How to Change a Verb to a Noun

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Many verbs in the English language can easily be converted into nouns with the addition of suffixes. You can also change certain verbs to nouns depending on the context of a sentence. Sometimes, using the noun form of a verb can sound clunky and jargon-heavy. Use your discretion when changing verbs to nouns to keep your writing clear and concise. While it can be a little tricky to change around words, especially if you're not a native speaker, don't get discouraged. With a little time and patience, you can get the hang of changing verbs to nouns.

Suffixes that Turn Verbs Into Nouns

To turn a verb into a noun, add “-ance,” “-ence,” “-ment,” “-tion,” or “-sion.” Resist becomes resistance, judge becomes judgement, attract becomes attraction, and so on.

Method 1 of 3:

Adding Suffixes

For example, look at the sentence, "He appeared on many talk shows while promoting his book." If you wanted to change the verb to a noun, you could say, "He made many talk show appearances while promoting his book."

For example, look at the sentence, "The man enjoyed his lunch." If you wanted to change the verb to a noun, you could say, "The man's lunch brought him enjoyment."

For example, look at the sentence, "He decided to decline the job offer." If you wanted to use a noun, you could say, "He made the decision to decline the job offer."

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Adjusting the Sentence

For example, look at the sentence, "The film impacted the students." The verb here is "impacted."
As another example, consider the sentence, “The athlete prepared to run.” The verb in question is “run” (although “prepared” is also a verb).

If you're changing "impacted" to a noun, you would need the determiner "an" or the determiner “the.”
To change “run” to a noun, you would need the determiner “the” or the determiner “a.”

For example, "The film impacted the students," can be changed to, "The film had an impact on the students."
For instance, “The athlete prepared to run,” can be changed to, “The athlete prepared for a run.”

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Avoiding Common Mistakes

Consult a dictionary to double check your suffixes. If English is your second language, which suffix to use when converting verbs can get confusing. As there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to which suffix to use, don't be embarrassed to consult a dictionary after changing a verb to a noun. It can never hurt to double check. [7] X Research source

For example, take the sentence, "The boss conducted an investigation about the allegations." It's a little wordy, and it's easier to simply write, "The boss investigated the allegations."
For instance, while you could say, “The team did a review of the tape,” it doesn’t flow well. Instead, go with, “The team reviewed the tape.”

For example, take the sentence, "He retaliated by filing a lawsuit." As this is a sensitive situation, you may want to phrase it in gentler terms. You can use the noun form to write the more played down sentence, "The lawsuit may have been a form of retaliation."

Community Q&A

"I wished to kill you." How can I change the verb to a noun? Community Answer

You're using two verbs. If you're asking about "wished," you could say, "My wish was to kill you." If you're asking about "to kill," you could say, "I wished for your killing." To combine the two usages, you could say, "My wish was for your killing."

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What is the noun for of verb "do"? Top Answerer The gerund "doing," as in "This was of your own doing."

What's the noun of adjust? Top Answerer Adjustment.

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