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Avoiding Nominalization

The document discusses nominalization, which is when a verb is turned into a noun, weakening the sentence. Nominalization can lead to passive voice, unnecessary words, loss of agency, and lack of clarity. Some signs of nominalization are the use of "to be" verbs as the main verb, passive voice constructions, and missing the subject performing the action. The document provides examples of nominalized sentences and revised versions that are more concise and in the active voice. It also includes an activity asking the reader to revise sentences by removing nominalization.

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Inamullah Khan
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60 views

Avoiding Nominalization

The document discusses nominalization, which is when a verb is turned into a noun, weakening the sentence. Nominalization can lead to passive voice, unnecessary words, loss of agency, and lack of clarity. Some signs of nominalization are the use of "to be" verbs as the main verb, passive voice constructions, and missing the subject performing the action. The document provides examples of nominalized sentences and revised versions that are more concise and in the active voice. It also includes an activity asking the reader to revise sentences by removing nominalization.

Uploaded by

Inamullah Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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San José State University Writing Center

www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter
Written by Linda C. Mitchell and Georgia Saratsiotis

Avoiding Nominalization

Ugly things happen when we nominalize. Nominalization occurs when we turn a strong verb
into a noun (usually a subject) and plug in a weak verb for the missing strong verb. Terrible
things happen to the sentence: passive voice, unnecessary words, loss of agent, use of to be as a
main verb, and incoherence. Denominalizing helps us create sentences that are clear, concise,
and unified.

Clues to Finding Nominalization

Verbs Turned into Nouns


Locate verbs that are functioning as nouns and turn them into action words.
Nominalization: The detective conducted an investigation of the crime.
Concise Sentence: The detective investigated the crime.

Use of “To Be” as a Main Verb


One clue that a word is being nominalized is a form of to be (am, is, are, was, were) as a main
verb. Replace simple to be verbs with more sophisticated verbs.
Nominalization: The hope of the student is to earn good grades.
Concise Sentence: The student hopes to earn good grades.

Use of Passive Voice


The passive voice occurs when you use the to be verb plus the past participle of a verb. For
instance, “The door was closed by Jen” is written in the passive voice; you can revise to the
active voice by saying, “Jen closed the door.” Create the active voice by removing the passive
voice.
Nominalization: There was flooding in the building by heavy rains.
Concise Sentence: Heavy rains flooded the building.

A Missing Agent
Provide an agent by indicating who or what is doing the action in the sentence.
Nominalization: Our ski trip should be planned.
Concise Sentence: Jim should plan our ski trip.

Avoiding Nominalization, Summer 2009. Rev. Summer 2014. 1 of 2


Activity
Remove nominalization from the following sentences.

1. The budget cuts for the Writing Center were the topic of our debate.
2. The intention of the jury is to reach a decision.
3. There is a need for reinforcement of this law.
4. We did a study of the progression of prostate cancer.
5. The delay of the flight was caused by the storm.
6. There was scorching of vegetation by the 2007 fires in Morgan Hill.
7. Our presentation was about a new regulation.
8. It was expected that our collection of data would be quick.
9. The coroner did an examination of the body.
10. A demand must exist for clean energy.

Answer Key for Activity


1. We debated the budget cuts for the Writing Center.
2. The jury intends to reach a decision.
3. The city government must reinforce this law.
4. We studied how prostate cancer progresses.
5. The storm delayed the flight.
6. The 2007 fires in Morgan Hill scorched vegetation.
7. We presented a new regulation.
8. We expected to collect data quickly.
9. The coroner examined the body.
10. Citizens must demand clean energy.

Avoiding Nominalization, Summer 2009. Rev. Summer 2014. 2 of 2

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