NominalisationChanging verbs or other words to nouns

What is Nominalisation?Nominalisation is the process in which words

are changed into nounsIt changes the focus of the text from the

action to the object or conceptIt can also be used to remove the participants,

further focusing the text on the object/conceptNominalisation is used in academic writing to

express the information formally

Examples of NominalisationEuropeans invaded

Australia and they destroyed sacred sites.

The European invasion of Australia destroyed sacred sites

Nouns or Noun Groups

Verbs

Examples of NominalisationEuropeans invaded

Australia and they destroyed sacred sites.

The European invasion of Australia destroyed sacred sites

Nouns or Noun Groups

Verbs

Nominalisation – How to do it?Look for sentences with active verbs

E.g. Someone did somethingThink of a noun to replace the verb

(in this example “did”)Often, the easiest way to find a noun is to add a

suffix to the end, eg –ion, -ism, -ment Invade – Invasion

Another way to work out the noun is to say “ ‘something’ occurred”

Examples of NominalisationSydney City Council

decided to change the official documents to Invasion. Councillor Phillip Black disagreed and said the council should “moderate using emotional language”

Examples of NominalisationSydney City Council

decided to change the official documents to Invasion. Councillor Phillip Black disagreed and said the council should “moderate using emotional language”

Sydney City Council’s decision to change the official documents was opposed by Councillor Phillip Black with the advice that the council should “moderate using emotional language”