Advanced nominalisation. 45 questions on complex noun phrase building, process/event/state nominals, and academic writing nominalisation for cohesion and concision.
What this test covers
- Complex Noun Phrase Architecture
- Process, Event, and State Nominals
- Nominalisation for Cohesion and Hedging in Academic Writing
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All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1The ___ of the new tax law has caused significant confusion among international traders.
Answer: C. implementation
The grammatical slot requires a process nominal — a noun derived from a verb that describes an action — to head the subject noun phrase. 'Implementation' is the standard morphological derivation for the act of putting a law into effect. While the gerund 'implementing' (the -ing form acting as a noun) is possible, the derived noun 'implementation' is preferred in formal registers as it naturally licenses an 'of-phrase' complement. 'Implemented' is a past participle used as an adjective or verb, and 'implements' functions here as either a verb or a plural count noun referring to tools.
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Q2Despite the ___ of the data, the researchers drew several tentative conclusions.
Answer: C. completeness
The sentence requires a state nominal (a noun describing a condition) following the definite article. 'Completeness' is the standard abstract noun referring to the state of being whole. 'Completedness' is a morphological over-generalisation — an attempt to apply a suffix where a standard word already exists — and is rarely used. 'Complete' is an adjective, and 'completing' is a gerund; neither can function as the head of this specific noun phrase describing a property of the data.
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Q3The committee's ___ to reject the proposal was based on budgetary constraints.
Answer: D. decision
The possessive 'committee's' requires a noun head. 'Decision' is a result nominal (a noun representing the outcome of a process) that successfully licenses a to-infinitive complement ('to reject'). 'Decided' is a past participle and 'deciding' is a gerund-participle, both of which are verbal forms. 'Decisive' is an adjective describing a quality of a person or action, which does not fit the semantic requirement of a specific act or resolution.
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Q4The ___ of the bridge took five years, causing major traffic disruptions.
Answer: D. construction
A process nominal is required to indicate a long-term event. 'Construction' refers to the entirety of the building process. While the gerund 'constructing' can function as a noun, derived nouns like 'construction' are more standard in formal English when followed by an 'of-phrase' complement. 'Construct' is either a verb or a technical noun referring to a mental concept (e.g., 'a social construct'), and 'constructed' is a past participle.
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Q5A comprehensive ___ strategy is required to address long-term environmental degradation.
Answer: D. economic development
This is a complex noun phrase where 'economic development' forms a standard compound noun. 'Economic' is the correct attributive adjective meaning 'relating to the economy.' In contrast, 'economical' means 'thrifty' or 'avoiding waste,' which is semantically incorrect here. 'Development' is the nominal head; 'developing' is a participle and does not form the conventional compound required for policy terminology.
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Q6The report highlights the ___ of the existing waste management protocols.
Answer: A. ineffectiveness
A state nominal is needed to function as the direct object. 'Ineffectiveness' is the uncountable abstract noun derived from the adjective 'ineffective.' While the plural 'ineffectivenesses' is grammatically possible to describe multiple types of failure, it is pragmatically rare. 'Ineffectually' is an adverb, and 'ineffective' is an adjective; neither can follow the definite article as the head of a noun phrase.
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Q7The ___ that market prices will stabilise is unsupported by current trends.
Answer: D. assumption
An abstract noun is required to head the nominal content clause introduced by 'that'. 'Assumption' is the correct nominal form that can take an appositive 'that-clause' (a clause that renames or explains the noun). 'Assuming' (a gerund) and 'assume' (a verb) cannot license this specific structure in the subject position, and 'assumed' is a participle.
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Q8The ___ of the two companies into a single entity was finalized last month.
Answer: B. merger
In business and legal contexts, 'merger' is the specific lexicalised result nominal used to describe the completed event of two entities joining. 'Merging' describes the ongoing process; however, the use of the definite article and the verb 'finalized' points to the event as a discrete, completed entity. 'Merges' is a verb form, and 'merged' is a past participle.
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Q9The ___ of the policy remains a subject of intense debate among experts.
Answer: D. efficacy
The head of the noun phrase must be an abstract noun. 'Efficacy' refers specifically to the power or capacity to produce a desired effect, which is the standard term in academic and policy discourse. 'Effectively' (an adverb), 'effective' (an adjective), and 'efficacious' (an adjective) fail the grammatical requirement for a noun following the determiner 'The'.
