Explanation
Exercises
Nominalisation

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.

Exercises:
1
2
3

Turning verbs and clauses into noun phrases for formal, academic and information-dense writing

Practice 1 · Controlled production

Complete each gap using the stated cue. Read the whole context; some items accept more than one form.

1
Nominalise DECIDE: They decided to evacuate.
Their caused confusion.
2
Nominalise FAIL: The operator failed to report the leak.
The operator's endangered staff.
3
Use ANALYSIS and OF: We analysed the sediment carefully.
A careful revealed industrial contamination.
4
Use INCREASE and IN: Fuel costs increased sharply.
The sharp forced cancellations.
5
Nominalise IMPLEMENT: The city implemented the scheme gradually.
Gradual reduced disruption.
6
Nominalise REFUSE: The owner refused to provide access.
The owner's stalled the inspection.
7
Use LIKELIHOOD and OF: It is unlikely that the bridge will reopen today.
There is little .
8
Nominalise ATTEMPT: They attempted to stabilise the cliff.
Their was unsuccessful.
9
Use REDUCTION and IN: Processing time fell substantially.
A substantial followed the upgrade.
10
Nominalise ASSESS: We assessed the damage independently.
Our independent challenged the insurer's estimate.

Turning verbs and clauses into noun phrases for formal, academic and information-dense writing

Practice 2 · Contextual choice

Choose the option that best fits the stated meaning, viewpoint or register.

1
Make the event a noun phrase while retaining its goal:
Their the pier was controversial.
2
Retain the omitted duty as a noun complement:
The the warning contributed to the accident.
3
Express the object of an analysis:
A fresh suggests two separate deposits.
4
Identify the quantity whose level changed:
The sudden alarmed residents.
5
Retain agency explicitly:
The rapid implementation of the ban surprised traders.
6
Distinguish refusal from inability:
Her the source was deliberate.
7
Express probability in nominal form:
There is a real before winter.
8
Distinguish attempted action from achieved result:
The rescue team's the trapped animal did not succeed.
9
Specify the amount of a decrease:
The redesign produced a reduction noise levels.
10
Retain who performed the assessment:
The assessment of the ruins took several weeks.

Turning verbs and clauses into noun phrases for formal, academic and information-dense writing

Practice 3 · C1 challenge

Choose the interpretation or analysis that best fits the example.

1
“The rejection of the offer surprised us.” What information may be missing compared with an active clause?
2
“The company's destruction” is ambiguous in what way?
3
“Prices rose” becomes “a rise in prices.” What changes grammatically?
4
Does a more nominal style automatically make reasoning more precise?
5
“Their failure to respond” entails what about response?
6
“The refusal to sign” versus “the inability to sign.” What differs?
7
“An attempt to reconcile them” guarantees what?
8
“The examination of the witness by counsel.” Which phrase identifies the agent?
9
Why might “We investigated, then published our findings” be clearer than two abstract event nouns?
10
“The rapid expansion damaged the habitat.” How does nominalisation help discourse here?