Nominalization

Worksheet 1 explains what a nominalization is and includes exercises to practice converting nominalizations to their verb or adjective forms. Worksheet 2 has sixteen additional exercises. If you would like the suggested answers and teaching tips, please see below.

Purchase PDF Answers and Teaching Tips -- $1.00

This 5-page PDF Answer Key has suggested answers, sometimes more than one, with several hints and techniques for teaching the concept. The answer key has suggested responses and extensive teaching tips for the primary worksheet and suggested responses for all 16 exercises of "Supplemental Exercises 1." If you cannot afford the one dollar ($1.00) or you feel uncomfortable paying for this 5-page teaching and learning resource, email me. I will send you a copy of the answer key with tips. If you find the answers and teaching tips worthwhile, then come back to this page and pay the($1.00).

Better Value: Get the Complete eBook. 184 Pages

If you would like the answers to all the worksheets (total of 18 different topics), along with tips on teaching (or learning) every topic, get the answers (with teaching tips) to every worksheet, a total of 184 pages of grammar, usage, and writing style exercises, with answers and tips for teaching for $5.00.

Click here for all the answer keys with teaching tips.

The Problem

Nominalizations in writing were addressed beautifully by the late Professor Joseph M. Williams, of the University of Chicago. He spent a great portion of his life examining the principles of clear writing. He distilled his teachings into a book, Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace, 9th ed., Pearson, 2007.

Nominalizations: A sentence may seem unclear to a reader because verbs and adjectives (words that describe nouns) are turned into nouns. In Williams's words, "A noun derived from a verb or adjective has a technical name: nominalization" (Williams, 38).

Avoid Making Nouns from Verbs

Take a look at the sentences below.

• (a) A re-examination of the evidence led prosecutors to a reconsideration of the defendant's guilt.
• (b) Prosecutors re-examined the evidence and reconsidered the defendant's guilt.

In Williams's terminology, these words are nominalizations.

Nominalizations and Their Verb Forms

The following table lists just a very few nominalizations and their corresponding verb forms.

In general, choose the verb form over the nominalization. But be careful. Some nominalizations are useful and necessary. Use them prudently.

Nouns from Adjectives

The same principle applies with adjectives. Avoid turning an adjective, such as careless, into its corresponding nominalization, carelessness.

Avoid: His carelessness in driving caused a multi-car accident.

Prefer: His careless driving caused a multi-car accident.

Nominalization Links

These links offer some excellent advice and clear examples on identifying and recasting nominalizations into their corresponding verb or adjective forms.

• The University of Rhode Island

  This page from WRT333 explains nominalizations and the problems with using too many of them. It is an excellent resource.

• Ohio State University Physics Department

  This short page from the physics department at Ohio State University has some good examples of useless nominalizations and useful nominalizations.

• Dennis G. Jerz, Seton Hill University

  Professor Jerz provides a short, attractive page on nominalizations and their corresponding verb forms.

• JaffeeRevises.com

  Professor Jaffee offers a good definition, examples, and ways to make nominalized scientific writing more verbal, and thus easier to understand. Jaffee provides some of the best insights on nominalization on the web. This is a very good source.

• Article on Nominalization

  David Bowman gives some useful advice and examples.

• Ken Bresler's "Just Say Know"

  Bresler's is probably the best and most comprehensive source of information on nominalizations available. He offers readers a lists, examples, and clear explanations. This is another goog source.

Contact Me

If you have any comments (good or bad) or suggestions for improving this site, please send an email or visit the blog. Thanks.

jblanco@grammar-worksheets.com

Google Custom Search

Search for other grammar worksheets and printables using Google custom search. The search results should be more reliable than a general search.