From verb to noun
In nominalisation a verb or adjective becomes a noun. The whole clause shrinks to a noun phrase that you can slot into another sentence. This is typical of headlines, notices, reports and academic writing.
Verbal style and nominal style
With a verb
Le train part à 8 heures.
The train leaves at 8.
Le magasin fermera exceptionnellement lundi.
The shop will be closed on Monday as an exception.
With a noun
Le départ du train est prévu à 8 heures.
The train's departure is scheduled for 8.
Fermeture exceptionnelle du magasin lundi.
Shop closed Monday (exceptional closure).
The key endings
Which noun belongs to which verb has to be learned; you cannot make it up freely. The ending usually tells you the gender, though.
Ending, gender, examples
| Ending | Gender | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -tion, -sion | feminine | augmenter → l'augmentation · décider → la décision |
| -ment | masculine | payer → le paiement · licencier → le licenciement |
| -age | masculine | nettoyer → le nettoyage · atterrir → l'atterrissage |
| -ure | feminine | ouvrir → l'ouverture · fermer → la fermeture |
| -ée | feminine | arriver → l'arrivée · entrer → l'entrée |
| no ending | mostly masculine | partir → le départ · refuser → le refus · choisir → le choix |
| -ité, -eur, -ise | feminine | rapide → la rapidité · lent → la lenteur · franc → la franchise |
What happens to the rest of the clause
When the verb becomes a noun, its companions change too. Subject and object attach with de, a pronoun becomes a possessive, an adverb becomes an adjective. If both subject and object are present, the subject joins with par.
Rebuilding step by step
| Clause | Noun phrase |
|---|---|
| Les prix augmentent. | l'augmentation des prix |
| On construit un pont. | la construction d'un pont |
| La commune construit un pont. | la construction d'un pont par la commune |
| Elle est arrivée. | son arrivée |
| Les prix augmentent fortement. | la forte augmentation des prix |
When nominal style pays off
Nominalisation saves you subordinate clauses. After avant, après, dès or en cas de a noun replaces a whole clause, and after avant that also gets rid of the subjunctive.
Il faut tout vérifier avant que les invités arrivent.
We need to check everything before the guests arrive.
Conversation.
Tout doit être vérifié avant l'arrivée des invités.
Everything must be checked before the guests' arrival.
Written.
Votre commande sera expédiée dès réception de votre paiement.
Your order will be shipped as soon as your payment is received.
Business.
En cas de retard, prévenez l'accueil.
If you are running late, please let reception know.
Notice.
English often nominalises with -ing: the closing of the shop, the building of a bridge. French cannot turn an infinitive into a noun this way; it needs the real noun: la fermeture, la construction. In conversation you tell things with verbs: Le train part à huit heures.
