Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Add suffixes
• Method 2 of 3: Adjust the sentence
• Method 3 of 3: Avoid common mistakes

Many verbs in English can be easily converted into nouns by the addition of suffixes. You can also convert certain verbs into nouns, depending on the context of a sentence. Sometimes a verb used as a noun can sound awkward and jargon-like. To keep your writing clear and concise, do not use verbs unnecessarily as nouns. While it can be a bit tricky to change words, especially if you're not a native speaker, don't get discouraged. With a little time and patience, you can also get the hang of changing verbs to nouns.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Add suffixes

1. Add "-ance" or "-ence" to verbs. Many verbs can be turned into nouns with the addition of the suffixes "-ance" or "-ence". For example, the verb "appear" can become "appearance". The verb "resist" then becomes "resistance".
   • For example, consider the sentence, "He appeared on many talk shows while promoting his book". If you wanted to make the verb a noun, you could say, "He made many talk show appearances while promoting his book".
2. Add "-ment" to verbs. Other verbs require the suffix "-ment" to become a noun. For example: "appoint,", "assign" and "enjoy" become "appointment," "assignment" and "enjoyment".
   • For example, consider the sentence, "The man enjoyed his lunch." If you want to make the verb a noun, you could say, "The man's lunch brought him enjoyment".
3. Add "-tion" or "-sion". Often finds with the suffixes "-tion" and "-sion" at the end of many nouns. Many verbs can be turned into nouns with these suffixes. For example: "inform", "decide" and "describe" then become "information", "decision" and "description".
   • For example, consider the phrase, "He decided to decline the job offer." With a noun this may become "He made the decision to decline the job offer".

Method 2 of 3: Adjust the sentence

1. Find the verb. A verb is an action word. It describes the act of something that happens in a sentence. If you want to modify a sentence to make a verb a noun, find the verb and see if it can double as a noun.
   • For example, consider the sentence, "The film impacted the students." The verb here is "impacted".
   • Another example is the sentence, "The athlete prepared to run". The verb in question is "run" (although "prepared" is also a verb).
2. Place an appropriate article (determiner) before the word. An article is a word such as "the" or "a", which usually indicates that the next word is a noun. To turn a verb into a noun in a sentence, you put an article before it.
   • If you change "impacted" into a noun, then you need the article "an" or "the".
   • To make "run" a noun, put "the" or an "a" in front of it.
3. Rewrite the sentence. Once you've added an article, you may need to make further adjustments to the sentence. The verb may need to be slightly modified to become a noun and the sentence may need to be slightly rearranged.
   • For example, "The film impacted the students," can be changed to, "The film had an impact on the students."
   • For example, "The athlete prepared to run" can be changed to "The athlete prepared for a run".

Method 3 of 3: Avoid common mistakes

1. Consult a dictionary to check suffixes. If English is your second language, the correct use of suffixes when converting verbs can be confusing. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to which suffix to use, so don't hesitate to consult a dictionary after changing a verb into a noun. It never hurts to double check.
2. Avoid conversations that sound like jargon. Many people consider converting verbs into nouns to be a form of bad language. This is because it often sounds like heavy jargon. Terms used in business, computer science or sports can sound like meaningless jargon if you use the noun form instead of the verb form.
   • Take, for example, the sentence, "The boss conducted an investigation about the allegations." It is quite long, so it is easier to write "The boss investigated the allegations".
   • For example, while you could say, "The team did a review of the tape", this is not going well. Rather choose "The team reviewed the tape."
3. Only use conversions if it conveys your tone better. Verbs used as nouns can be useful if you want to make it sound less emotional and more objective. For example, when dealing with sensitive information, it can be beneficial to sound a bit more technical. Be aware when you use conversions and if they convey the right tone.
   • Take, for example, the sentence, "He retaliated by filing a lawsuit". Since this is a sensitive situation, you may want to phrase the sentence in more cautious terms. You can then write the verb as a noun to make the sentence a bit more neutral: "The lawsuit may have been a form of retaliation."