Mohammad Abdullah

Conversion

When we use a verb or adjective as a noun without changing its spelling in any way, it is called conversion or zero derivation.

Verbs

Conversion is especially common with verbs, and there are many instances where the same word may function as a verb or a noun, depending on the context. For example:

• “Please answer the phone, Tom.” (verb)
• “We’ll need an answer by tomorrow.” (noun)
• “I run each morning before breakfast.” (verb)
• “I’m going for a run later today.” (noun)
• “Meteorologists are forecasting a snowstorm overnight.” (verb)
• “The forecast said there would be rain in the afternoon.” (noun)

Less commonly, there are instances in which, instead of changing a word’s spelling, we change where we pronounce a stress on the word’s syllables to indicate a shift from a verb to a noun; this change is known as a suprafix. Let’s look at some examples (with the stressed syllable underlined):

• “You need to convert pounds into kilograms.” (verb)
• “The church always welcomes recent converts to its meetings.” (noun)
• “Make sure you record the meeting so we can review it later.” (verb)
• “I love listening to old records.” (noun)
• “Please don’t insult my intelligence.” (verb)
• “We will not forget this insult to our company.” (noun)

The word use can also function as either a noun or a verb, but instead of changing the stress on a syllable, we change the actual pronunciation of the word, as in:

• “We plan to use a diagnostic test to evaluate the problem.” (verb—use is pronounced “yooz”)
• “There is only one use for this tool.” (noun—use is pronounced “yuce”)

Nominal adjectives

We can also convert adjectives into nouns without changing spelling, but we generally do so by adding the article the before the word. These are known as nominal adjectives. For example:

• “The wealthy have an obligation to help the poor.”
• “We all want the best for her.”
• “This law protects the innocent.”

Infinitives

Lastly, verbs can serve the function of nouns by being used in their infinitive form—that is, the base form of the verb with the particle to. Infinitives are not technically an example of nominalization, because they can also act as adjectives and adverbs, but it’s worth looking at how they work when they function as nouns. For example:

As the subject of a clause

• “To err is human; to forgive is divine.”
• “To study mathematics at Harvard was her ultimate dream.”
• “To live in the city means adjusting to a completely different lifestyle.”

As the object of a verb

• “I’m not going unless you agree to go with me.”
• “You appear to be correct.”
• “Please be quiet; I’m trying to study.”

As an object complement

(An object complement is a word or group of words that describe, rename, or complete the direct object of the verb.)

• “I don’t expect you to approve of my decision.”
• “She’s forcing me to work through the weekend.”
• “We need you to make a few more copies.”

Quiz:-

1. Which of the following is used to change the spelling of a verb or adjective that is made into a noun? 

• prefixes
• suffixes
• infixes
• circumfixes

 2. What is the name for nominalization in which the spelling of the verb or adjective does not change? 

• inversion
• conscription
• conversion
• elision

 3.Which of the following suffixes is commonly used to change a verb to a noun to reflect agency or profession? 

• “-or”
• “-ing”
• “-ance”
• “-ence”

4.Which of the following nominalized verbs (in bold) is a gerund?

• “Adherence to the rules is expected of all students.”
• “We weren’t expecting her refusal of our offer.”
• “Winning isn’t everything, you know.”
• “We need to hire a few more employees.”

Answer:- 1) suffixes 2) conversion 3) or 4) Winning isn’t everything, you know.

Source:-The Farlex Grammar Book By Peter Herring.