Topic: NOMINALIZATION

Nominalization entails the expression of an important action (one that is usually central to the
understanding of a sentence) as an abstract noun.
PURPOSE OF NOMINALIZATION
 It is an important resource for successful development of factual genres.
 This is used to introduce technical terms in explanations or reports.
 It helps achieve a higher degree of abstraction and technicality.
 It is one of the language choices that enables movement towards highly written texts.
When we choose to give the main information in a clause as a noun phrase rather than as a verb this is
called NOMINALIZATION. It is the process of converting a verb or adjective to noun. Verbs are made central
as they denote action. Transform verbs into nouns to focus on action and not on doer of the action.
POOR: The company created software to manage the transactions successfully.
GOOD: The creation of software to manage transactions was a success.
POOR: The president announced a three-day holiday this September.
GOOD: The president’s announcement of a three-day holiday for September was released.
POOR: The mall distributed several free items to consumers in the hope to boost sales.
GOOD: Distribution of free items for consumers was done in the hope to boost sales.
In spoken English we usually use a subject + verb to describe an event. In formal written language we use
language that is less personal so, we often use a noun form instead of verb.
SPOKEN WRITTEN
Action or events are expressed as verbs. Actions or events may be expressed as nouns or
 Swell up noun phrases.
 Swelling
Events happen to people or are carried out by the people. Events are expressed impersonally.
 I reacted badly, my foot began to go red.  The normal reaction is…
Personal pronouns are used as subjects. Nouns used as subjects
 I, She  A person, the throat
Verbs are action or event verbs Verbs are often not action or event verbs
 reacted, trod, itched  be, have

CONVERTING VERBS TO NOUNS

*Nouns are usually formed by adding a suffix to the verb.
1. Adding -ication
Verb Noun Verb Noun
Amplify Amplification Imply Implication
Justify Justification Verify Verification
Apply Application Multiply Multiplication
Certify Certification Modify Modification
Glorify Glorification Quantify Quantification

2. Adding -ation
Verb Noun Verb Noun
Activate Activation Combine Combination
Adapt Adaptation Confirm Confirmation
Admire Admiration Exam Examination
Agitate Agitation Prepare Preparation
Animate Animation Resign Resignation

3. Adding -ment
Verb Noun Verb Noun
Abandon Abandonment Employ Employment
Align Alignment Enact Enactment
Amaze Amazement Improve Improvement
Appoint Appointment Nourish Nourishment
Settle Settlement Procure Procurement
4. Adding -ure
Verb Noun Verb Noun
Close Closure Expose Exposure
Context Contexture Fail Failure
Enclose Enclosure Please Pleasure

5. Adding -ance
Verb Noun Verb Noun
Accept Acceptance Govern Governance
Allow Allowance Hinder Hindrance
Avoid Avoidance Insure Insurance
Clear Clearance Perform Performance
Comply Compliance Tolerate Tolerance

6. Adding -ion
Verb Noun Verb Noun
Abort Abortion Contradict Contradiction
Act Action Disperse Dispersion
Attract Attraction Duplicate Duplication
Celebrate Celebration Generate Generation
Collect Collection Incubate Incubation

7. Adding -ence
Verb Noun Verb Noun
Absent Absence Insist Insistence
Emerge Emergence Occur Occurrence
Exist Existence Prefer Preference
Excel Excellence Reside Residence

8. Adding -age
Verb Noun Verb Noun
Block Blockage Link Linkage
Carry Carriage Marry Marriage
Cover Coverage Pack Package
Drain Drainage Pass Passage

9. Adding -al
Verb Noun Verb Noun
Betray Betrayal Propose Proposal
Disapprove Disapproval Survive Survival
Dismiss Dismissal Try Trial

10. Adding -sion

Verb Noun Verb Noun
Admit Admission Emit Emission
Concede Concession Omit Omission
Convert Conversion Permit Permission
Divert Diversion Submit Submission

11. Some nominalizations have the exact same form as their verb counterparts, such as hope, charge, result,
answer, repair, and need.
POOR: The office needs a faster Internet connection.
GOOD: A need exists for a faster Internet connection.
12. If no other action verb is present, convert the nominalization into its verb form and rewrite:
POOR: The analyst comprehends only part of the material.
GOOD: The analyst’s comprehension of the material is limited.
13. Nominalization paired with a form of the verb to be
POOR: The Board of Directors investigated the matter.
GOOD: There was an investigation into the matter.
14. Consecutive nominalizations containing verbs, adjectives, or adverbs.
POOR: The comptroller determined that an audit was possible.
GOOD: There was a determination into the possibility of an audit.

CONVERTING ADJECTIVES TO NOUNS

1. Adding -ness
Adjective Noun Adjective Noun
Fit Fitness Sharp Sharpness
Happy Happiness Smart Smartness
Hard Hardness Soft Softness
Rough Roughness Sweet Sweetness
Rude Rudeness Tough Toughness

2. Adding -ry
Adjective Noun Adjective Noun
Brave Bravery Gallant Gallantry

3. Adding -th
Adjective Noun Adjective Noun
Deep Depth Warm Warmth
Long Length Wide Width

4. Adding -ity
Adjective Noun Adjective Noun
Able Ability Clear Clarity
Active Activity Curious Curiosity
Brutal Brutality Extreme Extremity
Capable Capability Generous Generosity
Equal Equality Secure Security

5. ‘nt’ changes to ‘nce’

Adjective Noun Adjective Noun
Brilliant Brilliance Excellent Excellence
Congruent Congruence Intelligent Intelligence
Confident Confidence Prudent Prudence
Dependent Dependence Significant Significance

CONVERTING COMMON TO ABSTRACT NOUNS

1. Adding -hood
Common Noun Abstract Noun Common Noun Abstract Noun
Baby Babyhood Father Fatherhood
Brother Brotherhood Mother Motherhood
Child Childhood Parent Parenthood

2. Adding -ship
Common Noun Abstract Noun Common Noun Abstract Noun
Apprentice Apprenticeship Friend Friendship
Citizen Citizenship Lecturer Lectureship

3. Adding -ry
Common Noun Abstract Noun Common Noun Abstract Noun
Ballad Balladry Legend Legendary
Dentist Dentistry Poet Poetry
Herald Heraldry Tenant Tenantry