Lesson focus
Turning verbs and clauses into noun phrases for formal, academic and information-dense writing
Advanced aim: Use nominalisation to reshape information structure and register, not merely to convert a verb into a related noun.
Decision to
Nominalise decide as decision, often followed by a to-infinitive or that-clause.
- Example: The decision to postpone the launch was announced on Friday.
- In another context: The decision to postpone the service launch was announced on Monday.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Failure to
Failure + to-infinitive nominalises fail to do something.
- Example: The failure to disclose the conflict raised serious concerns.
- In another context: Separate scenario: The failure to disclose the conflict raised serious concerns.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Analysis of
Analysis is commonly followed by of + noun phrase.
- Example: A detailed analysis of the survey data revealed two distinct patterns.
- In another context: A detailed analysis of the survey evidence revealed two distinct patterns.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Increase in
Use increase in + noun to nominalise a rise in quantity or level.
- Example: The increase in operating costs has affected smaller providers most severely.
- In another context: Alternative case study: The increase in operating costs has affected smaller providers most severely.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Implementation of
Implementation of is a formal nominalisation of implement.
- Example: The implementation of the new rules will begin in January.
- In another context: The implementation of the new rules will begin in December.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Refusal to
Refusal + to-infinitive nominalises refuse to do something.
- Example: Their refusal to release the data delayed the investigation.
- In another context: Their refusal to release the transaction records delayed the investigation.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Likelihood of
Likelihood of + noun/-ing expresses probability in nominal form.
- Example: There is little likelihood of the proposal being approved this month.
- In another context: There is little likelihood of the expansion plan being approved this month.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Attempt to
Attempt + to-infinitive nominalises try to do something.
- Example: The attempt to reduce waiting times produced mixed results.
- In another context: Alternative case study: The attempt to reduce waiting times produced mixed results.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Reduction in
Reduction in + noun is a common formal nominalisation of reduce.
- Example: A significant reduction in processing time followed the software upgrade.
- In another context: A significant reduction in processing time followed the workflow tool upgrade.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Assessment of
Assessment of turns assess into a noun phrase suitable for formal reporting.
- Example: Our assessment of the risks differs substantially from theirs.
- In another context: Separate scenario: Our assessment of the risks differs substantially from theirs.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
C1 takeaway
Do not ask only “Which form is grammatically possible?” Ask what the speaker is presenting as background or foreground, completed or ongoing, certain or tentative, generic or specific, neutral or emphatic. Advanced grammar is the control of those choices.
Turning verbs and clauses into noun phrases for formal, academic and information-dense writing
The _____ the product release was announced on Tuesday.
Follow-up case: The _____ the conflict raised serious concerns.
A detailed _____ the survey information revealed two distinct patterns.
Regional example: The _____ operating costs has affected smaller providers most severely.
The _____ the new rules will begin in February.
Their _____ the survey records delayed the investigation.
There is little _____ the policy package being approved this month.
Regional example: The _____ waiting times produced mixed results.
A significant _____ processing time followed the scheduling platform upgrade.
Follow-up case: Our _____ the risks differs substantially from theirs.
Turning verbs and clauses into noun phrases for formal, academic and information-dense writing
The _____ the public rollout was announced on Thursday.
Alternative case study: The _____ the conflict raised serious concerns.
A detailed _____ the survey material revealed two distinct patterns.
Separate scenario: The _____ operating costs has affected smaller providers most severely.
The _____ the new rules will begin in May.
Their _____ the activity logs delayed the investigation.
There is little _____ the revised framework being approved this month.
Separate scenario: The _____ waiting times produced mixed results.
A significant _____ processing time followed the analytics package upgrade.
Alternative case study: Our _____ the risks differs substantially from theirs.
Turning verbs and clauses into noun phrases for formal, academic and information-dense writing
The decision to postpone the pilot start was announced on Wednesday.
Regional example: The failure to disclose the conflict raised serious concerns.
A detailed analysis of the survey records revealed two distinct patterns.
Follow-up case: The increase in operating costs has affected smaller providers most severely.
The implementation of the new rules will begin in October.
Their refusal to release the source files delayed the investigation.
There is little likelihood of the funding request being approved this month.
Follow-up case: The attempt to reduce waiting times produced mixed results.
A significant reduction in processing time followed the document system upgrade.
Regional example: Our assessment of the risks differs substantially from theirs.