Nouns – Formation

Mastering the art of forming nouns from verbs is an essential skill in English grammar. This process not only enhances vocabulary but also helps in creating more dynamic and versatile sentence structures. This guide will walk you through the rules, methods, and examples for forming nouns from verbs, followed by exercises to test your understanding of the concepts.

How to Form a Noun from Verbs?

Transforming verbs into nouns often involves adding suffixes or adjusting the sentence structure. Below are the key methods:

Add Suffix

1. Add ‘-ance’ or ‘-ence’ to Verbs

• • • Many verbs can be converted to nouns by appending ‘-ance’ or ‘-ence’.
    • Examples:
      • Appear → Appearance
      • Resist → Resistance

2. Add ‘-ment’ to Verbs

• • • For some verbs, adding ‘-ment’ creates their noun form.
    • Examples:
      • Assign → Assignment
      • Enjoy → Enjoyment
      • Appoint → Appointment

3. Add ‘-tion’ or ‘-sion’

• • • Verbs ending in specific sounds often take ‘-tion’ or ‘-sion’ to form nouns.
    • Examples:
      • Inform → Information
      • Decide → Decision
      • Describe → Description

Adjust the Sentence

1. Locate the Verb

1. • • Identify the action word in a sentence.
     • Example: The rain affected the crops. (Verb: affected)

2. Add an Appropriate Determiner Before the Verb

• • • Introduce determiners like ‘a’ or ‘the’ to signify that the word is now a noun.
    • Example: The rain had a significant effect on the crops.

3. Rewrite the Sentence

• • • Rearrange the sentence to accommodate the noun form of the verb.
    • Example: The impact of the rain was severe.

Avoid Common Mistakes

Use a Dictionary for Accuracy

• • • Verify suffixes and meanings to avoid errors.

Understand Context

• • • Some verbs cannot be converted directly; context determines the appropriate noun form.

Examples of Forming Nouns from Verbs

Here are examples of how verbs are converted into nouns:

Exercises

Exercise 1: Convert Into Nouns from Verbs

Convert the following verbs into nouns by adding the appropriate suffix:

1. Run

2. Swim

3. Dream

4. Eat

5. Dance

6. Write

7. Act

8. Jump

9. Sleep

10. Move

Answers:

1. Running

2. Swimming

3. Dreaming

4. Eating

5. Dancing

6. Writing

7. Action

8. Jumping

9. Sleep

10. Movement

Exercise 2: Noun Formation

Fill in the blanks with the correct noun form of the verb in parentheses:

1. The invention was a groundbreaking _______. (Invent)

2. Her _______ was evident in her speech. (Decide)

3. He received an _______ for his excellent work. (Appoint)

4. The _______ of the project took longer than expected. (Develop)

5. Their _______ brought joy to everyone. (Perform)

Answers:

1. Invention

2. Decision

3. Appointment

4. Development

5. Performance

Check Your Understanding of Nouns in Sentences

Identify the noun forms in the following sentences:

1. The description of the scenery was vivid.

2. Her performance was truly mesmerizing.

3. Both parties signed the agreement.

4. His invention changed the course of history.

5. The information provided was accurate.

Answers:

1. Description (Noun form of describe)

2. Performance (Noun form of performing)

3. Agreement (Noun form of agree)

4. Invention (Noun form of invent)

5. Information (Noun form of inform)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What are some examples of forming nouns from verbs?

• • Examples include:
    • Run → Running
    • Decide → Decision
    • Invent → Invention

Q2: How do you create a noun from a verb?

• • Add appropriate suffixes like ‘-tion’, ‘-ment’, or ‘-ance’ to the verb.

Q3: What is a forming noun?

• • A forming noun originates from other parts of speech, typically verbs or adjectives.

Q4: How to change a verb to a noun?

• • Use suffixes such as ‘-tion’, ‘-ment’, or ‘-ing’. For example:
    • Act → Action
    • Agree → Agreement

Q5: What are some verb-to-noun transformations?