Nominalization and formal style
In formal and academic English, verbs and adjectives are often turned into nouns (nominalization). This makes writing more objective and dense.
One step at a timeRules
Rule 1: Suffixes that turn verbs into nouns
Common endings: -tion / -sion (explain → explanation), -ment (improve → improvement), -al (arrive → arrival), -ance / -ence (assist → assistance), -ure (fail → failure). Some nouns look the same as the verb: increase, change, visit.
Pattern: verb + -tion / -ment / -al / -ance / -ure → noun
Example: Scientists observe the stars. → Their observation of the stars …
Example: The team performed well. → The team's performance …
Rule 2: Suffixes that turn adjectives into nouns
Common endings: -ity (able → ability), -ness (kind → kindness), -ance / -ence (important → importance, patient → patience), -th (long → length, wide → width, strong → strength).
Pattern: adjective + -ity / -ness / -ance / -th → noun
Example: The water was very deep. → The depth of the water …
Example: She was patient with the puppy. → Her patience with the puppy …
Rule 3: Rebuilding the sentence
When you nominalize, the verb becomes a noun, the subject often becomes of + noun or a possessive, and an adverb becomes an adjective (sharply → sharp).
Pattern: subject + verb + adverb → the / a + adjective + noun + of / in + …
Example: Visitors increased sharply. → There was a sharp increase in visitors.
Example: The judges considered the poems carefully. → After careful consideration of the poems, …
Rule 4: Which word class fits the gap?
Look around the gap: the / a / her / adjective + ___ + of / in → noun subject + ___ + object → verb be / a / the + ___ + noun → adjective ___ + verb / adjective → adverb
Pattern: the + ___ + of → noun · subject + ___ → verb · a + ___ + noun → adjective
Example: The protection of wild animals is important.
Example: The new rules protect wild animals.
Common mistakes
The explain of the teacher was clear.→ The explanation of the teacher was clear.The + ___ + of → noun.
There was a sharply increase in prices.→ There was a sharp increase in prices.Use an adjective before a noun.
The school will introduction a new club.→ The school will introduce a new club.After will → verb.
Position 10 of 13 topics at C2.