The Ultimate Guide to Nominalisation in CBSE Class 10 English Grammar – Rules, Examples & Usage

What is Nominalisation?

The word ‘nominal’ is the adjective form relating to the word ‘noun’. Therefore, the term nominalisation refers to changing a verb, adjective, or adverb into a noun. In English, nouns can be formed by adding prefixes or suffixes to other parts of speech. This process turns qualities, actions, and events into things, ideas, or people.

When a verb, adjective, or adverb is nominalised, the sentence sounds more formal and abstract.

Example:
(a) The teacher explained the concept clearly.
(b) The explanation of the concept was clear.

Common Suffixes of Nouns

Changing Verbs to Nouns

• Use suffixes like -ion, -sion, -er, -ing, -th, -ment.
• Verbs can also be converted into nouns using articles.

• Underline the verbs in the sentence.
• Write their noun forms.
• Replace the verbs with nouns, used as subjects or objects.

Changing Adjectives to Nouns

• Use suffixes like -ness, -ity, -ency, -ancy, -ance, -ism, -th.
• Adjectives can also be turned into nouns by removing or altering suffixes.

• Underline the adjectives in the sentence.
• Write their noun forms.
• Replace them in the sentence as needed.

Changing Adverbs to Nouns

• Drop the -ly suffix to form the adjective.
• Convert the adjective into a noun using appropriate suffixes.
• Use the noun with a prepositional phrase (preposition + noun phrase).

Examples

Verbs to Nouns

Verb to Noun Using Articles

Adjectives to Nouns

Adjective Roots with Modified Suffixes

Adverbs to Nouns (via Adjective)