Nominalisation

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

A 2019 analysis of UK government press releases found that nominalisations appeared at three times the rate of comparable private-sector communications.

Grammar Reference · Nominalisation

What nominalisation is

The reduction of costs began last year. — a verb or adjective converted into a noun phrase

Agency disappears

The failure occurred in Q3. — no subject acts; the noun phrase replaces who failed

Adjective → noun

The opacity of the statement concerned observers. — opaque (adj) becomes opacity (noun)

Common error

They decided to implement the plan. ✓ vs the implementation of the plan was decided ✗ — nominalisation removes who acted

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Nominalisation

1.The board announced the of its chief executive with immediate effect.

2.The report attributed the problem to the of proper financial controls.

3.There was widespread at the wording of the official statement.

4.The of new guidelines is expected before the end of the quarter.

5.The minister pointed to the of the existing framework as the core issue.

6.Questions of individual were never directly addressed in the final report.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1.They failed to monitor the situation adequately.

2.Officials decided to reduce funding without consulting stakeholders.

3.The government deteriorated public trust through repeated delays.

4.They implemented the policy before the review was complete.

5.Someone obscured the data to protect the department.

6.Ministers suspended the programme without explanation.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

Nominalisation01EnglishPlans.com