Basics of nominalisation. 45 questions on converting verbs and adjectives to nouns using common suffixes, and recognising nominalisations.
What this test covers
- Verb to Noun Conversion (Common Suffixes)
- Adjective to Noun Conversion
- Recognising Nominalisations in Sentences
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
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 city library will begin next month.
Answer: D. construction
We need a naming word (a noun) here because of the word 'The.' We change the action word 'construct' into the noun 'construction' by adding the ending '-tion.' For example: 'The construction of the house is finished.'
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Q2After the meeting, the manager made a final ___ regarding the budget.
Answer: A. decision
A noun is required after the words 'a final.' 'Decision' is the noun form of the action word 'decide.' It refers to the choice someone makes. 'Decided' is a past action, and 'decide' is the action itself.
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Q3The ___ of our team was excellent during the presentation.
Answer: B. performance
To turn the action 'perform' into a noun, we add '-ance' to get 'performance.' We use this to talk about how well someone did an activity. While a 'performer' is a person, 'performance' is the name of the act itself.
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Q4We need to improve the ___ of our internet connection.
Answer: A. reliability
The word 'reliability' names the quality of being able to trust something. It comes from the adjective 'reliable.' We use 'reliability' to talk about how well the connection works over time.
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Q5The ___ of the contract means we can now proceed with the project.
Answer: A. approval
The verb 'approve' takes the ending '-al' to become the noun 'approval.' 'Approval' names the act or outcome of saying 'yes' to something, and it is the status (not a person) that 'means we can proceed.' 'Approved' is an adjective or past verb, and 'approve' is a verb — neither can be a noun subject here.
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Q6Her ___ to the office was very early this morning.
Answer: B. arrival
We use 'arrival' to name the act of reaching a place. It comes from the action word 'arrive.' We use it after possessive words like 'her,' 'his,' or 'their' to describe the event of getting somewhere.
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Q7The ___ of the local park makes it a popular place.
Answer: D. cleanliness
To talk about the state of being clean, we use the noun 'cleanliness,' which comes from the adjective 'clean.' A 'cleaner' is a person or a tool, but 'cleanliness' describes the condition of the park.
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Q8We discussed the progress and ___ of the new training program.
Answer: B. development
The noun 'development' is the name for the process of making something better. It comes from the action 'develop.' A 'developer' is a person who builds things, but 'development' refers to the progress of the program.
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Q9The ___ of the results surprised everyone in the room.
Answer: D. explanation
After the word 'The,' we need a noun. 'Explanation' is the noun form of 'explain.' It refers to the reasons or details given about something. 'Explanatory' is an adjective used to describe something, not name it.
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Q10The ___ of the situation is quite serious.
Answer: C. urgency
The noun 'urgency' comes from the adjective 'urgent.' It names the quality of needing immediate attention. 'Urgently' is an adverb used to describe an action, such as 'He ran urgently.'
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Q11The ___ of the old building was necessary for safety.
Answer: D. removal
The noun 'removal' comes from the action 'remove.' It describes the act of taking something away. A 'remover' is usually a tool or a liquid, like nail polish remover, while 'removal' is the name of the process.
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Q12He showed great ___ when dealing with the difficult customer.
Answer: B. politeness
The noun 'politeness' comes from the adjective 'polite.' It names the quality of having good manners. We use 'politely' to describe how someone speaks, but after the phrase 'showed great,' we need a naming word (noun).
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Q13The ___ of the report was a long and tedious process.
Answer: D. revision
The noun 'revision' comes from the action 'revise.' It means the act of changing or improving written work. We use it after 'The' to name the specific task being done.
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Q14The ___ of the new policy took place yesterday.
Answer: C. introduction
We use 'introduction' as the noun form of 'introduce.' It names the act of starting or presenting something new. 'Introduced' is a past action, not the name of the event.
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Q15The ___ of funds into the project was very helpful.
Answer: C. investment
The noun 'investment' comes from the action 'invest.' It refers to the money put into a project. An 'investor' is the person who provides the money, but 'investment' names the money or the act itself.
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Q16The ___ of the new software was a great success.