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Q10The ___ for selecting the new chairperson is strictly confidential.
Answer: D. procedure
'Procedure' refers to an established, formal method or set of steps. While 'proceeding' can be a noun, it is usually used for legal actions or a published record (e.g., 'conference proceedings'). Given the context of selection rules, 'procedure' is the semantically accurate nominalisation. 'Processive' is a rare adjective, and 'processed' is a participle.
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Q11The ___ of the data was conducted by an independent research firm.
Answer: A. analysis
The correct nominal form derived from the Greek 'analyein' is 'analysis.' 'Analysation' is a morphological error (over-application of the '-ation' suffix) and is not used in formal English. 'Analyzing' is a gerund, which is less formal than the derived noun in this position, and 'analyzed' is a past participle.
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Q12The ___ of the project was delayed due to unforeseen technical difficulties.
Answer: B. commencement
'Commencement' is a formal process nominal meaning 'start.' In formal writing, derived nouns like 'commencement' are generally preferred over gerunds like 'commencing' for the head of a subject noun phrase. 'Commenced' and 'commences' are inflected verbal forms that cannot function as the head of a noun phrase following a definite article.
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Q13The ___ that the experiment failed is widely accepted in the scientific community.
Answer: C. finding
In scientific English, 'finding' is the lexicalised count noun (a word that has become a standard noun) used to refer to a specific result of an investigation. It frequently licenses an appositive 'that-clause' explaining the result. 'Find' is more colloquial or refers to a physical discovery, while 'found' and 'finds' are verbal forms.
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Q14The sudden ___ of global temperatures has alarmed climate scientists.
Answer: B. rise
'Rise' functions here as a zero-derivation nominal — a noun formed from a verb without any change in spelling. It is the standard way to refer to an upward trend. 'Rising' is a gerund-participle that is less common when describing a discrete measured phenomenon. 'Rises' (plural) is less appropriate for a singular trend, and 'risen' is a past participle.
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Q15The ___ of the committee members was unanimous regarding the new bylaws.
Answer: C. agreement
The context requires a state nominal describing a shared condition. 'Agreement' represents the state of being in accord. 'Agreeing' is the gerund representing the action of reaching that state, which is less suitable for the result-oriented 'was unanimous.' 'Agreed' and 'agrees' are verbal forms.
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Q16The ___ of the situation requires immediate action from the management team.
Answer: D. gravity
The abstract noun 'gravity' is the correct nominalisation of the adjective 'grave,' meaning 'seriousness' or 'importance.' 'Gravitation' refers to the physical force of gravity in science. 'Gravely' is an adverb, and 'gravitate' is a verb. In a metaphorical sense regarding the weight of a situation, 'gravity' is the only appropriate nominal.
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Q17The company's ___ to reduce emissions was met with skepticism.
Answer: B. commitment
A noun is required after the possessive 'company's'. 'Commitment' is the abstract nominalisation that licenses a to-infinitive complement ('to reduce'). 'Committing' is a gerund that typically requires a direct object (e.g., 'committing resources'), making it syntactically awkward here. 'Commits' and 'committed' are purely verbal forms.
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Q18The ___ of the ancient ruins requires significant funding.
Answer: A. preservation
The process nominal 'preservation' is the standard noun form for the act of keeping something in its original state. While 'preserving' is a gerund that could theoretically function as a noun, 'preservation' is the preferred lexicalised form in formal contexts. 'Preserves' (as a noun) refers to food items like jam, and 'preserved' is an adjective.
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Q19The ___ of the new employees was completed within the first week.
Answer: B. orientation
'Orientation' is the formal process nominal for an introductory program. 'Orienting' is a gerund describing the act of positioning or familiarising, but 'orientation' is the established noun for the organised event. 'Orients' and 'oriented' are verbal inflections.
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Q20The ___ of the investigation remains inconclusive after several months.
Answer: A. outcome
'Outcome' is the result nominal describing the end result of a process. 'Outcoming' is a non-standard adjective, and 'outcomed' is not a valid word. The singular verb 'remains' requires a singular subject, making 'outcome' the only grammatical choice over the plural 'outcomes'.
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Q21Sales dropped by 10% last quarter. This ___ alarmed the shareholders.
