Casa · C1 Advanced · Lesson 1 of 20 · Step 1
Advanced Noun Phrases and Nominalisation
Words · tap a card to see it used
Grammar
Nominalisation transforms verbs and adjectives into noun forms, making writing more impersonal and formal. For example, 'investigate' becomes 'investigation', 'fail' becomes 'failure', 'important' becomes 'importance'. Complex noun phrases use pre-modifiers (adjectives, nouns) and post-modifiers (prepositional phrases, relative clauses, participle clauses) to pack information densely: 'The recently published peer-reviewed analysis of long-term environmental data'.
Exercises · type, then check
1. Rewrite the underlined verb or adjective as a nominalisation to complete each sentence.
2. Select the most formal, nominalised version of each sentence.
Reading
Academic discourse is characterised by a level of formality and precision that distinguishes it from everyday communication. One of the most significant features of this register is the extensive use of nominalisation — the transformation of processes and qualities into noun forms. This linguistic device serves several purposes. First, it enables writers to package complex ideas into dense, information-rich phrases that can then function as subjects or objects of further statements. Second, nominalisation removes the need to specify agents, lending writing an impersonal, objective tone. For instance, rather than writing 'researchers investigated the problem', an academic text might state 'the investigation of the problem revealed significant anomalies'. Critics of this convention argue that excessive nominalisation can render texts impenetrable, particularly for non-specialist readers. Nevertheless, the capacity to manipulate noun phrases remains an indispensable skill for anyone seeking to participate in scholarly communication. The acquisition of this skill typically requires sustained engagement with academic texts across multiple disciplines, combined with deliberate practice in transforming one's own writing.
1. According to the passage, what are the two main purposes of nominalisation in academic writing?
2. What criticism of nominalisation does the passage mention?
Speaking · say it out loud, with a partner or alone
Writing
Rewrite the following informal paragraph in academic style, using at least four nominalisations: 'Scientists found out that when people exercise regularly, they sleep better. They also noticed that people who don't move much often feel anxious. The government should do something about this.'
Check your exercises first, then mark the lesson done.