Page 168 - New Grammar with a Smile 8

6 Nominalisation

Read these sentences.

• We’ve always known that eating junk food is linked with obesity.
• The link between junk food consumption and obesity has long been recognised.

The verb linked has been changed into the noun phrase the link.

Nominalisation is the process of changing a verb, an adjective or a clause into a
noun or noun phrase.

Let us understand nominalisation through some more examples.

• How life was created is still a scientific puzzle.
The creation of life is still a scientific puzzle.

The verb was created becomes the noun creation.
• Low pressure indicates an approaching storm.
Low pressure is an indicator of an approaching storm.
Low pressure is an indication of an approaching storm.

The verb indicates becomes the nouns indicator or indication.

♦ Nouns from Adjectives

Adjectives can be easily nominalised. For example,
• We should help poor people whenever we can.
We should help the poor whenever we can.

• Bhishma was a loyal and prudent son.
Bhishma was a son who was known for his loyalty and prudence.

♦ Nouns from Verbs
Some nouns are formed from verbs. For example,

• She went walking in the evening.
She went for a walk in the evening.
• Why should one use a calculator?
What is the use of a calculator?

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