Nominalization
Nominalization turns verbs and adjectives into nouns: . It is the engine of abstract, academic prose.
Why writers nominalize
To make a process the topic of discussion:
To compress a clause into a phrase: \(\to\)
To sound impersonal and objective:
Common nominalizing suffixes
| zero suffix |
Nominalization is a tool, not a virtue. Overuse produces “zombie nouns” and buries the action: \(\to\) Rule of thumb: nominalize to link back to something already said, or to name a concept; otherwise, let verbs be verbs.
Ellipsis
Ellipsis omits words recoverable from context. Handled well, it is the difference between natural and robotic English.
Ellipsis in coordination
Shared subject:
Shared auxiliary:
Shared verb (gapping):
Shared elements from the second conjunct (right-node raising):
Ellipsis after auxiliaries (stripping the verb phrase)
The auxiliary stands for the whole verb phrase:
With (infinitival ellipsis):
Situational ellipsis (informal)
Speech drops predictable openings: Recognize it; avoid it in formal writing.
Substitution
Instead of omitting, English can replace with a pro-form:
for countable nouns:
for verb phrases (formal):
after :
(addition): vs. (confirmation):
:
\(\to\)
\(\to\)
Ellipsis must be recoverable and parallel: \(\to\)
Exercises
Nominalize / denominalize (a) Rewrite 1–3 with a nominalization; (b) rewrite 4–6 with strong verbs.
The committee decided quickly, which surprised everyone.
Because demand grew, prices rose.
The two sides agreed, which ended the strike.
A review of the proposal was conducted by the team.
The occurrence of the failure of the pump was at midnight.
There was resistance on the part of residents to the demolition of the theatre.
Ellipsis Cross out every word that can be naturally omitted.
She washed the dishes, and then she dried the dishes.
I haven’t read the report, but I will read the report tonight.
He plays tennis, and his wife plays golf.
“Are you coming to the party?” “I’d like to come to the party, but I can’t come to the party.”
Substitution Replace the underlined words with an appropriate pro-form.
“Do you think the talks will succeed?” “I hope the talks will succeed.”
My old laptop is faster than my new laptop.
She promised to review the file, and she reviewed the file.
“Has the parcel arrived?” “I’m afraid the parcel has not arrived.”