ENGLISH
Grammar: Nominalisation
Grammar | Nominalisation
Nominalisation
What is Nominalisation?
The word ‘nominal’ is the adjective form relating to the word ‘noun’. Therefore, the term nominalisation
refers to changing a verb, adjective or adverb into a noun. In English, nouns can be formed by adding
prefixes or suffixes to words belonging to other parts of speech. Through this process, qualities, actions
and events are turned into things, ideas or people.
Word Nominalisation
is walking the walk
final finality
melodiously melody
When the verb, adjective or adverb is nominalised, the sentence to which the words belong to sounds
more formal and abstract.
(a) After the septic tank leaked into the drinking water reservoir, an epidemic broke out.
(b) After the leakage of the septic tank into the drinking water reservoir, there was an outbreak of
an epidemic.
Compared to Sentence (a), Sentence (b) sounds more formal.
More examples:
(a) The scientists demonstrated how to extract DNA from the pulp of the tooth.
(b) The scientists conducted a demonstration about the extraction of DNA from the pulp of the tooth.
(a) They discussed whether the claims were authentic or not.
(b) They had a discussion on the authenticity of the claims.
Common Suffixes of Nouns
Suffix Noun Form
-ion demonstration, continuation, fixation
-ity duplicity, possibility, complexity
-ness firmness, happiness, blindness
-ment enjoyment, replacement, arrangement
-ance, -ence absence, importance, appearance
-ship friendship, kinship, partnership
-hood neighbourhood, motherhood, childhood
-er runner, speaker, leader
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Grammar | Nominalisation
Changing Verbs to Nouns
• To change verbs into nouns, suffixes such as ‘-ion’, ‘-sion’, ‘-er’, ‘-ing’, ‘-th’ or ‘-ment’ can be
used.
Verb Suffix Noun
determine -ion determination
ascent -sion ascension
swim -er swimmer
knit -ing knitting (gerund)
grow -th growth
abandon -ment abandonment
• The verb can be converted into a noun by adding an article.
Verb Noun
reading the reading
walking the walk
taste the taste
kill the kill
Steps:
1. Underline the verbs in the sentence.
Crime was increasing and this was worrying the police.
2. Write down the noun forms of the verbs.
Increasing: The increase
Worrying: Worry
3. Replace the verbs with the noun forms. Use them in the sentence either as subjects or as objects.
The increase in crime caused worry among the police.
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Grammar | Nominalisation
Changing Adjectives to Nouns
• Adjectives can be changed into nouns by adding suffixes such as ‘-ness’, ‘-ity’, ‘-ency’, ‘-ancy’ ‘-
ance’, ‘-ism’ and ‘-th’.
Adjective Suffix Noun
happy -ness happiness
able -ity ability
efficient -ency efficiency
deviant -ancy deviancy
defiant -ance defiance
favourite -ism favouritism
warm -th warmth
• Adjectives can also be turned into nouns by dropping suffixes.
Adjective Suffix Noun
traumatic -ic trauma
magical -al magic
dangerous -ous danger
questionable -able question
zealous -ous zeal
painful -ful pain
guilty -y guilt
Steps:
1. Underline the adjectives in the sentence.
The fact that you are reliable makes me happy.
2. Write down the noun forms of the adjectives.
reliable: reliability
happy: happiness
3. Replace the adjectives with the noun forms. Use them in the sentence either as subjects or as
objects.
Your reliability brings me happiness.
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Grammar | Nominalisation
Changing Adverbs to Nouns
• Changing adverbs to nouns is a three-step process.
• First, the suffix ‘-ly’ is dropped from the adverb (beautifully).
• The result would be an adjective (beautiful).
• Follow the rules for converting adjectives into nouns by adding or removing suffixes.
Adverb Adjective Noun
specially special specialty
truthfully truthful truth
viciously vicious viciousness
confusingly confusing confusion
completely complete completion
Steps:
1. Underline the adverbs in the sentence.
The enemies retreated fearfully.
2. Write the noun forms of the adjectives.
fearfully: fear
3. Replace the adverbs with the noun forms. Use them in the sentence with prepositional phrases.
(preposition + noun phrase)
The enemies retreated in fear.
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Grammar | Nominalisation
Examples
(a) She has been erring a lot lately.
(b) She has been committing a lot of errors lately.
(a) Michelle is an intelligent girl.
(b) Michelle is blessed with intelligence.
(a) The immigrants thronged towards the city rapidly.
(b) The immigrants thronged towards the city with rapidness.
(a) Ravi’s business expanded in India.
(b) Ravi’s business underwent expansion in India.
(a) King Mahendra’s stoic demeanour during trying times made his subjects courageous.
(b) King Mahendra’s stoicism during trying times instilled courage in his subjects.
(a) The messenger spoke of the soldier’s death sorrowfully.
(b) The messenger spoke of the soldier’s death with sorrow.
(a) He spoke of the problems plaguing his country to the people gathered.
(b) He delivered a speech about the problems plaguing his country to the people gathered.
(a) George was absent during the meeting and that was noticed by everyone.
(b) George’s absence during the meeting was noticed by everyone.
(a) He jumped joyfully.
(b) He jumped for joy.
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