Turn Verbs into Nouns: Nominalisation Explained

When writing essays, reports, or research papers, you’ll notice that formal English often sounds more objective and professional. One secret to achieving that style is nominalisation — turning verbs (or sometimes adjectives) into nouns.

This simple technique can instantly make your writing more formal, concise, and academic. Let’s understand what nominalisation is, why it’s used, and how you can master it.

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📘 What Is Nominalisation?

Definition:
Nominalisation is the process of changing a verb or adjective into a noun to make writing more formal and structured.

Examples:

• Verb → Noun: decide → decision
• Verb → Noun: fail → failure
• Adjective → Noun: strong → strength

Sentence example:
👉 We decided to cancel the meeting. → The decision to cancel the meeting was made.

💡 Both sentences mean the same, but the second one sounds more formal and academic.

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🎯 Why Use Nominalisation in Academic Writing?

1. To sound formal and objective
   • Academic writing focuses on ideas, not people.
   • Example: Researchers discovered the link. → The discovery of the link was made by researchers.
2. To create concise sentences
   • They analysed the data carefully. → Their analysis of the data was thorough.
3. To connect complex ideas smoothly
   • Nominalisation helps combine information into a single, professional-looking sentence.

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🧩 How to Form Nominalisations

1️⃣ From Verbs to Nouns

Verb	Noun	Example
decide	decision	The decision was announced yesterday.
fail	failure	The failure of the plan led to delays.
improve	improvement	There has been a major improvement in results.
analyse	analysis	Her analysis was insightful.
discover	discovery	The discovery changed the theory.

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2️⃣ From Adjectives to Nouns

Adjective	Noun	Example
strong	strength	The strength of the argument impressed the jury.
wise	wisdom	Her wisdom guided the team.
weak	weakness	Weakness in structure caused problems.
curious	curiosity	Curiosity leads to innovation.
equal	equality	We believe in equality for all.

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3️⃣ From Phrases to Noun Phrases

Nominalisation often involves turning a whole action into a noun phrase.

Examples:

• People protested against pollution. → The protest against pollution grew stronger.
• We failed to meet the deadline. → Our failure to meet the deadline caused issues.
• They improved the design. → The improvement of the design saved time.

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⚠️ Use It Wisely

While nominalisation makes writing more formal, overusing it can make sentences too heavy or abstract.

Too nominalised:

The implementation of the decision resulted in the improvement of productivity.

✅ Better:

Implementing the decision improved productivity.

💡 Tip: Balance nominalisation with clear, active sentences for better readability.

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📝 Quick Practice

Rewrite these sentences using nominalisation:

1. The manager decided to increase salaries.
2. Scientists discovered a new method.
3. The students failed to submit the project.
4. They improved the teaching system.
5. The team analysed the report.

Answers:

1. The decision to increase salaries was made by the manager.
2. The discovery of a new method was made by scientists.
3. The students’ failure to submit the project caused concern.
4. The improvement of the teaching system was praised.
5. The team’s analysis of the report was detailed.

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🎯 Learn Academic English with Sujyoti

At Sujyoti Language School, we help advanced learners (C1–C2) master formal grammar for academic and professional success.

Our DELCA Programme includes:

• Nominalisation, inversion, and advanced sentence structures
• Academic writing and summarising
• Pronunciation and presentation mastery
• Weekly one-to-one exams
• CEFR-aligned certification

👉 Book your Free Demo Class today and elevate your English writing skills!