Answer: B. decline
This is anaphoric nominalisation — using a noun ('this decline') to refer back to a previous action ('Sales dropped'). 'Decline' is the noun form (a conversion from the verb). 'Declining' is an adjective or gerund, and 'declined' is a past tense verb. The singular 'decline' perfectly encapsulates the single event mentioned.
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Q22The board approved the expansion plan. The ___ was unexpected.
Answer: B. approval
'Approval' is the derived result nominal for the action 'approved.' Using 'The approval' provides cohesion by summarizing the preceding clause. 'Approving' is a gerund-participle, which describes the process of giving consent rather than the formal, completed decision itself.
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Q23Several witnesses were interviewed. The ___ provided crucial information.
Answer: C. interviews
'Interviews' is the plural count noun referring to the communicative events described in the previous sentence. This provides cohesion by re-categorising the verbal action into a nominal entity. 'Interviewer' refers to the person, and 'interviewing' refers to the ongoing process, whereas 'interviews' refers to the specific sessions.
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Q24The researchers found that the drug is effective. This ___ was published yesterday.
Answer: A. finding
'Finding' is the specific lexicalised count noun used in research to refer to a piece of information discovered. It encapsulates the content of the preceding 'found that...' clause. 'Find' as a noun is too informal for this context, while 'finds' and 'found' are verbal forms.
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Q25The manager resigned suddenly. This ___ left the department in chaos.
Answer: C. resignation
'Resignation' is the abstract action nominal derived from 'resign.' Using 'This resignation' acts as a cohesive reference back to the event described. 'Resigning' is a gerund and is less standard as a subject when referring to the event as a completed fact.
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Q26The government increased taxes. The ___ caused public outcry.
Answer: C. increase
The zero-derivation nominal 'increase' (the verb used as a noun) encapsulates the preceding verb phrase. It functions as the head of the subject noun phrase. 'Increasing' is a gerund/participle, and 'increased' is the past tense verb. 'Increase' is the most natural way to refer back to the specific event of increasing taxes.
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Q27The system failed twice. These ___ were investigated by engineers.
Answer: B. failures
'Failures' is the result nominal referring to the specific instances of the system not working. Using the plural noun 'failures' provides cohesion by referring back to 'failed twice.' 'Failing' describes a state or process, whereas 'failures' denotes discrete events.
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Q28The team solved the problem quickly. The ___ impressed the client.
Answer: C. solution
'Solution' is the result nominal derived from 'solve.' It refers to the outcome of the team's effort. 'Solving' is the gerund representing the process, but the context suggests the client was impressed by the result itself, making 'solution' the more appropriate choice for nominalisation.
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Q29The students protested the decision. The ___ continued for weeks.
Answer: C. protest
The word 'protest' is a conversion (a noun identical to the verb) used to refer back to the action in the previous sentence. While 'protesting' (gerund) is possible, 'the protest' is the standard countable noun used for a sustained event. 'Protested' is a verb, and 'protestingly' is an adverb.
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Q30The museum acquired a new collection. The ___ was celebrated.
Answer: C. acquisition
'Acquisition' is the formal nominalisation of 'acquire.' It refers to either the completed event or the item itself. Using it here provides cohesion. 'Acquiring' is a gerund representing the process, which is less likely to be the focus of the celebration than the completed fact of the acquisition.
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Q31The union rejected the offer. The ___ led to further negotiations.
Answer: C. rejection
'Rejection' is the result nominal that encapsulates the act of refusing the offer, providing a cohesive link to the previous sentence. 'Rejecting' is the gerund/process, and 'rejects' and 'rejected' are verbal inflections.
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Q32The company collapsed last year. The ___ shocked the industry.
Answer: C. collapse
'Collapse' is a conversion noun that succinctly refers back to the event. This nominalisation allows for a clear subject-predicate structure. 'Collapsing' refers to the process in progress, whereas 'collapse' refers to the event as a completed whole.
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Q33The police questioned the suspect. The ___ lasted three hours.
Answer: C. questioning
'Questioning' is a gerundive nominalisation that describes the duration of the process. While 'question' is a noun, it usually refers to a single inquiry. 'Questioning' suggests the entire interview session or interrogation process, making it the appropriate nominal to refer back to the verb 'questioned'.
