Many verbs in English can easily be transformed into nouns by adding a suffix to them. This can also be done depending on the context of the sentence. Sometimes using the noun form of a verb can sound strange or outlandish. Be careful when making these modifications to keep your writing clear and concise. While this may seem difficult, especially if you are not a native speaker, don't be discouraged. With time and patience, you will learn to do it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Add the suffixes
Step 1. Add "-ance" or "-ence" to the verb
Many verbs can be transformed into nouns by adding the suffixes "-ance" or "-ence". For example, the verb "appear" can be transformed into "appearance". The verb "resist" (to resist) can be transformed into "resistance".
For example, look at the sentence: "He appeared on many talk shows while promoting his book." To transform the verb into a noun, you can say "He made many talk show appearances while promoting his book" (He made several appearances on television programs while promoting his book)
Step 2. Add "-ment" to verbs
Other verbs require the suffix "-ment" to transform into nouns. For example: "appoint", "assign" and "enjoy" can be transformed into "appointment", "assignment" and "enjoyment".
For example, consider the sentence: "The man enjoyed his lunch." To transform the verb into a noun, you can say "The man's lunch brought him enjoyment"
Step 3. Add "-tion" or "-sion"
The suffixes "-tion" and "-sion" are found at the end of many nouns. A large number of verbs can be transformed into nouns with these suffixes. For example: "inform" (inform), "decide" (decide) and "describe" (describe) can become "information", "decision" (decision) and "description" (description).
For example, consider the sentence: "He decided to decline the job offer." To transform into a noun, you can say "I have made the decision to decline the job offer" (He made the decision to reject the job offer)
Method 2 of 3: Rearrange the sentence
Step 1. Identify the verb
The verb is an action word. Describe the action of doing something in a sentence. If you want to rearrange the sentence to transform a verb into a noun, identify the action and discuss how to transform it into a noun.
- For example, consider the sentence: "The film impacted the students". The verb here is "impacted".
- Another example, look at the sentence: “The athlete prepared to run”. The verb is “run”, although “prepared” is also a verb.
Step 2. Put the correct article before the word
An article is a word like "the" or "a", which generally means that the next word will be a noun. To transform a verb into a noun form, add an article before the noun.
- If you have transformed "impacted" into a noun, you will have to put the article "an" or "the".
- To transform "run" into a noun, you will have to add the article "the" or "a".
Step 3. Rewrite the sentence
When you've added the article, you'll have to rearrange the sentence even more. You may need to modify the verb a bit to make it a noun, so you will need to make a few small changes.
- For example: "The film impacted the students" can become "The film had an impact on the students".
- For example: “The athlete prepared to run” can become “The athlete prepared for a run”.
Method 3 of 3: Avoid Common Mistakes
Step 1. Consult a dictionary to verify suffixes
If English is not your native language, it can be difficult to know which suffix to use. Since there are no hard and fast rules regarding suffixes, don't be afraid to consult a dictionary after transforming a verb. It is never a bad idea to check that everything is okay.
Step 2. Avoid using slang sounding terms
Many people believe that transforming verbs into nouns is a very poor form of writing. This is because it can often sound very slang. Terms used in commerce, computers, or sports can sound like meaningless terms if you use the noun form instead of the verb.
- For example, look at the sentence: "The boss conducted an investigation about the allegations." This sentence is a bit verbose and could be simplified by writing "The boss investigated the allegations".
- For example, if you say “The team did a review of the tape,” it won't sound fluent. Instead, you can say "The team reviewed the tape."
Step 3. Transform verbs only if you want to reflect a tone
Using nouns as verbs can be very helpful if you want to sound less emotional and more objective. If you're dealing with sensitive information, for example, it can be very helpful to sound a bit more technical. Be careful when performing the transformations and make sure to preserve the original meaning and tone.