One paragraph, two versions
Both versions report the same event. The nominal one is shorter and detached; the verbal one says more: who decided, when, and what it means for the people affected.
The same news
Nominal
La fermeture de la maternité a entraîné un allongement des trajets et une saturation des urgences.
The closure of the maternity unit has led to longer journeys and an overstretched A&E.
Verbal
L'agence régionale de santé a fermé la maternité en mars. Depuis, les femmes enceintes doivent aller jusqu'à Lyon, et les urgences débordent.
The regional health authority closed the maternity unit in March. Since then, pregnant women have had to travel all the way to Lyon, and A&E is overflowing.
What nominal style leaves out
A noun needs neither a subject nor a tense. That is exactly what makes nominal style useful and sometimes convenient: it leaves open what a sentence with a verb would have to say.
Three things that disappear
| What disappears | Nominal | Verbal |
|---|---|---|
| Who acts | la suppression de 200 postes | La direction supprime 200 postes. |
| When, and how certain | la réduction des délais | Nous allons réduire les délais. |
| Whether it is true at all | la dégradation du service public | Le service public se dégrade-t-il ? |
The third row is the subtlest. La dégradation du service public inquiète les usagers takes for granted that there is a decline. As a verb it becomes a claim that can be challenged. Nominalise in a debate and you turn something contested into a fact.
When each style fits
Text type and style
| Style | Typical in | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal | headlines, abstracts, minutes, slides, expert reports | dense, impersonal, static |
| Verbal | argument, speeches, letters to customers, explanations | lively, clearly attributed, easier to read |
A mix often works best: a noun as subject that sums up an event, and a strong verb that says what it caused.
Nominal subject, strong verb
La hausse des tarifs a fait fuir les usagers.
The fare increase has driven passengers away.
L'arrivée du tramway a transformé le quartier.
The arrival of the tram has transformed the neighbourhood.
Spotting empty verbs
The surest sign of too much nominal style is support verbs that mean nothing themselves and only carry a noun: procéder à, effectuer, faire l'objet de, donner lieu à. English bureaucratese does the same (carry out a review of). Replace them with the verb hidden in the noun.
Before and after
Il a été procédé à la vérification des comptes.
A verification of the accounts was carried out.
Nominal, no one acting.
Le cabinet a vérifié les comptes.
The firm checked the accounts.
Verbal, with someone acting.
Ce dossier a fait l'objet d'un examen approfondi.
This file has been the subject of a thorough review.
Nominal.
Nous avons examiné ce dossier en détail.
We have looked at this file in detail.
Verbal.