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Q34The patient recovered fully. This ___ surprised the doctors.
Answer: D. recovery
'Recovery' is the lexicalised abstract noun (a standard noun form) representing the state of returning to health. It functions as a cohesive subject. 'Recovering' is the gerund-participle describing an ongoing state, whereas 'recovery' encompasses the completed transition to health.
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Q35The fire destroyed the building. The ___ was extensive.
Answer: A. destruction
'Destruction' is the result nominal derived from 'destroy.' It refers to the state or act of being ruined. 'Destroying' is the gerund, which focuses on the action rather than the outcome. 'Destruction' is the standard nominal for cohesive reference in this context.
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Q36It is believed that the policy will fail. -> There is a ___ that the policy will fail.
Answer: C. belief
Transforming from an extraposed clausal structure ('It is believed...') to a noun-phrase-led structure ('There is a...') requires the abstract noun 'belief.' This noun correctly licenses the nominal content clause ('that the policy will fail') as an appositive complement.
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Q37We propose that the budget be cut. -> A ___ has been advanced that the budget be cut.
Answer: C. proposal
'Proposal' is the lexicalised noun corresponding to the act of 'proposing.' Moving from a verb ('We propose') to a nominal ('A proposal') allows for depersonalisation — focusing on the idea itself rather than the person proposing it.
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Q38Choose the correct version of the sentence: The analysis for the data was flawed.
Answer: C. The analysis of the data was flawed.
Many transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object) require the preposition 'of' when they are nominalised. 'Analysis' follows this pattern: one 'analyzes data' (verb + object), but performs an 'analysis of data' (noun + 'of'-phrase).
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Q39Choose the most concise and clear version of the sentence: The implementation of the utilisation of resources is vital.
Answer: D. The efficient use of resources is vital.
This addresses 'over-nominalisation' — the excessive use of abstract nouns. While 'The implementation of the utilisation' is grammatically possible, it is stylistically weak (pleonastic). 'The efficient use of resources' communicates the same content more directly and concisely.
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Q40Choose the correct version of the sentence: The decision to the matter was postponed.
Answer: C. The decision on the matter was postponed.
The noun 'decision' typically collocates with (is followed by) the prepositions 'on' or 'about' when referring to the subject being decided. 'To,' 'for,' and 'at' do not fit the established idiomatic patterns for this nominal head.
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Q41Choose the correct version of the sentence: There is a requirement of the candidate to have experience.
Answer: D. There is a requirement for the candidate to have experience.
The noun 'requirement' follows a specific complementation pattern: 'requirement for [someone] to [do something].' While 'requirement of' usually introduces the thing required (e.g., 'the requirement of experience'), 'for' introduces the person targeted by the requirement.
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Q42Choose the correct version of the sentence: The observation of the stars were conducted by the team.
Answer: A. The observation of the stars was conducted by the team.
This tests subject-verb agreement (concord). The head of the subject noun phrase is 'observation' (singular), not 'stars.' Therefore, the singular verb 'was' is required. Options using plural 'observations' with singular verbs or singular 'observation' with plural verbs are grammatically incorrect.
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Q43Choose the correct version of the sentence: The suggestion that to invest in tech is risky.
Answer: C. The suggestion that investing in tech is risky.
The head noun 'suggestion' is followed by a nominal content clause ('that...'). Inside that clause, a subject is required. 'Investing in tech' (a gerund phrase) acts as a valid subject. An infinitive like 'to invest' is usually avoided as the subject within a 'that-clause' in formal registers.
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Q44Choose the correct version of the sentence: His refusal of signing the contract was final.
Answer: B. His refusal to sign the contract was final.
Certain nominals derived from verbs, like 'refusal,' retain the ability to take an infinitive complement ('refusal to sign'), mirroring the original verbal pattern ('refuse to sign'). Using 'of + gerund' ('refusal of signing') is non-standard for this specific noun head.
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Q45The necessity ___ immediately cannot be overstated.
Answer: A. to act
The abstract noun 'necessity' licenses either a to-infinitive complement ('necessity to act') or a prepositional phrase with a gerund ('necessity of acting'). 'Of act' is ungrammatical as 'of' requires a noun or gerund; 'acting' requires a preceding preposition; and 'acted' is a past participle.
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