelling of "oblique case" can be a bit confusing, as it doesn't follow the usual English pronunciation rules. The word "oblique" is pronounced /əˈbliːk/, with an unstressed first syllable and the long "ē" sound. The word "case" is pronounced /keɪs/, with the "long a" sound and an "s" at the end. Together, "oblique case" is pronounced /əˈbliːk keɪs/. In linguistics, the oblique case refers to a noun or pronoun used as an object or indirect object in a sentence.
The oblique case, also referred to as the objective case, is a grammatical category used in certain languages to indicate the role or function of a noun, pronoun, or adjective within a sentence. It is the case that is typically used when a word is serving as the object of a verb or preposition.
In English, the oblique case is most commonly seen in pronouns. For example, the pronoun "him" is used in the oblique case when it functions as the direct or indirect object of a verb, or as the object of a preposition ("I saw him" or "She gave the book to him"). Nouns and adjectives do not typically change their form to indicate the oblique case in English.
In other languages, such as Latin, Russian, or Sanskrit, both pronouns and nouns can have distinct forms in the oblique case. These forms vary depending on the declension or case system of each language, and are used to indicate roles such as direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition.
The oblique case is important for sentence structure and clarity as it helps to identify the relationship between the subject, verb, and object in a sentence. By showing the role of a word within a sentence, the oblique case facilitates effective communication and comprehension in various languages.
The term "oblique case" comes from the Latin word "obliquus", meaning "slanting" or "sideways". In Latin grammar, this term was used to refer to a noun or pronoun form that was used to indicate various relationships, such as indirect objects, objects of certain prepositions, and possessives. The term was adopted into English grammar to describe a similar concept, referring to noun forms that indicate the objects of prepositions or other relationships, as opposed to the nominative case, which typically indicates the subject of a sentence.