Nominalization (Nominalisierung) is the process of turning verbs, adjectives, or other word classes into nouns.
Nominalized words are always capitalized (like all German nouns) and usually take the neuter article das.
- lesen (to read, verb) → das Lesen (reading)
- schön (beautiful, adjective) → das Schöne (the beautiful thing)
1. Nominalizing Verbs (Infinitive as Noun)
The simplest and most common nominalization: use the infinitive form of a verb as a neuter noun. This is equivalent to English "-ing" form (called gerund).
Rule: Take the infinitive → Capitalize it → Use with das
All nominalized infinitives are neuter (das).
Verb | Nominalized | Example Sentence |
lesen (to read) | das Lesen | Das Lesen ist wichtig. (Reading is important.) |
lernen (to learn) | das Lernen | Das Lernen macht Spaß. (Learning is fun.) |
tanzen (to dance) | das Tanzen | Sie liebt das Tanzen. (She loves dancing.) |
Nominalized infinitives often appear with certain prepositions:
Preposition | Example | Meaning |
beim | Beim Lesen schlafe ich ein. | While reading, I fall asleep. |
zum | Zum Kochen brauche ich Rezepte. | For cooking, I need recipes. |
vom | Vom Laufen bin ich müde. | I'm tired from running. |
vor dem | Vor dem Essen wasche ich die Hände. | Before eating, I wash my hands. |
nach dem | Nach dem Aufstehen dusche ich. | After getting up, I shower. |
2. Nominalizing Adjectives
Adjectives can also become nouns. The rules depend on whether you're referring to people or abstract concepts.
Abstract Concepts (Neuter)
To express "the [adjective] thing" or an abstract quality, nominalize with das and add appropriate adjective endings (depending on case + singular/plural):
Adjective | Case Example | Nominalized
(with endings) | Example |
wichtig | Nominative | das Wichtige | Das Wichtige ist die Gesundheit.
(The important thing is health.) |
schön | Accusative | das Schöne | Ich sehe das Schöne in dir.
(I see the beautiful in you.) |
gut | Dative | dem Guten | Wir sind dem Guten verpflichtet.
(We are committed to the good.) |
With Indefinite Pronouns
After etwas, nichts, viel, wenig, nominalized adjectives take strong endings (-es):
German | English |
etwas Schönes | something beautiful |
nichts Neues | nothing new |
viel Interessantes | much interesting stuff |
wenig Gutes | little good |
People (Masculine/Feminine)
When nominalizing adjectives to describe people, use the natural gender (this is in contrast with with abstracts like das Reiche (the rich [thing/quality], neuter) which always gets das):
Adjective | Masculine | Feminine | Meaning |
alt | der Alte | die Alte | the old man/woman |
krank | der Kranke | die Kranke | the sick person |
bekannt | der Bekannte | die Bekannte | the acquaintance |
angestellt | der Angestellte | die Angestellte | the employee |
Nominalized adjectives describing people decline like adjectives (see table below), not like regular nouns!
Declension of Nominalized Adjectives (People)
Case | With *der/die* | With *ein/eine* | With *kein/mein* |
Nominative (m) | der Bekannte | ein Bekannter | mein Bekannter |
Accusative (m) | den Bekannten | einen Bekannten | meinen Bekannten |
Dative (m) | dem Bekannten | einem Bekannten | meinem Bekannten |
Nominative (f) | die Bekannte | eine Bekannte | meine Bekannte |
Plural | die Bekannten | Bekannte | meine Bekannten |
3. Nominalizing Participles
Both present and past participles can become nouns, usually referring to people.
Refresher:
- Partizip I and Partizip II are participle forms, derived from verbs but functioning like adjectives or in compound tenses.
- Partizip I describes ongoing or present actions, while Partizip II indicates completed or past actions.
- Partizip I (present participle): Usually obtained by adding "-d" to the infinitive. (e.g., laufen → laufend; singen → singend).
- Partizip II (past participle): Usually obtained by adding prefix "ge-" + verb stem + "-t" (weak: spielen → gespielt) or "-en" with vowel change (strong: laufen → gelaufen; singen → gesungen).
By Nominalizing Partizip I, we get the noun corresponding to "One who is doing" the action:
Verb | Nominalized | Meaning |
reisen | der/die Reisende | the traveler |
studieren | der/die Studierende | the student |
lesen | der/die Lesende | the reader |
warten | der/die Wartende | the one waiting |
By Nominalizing Partizip II, we get the noun corresponding to "One who has been/is" :
Verb | Nominalized | Meaning |
anstellen | der/die Angestellte | the employee |
verletzen | der/die Verletzte | the injured person |
verheiraten | der/die Verheiratete | the married person |
anklagen | der/die Angeklagte | the accused/defendant |
4. Nominalization with Suffixes
Many nouns are created by adding suffixes to verbs or adjectives.
-ung (Feminine)
Used with verbs:
- üben → die Übung
- bedeuten → die Bedeutung
- entscheiden → die Entscheidung
-heit / -keit (Feminine)
Used with adjectives:
- krank → die Krankheit
- freundlich → die Freundlichkeit
- frei → die Freiheit
Pattern:
- Adjectives ending in -ig, -lich, -sam → add -keit
- Other adjectives → add -heit
5. Nominalizing Colors and Other Words
All colors can be nominalized (neuter):
- rot → das Rot
- blau → das Blau
Numbers and some other words can also be nominalized:
- erste → der/die Erste
- andere → der/die Andere
- nächste → der/die Nächste