B2 · Grammar · Nominalisierung
German Nominalisation: Turning Clauses into Noun Phrases and Back
The ruleA subordinate clause and a prepositional phrase carry the same information: official German prefers the noun, and converting between the two is a testable skill.
German officialdom writes in nouns. Nach Beendigung der Arbeiten where speech would say Nachdem die Arbeiten beendet worden sind. Reading it means unpacking it; writing at C1 means being able to produce it. The B2 exams test the conversion in both directions.
The standard pairs
| Clause (verbal) | Phrase (nominal) |
|---|---|
| weil es regnete | wegen des Regens |
| obwohl es regnete | trotz des Regens |
| nachdem er angekommen war | nach seiner Ankunft |
| bevor er abfuhr | vor seiner Abfahrt |
| während er studierte | während seines Studiums |
| wenn man es genau prüft | bei genauer Prüfung |
| um sich zu bewerben | zur Bewerbung |
| damit die Kosten sinken | zur Senkung der Kosten |
| falls es nötig ist | im Falle der Notwendigkeit |
Notice that the conjunction becomes a preposition, and the preposition brings its own case with it, which is why nominalisation and the genitive are learned together.
Building the noun
| Suffix | From | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -ung | Verb stem | prüfen → die Prüfung, ankommen → die Ankunft |
| -e | Verb stem | fragen → die Frage, bitten → die Bitte |
| Infinitive as noun | Whole infinitive | das Lesen, das Schwimmen, beim Essen |
| -heit / -keit | Adjective | krank → die Krankheit, möglich → die Möglichkeit |
| -ion | Latinate verb | reagieren → die Reaktion |
Every -ung, -heit, -keit and -ion noun is feminine, without exception, which makes them the safest gender guesses in the language. The nominalised infinitive is always neuter: das Lesen, das Rauchen.
Going the other way
Reading official German means running the transformation backwards. The exercise below is exactly what a C1 reading task asks of you.
- Nach Prüfung der Unterlagen teilen wir Ihnen das Ergebnis mit. Once we have examined the documents we will inform you of the result. = Nachdem wir die Unterlagen geprüft haben, …
- Bei Nichtbeachtung der Vorschriften droht ein Bußgeld. Failure to observe the rules is punishable by a fine. = Wenn die Vorschriften nicht beachtet werden, …
- Zur Vermeidung von Missverständnissen bitten wir um schriftliche Bestätigung. To avoid misunderstandings we ask for written confirmation. = Damit Missverständnisse vermieden werden, …
Where it goes wrong
Wegen dass es regnete, blieben wir zu Hause.
Wegen des Regens blieben wir zu Hause.
wegen is a preposition and takes a noun phrase, not a clause. If you want a clause, the word is weil. Mixing the two (a preposition in front of a conjunction) is the characteristic failure of half-completed nominalisation.
Common questions
What is Nominalisierung in German?
Expressing with a noun phrase what could be a subordinate clause: 'nach seiner Ankunft' for 'nachdem er angekommen war'. It is characteristic of official, legal and academic German, and B2 and C1 exams test converting between the two forms in both directions.
How do I turn a German verb into a noun?
Most often with -ung on the stem (prüfen → die Prüfung), or by using the infinitive itself as a neuter noun (das Lesen, beim Essen). Adjectives take -heit or -keit. All -ung, -heit, -keit and -ion nouns are feminine; nominalised infinitives are always neuter.
Is nominal style good German?
In moderation. It is expected in official and academic writing but criticised when overdone: German style guides have a word for the excess, Substantivitis. What exams reward is the ability to move between nominal and verbal style, not a blanket preference.
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