C1

Nominalisation and Academic Register

💡Not sure what Nominativ or Akkusativ means?Word Functions

Explicação

Nominalization (Nominalisierung)

Nominalization is the process of converting verbs or adjectives into nouns. It is central to formal and academic German, allowing actions and states to be expressed compactly and abstractly.

Nominalizing verbs

ProcessFormationExamples
Infinitive as noun (neuter)Capitalize infinitivedas Lernen, das Laufen, das Schreiben
Suffix -ung (fem.)verb stem + -ungdie Lösung, die Bildung, die Untersuchung
Suffix -er (masc., agent)verb stem + -erder Lehrer, der Fahrer, der Sprecher
Suffix -nis (neut./fem.)stem + -nisdas Ergebnis, die Kenntnis, das Verständnis

Nominalizing adjectives

AdjectiveNominalizationSuffix
freidie Freiheit-heit
möglichdie Möglichkeit-keit
schöndie Schönheit-heit

Substantivised participles

Participles can be used as nouns with adjective endings: der/die Reisende (traveller), der/die Angestellte (employee), der/die Deutsche (German person).

⚠️ Formal German strongly prefers nominalization over verbal constructions: Die Untersuchung der Daten erfolgte (formal) vs. Man hat die Daten untersucht (informal). Recognising nominalizations is essential for reading academic texts.

Exemplos

  • Nach eingehender Prüfung der Unterlagen entschied die Kommission.

    After thorough examination of the documents, the commission decided.

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