Answer: D. creation
We need a noun after 'The.' 'Creation' is the noun form of 'create.' It means the act of making something new. 'Creative' is an adjective that describes a person, like 'a creative artist.'
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Q17The ___ of the documents must be completed before the meeting.
Answer: C. preparation
The noun 'preparation' comes from the action 'prepare.' It describes the act of getting things ready. Only a process (like 'preparation') can logically be 'completed'; a person ('preparer') cannot. 'Prepare' is a verb and 'prepared' is an adjective or past verb — neither can function as a noun subject here.
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Q18Her ___ in class was noted by the teacher.
Answer: D. activity
The noun 'activity' comes from the adjective 'active.' It names the state of doing things or participating. We use it after possessive words like 'her' to name what the person was doing.
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Q19The ___ of the event was handled by a professional.
Answer: D. organisation
The noun 'organisation' comes from the verb 'organise.' It names the process of planning an event. An 'organiser' is the person who does the planning, but 'organisation' is the name of the work itself.
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Q20The ___ of the team is crucial for success.
Answer: C. management
The noun 'management' comes from the verb 'manage.' It refers to the act of leading or controlling a group. 'Managerial' is an adjective, for example: 'She has great managerial skills.'
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Q21The ___ of the news was a shock to everyone.
Answer: B. disappointment
The noun 'disappointment' comes from the action 'disappoint.' It names the feeling of being sad when something goes wrong. 'Disappointing' is an adjective used to describe the news itself.
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Q22The ___ of the project will take several weeks.
Answer: A. completion
The noun 'completion' comes from 'complete.' It means the act of finishing a task. 'Completely' is an adverb meaning 'totally,' and 'completed' is an adjective used to describe something that is already finished.
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Q23The ___ of the train was delayed by the storm.
Answer: B. departure
The noun 'departure' comes from the action 'depart.' it means the act of leaving. We often see this word at airports and train stations to show when transport is scheduled to leave.
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Q24Her ___ about the decision was evident.
Answer: C. hesitation
The noun 'hesitation' comes from the verb 'hesitate.' It names the act of pausing because you are not sure. 'Hesitant' is an adjective that describes a person who is acting slowly because they are unsure.
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Q25The ___ into the crime is ongoing.
Answer: B. investigation
The noun 'investigation' comes from the verb 'investigate.' It refers to the process of trying to find the truth. An 'investigator' is the person (like a detective) who does the work.
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Q26The ___ of the landscape is breathtaking.
Answer: D. beauty
The noun 'beauty' comes from the adjective 'beautiful.' It is the name for the quality of looking very good. 'Beautify' is an action word that means to make something look better.
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Q27The ___ of the students was excellent.
Answer: A. attendance
The noun 'attendance' comes from the action 'attend.' It refers to the act of being present at school or a meeting. 'Attentive' is an adjective used to describe someone who is listening carefully.
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Q28The ___ of the waste was handled correctly.
Answer: D. disposal
The noun 'disposal' comes from the verb 'dispose.' It means the act of getting rid of something. 'Disposable' is an adjective for things meant to be thrown away, like paper plates.
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Q29The ___ of the new law was fast.
Answer: D. passage
When a government 'passes' a law, the process is called the 'passage.' 'Passable' means something is okay or good enough, but it is not the correct name for this process.
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Q30The ___ of the weather was unexpected.
Answer: D. predictability
The noun 'predictability' comes from the adjective 'predictable.' It names the quality of being able to guess what will happen. 'Predictably' describes how an action happens, but here we need a noun after 'The.'
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Q31Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: A. The growth of the company was rapid.
The noun form of the action word 'grow' is 'growth.' We use 'growth' to name the process of getting bigger or more successful. Words like 'grow' or 'grown' are actions, not names for the process.
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Q32Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: A. She was surprised by the difference between the two options.
The noun form of the adjective 'different' is 'difference.' It names the way in which things are not the same. 'Differently' is an adverb used to describe an action, not a name for a quality.
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Q33Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: B. The accuracy of the data is very important.
The noun 'accuracy' comes from the adjective 'accurate.' It means how correct or exact something is. While 'accurateness' is sometimes seen, 'accuracy' is the standard word used in English.
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Q34Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: D. He expressed his agreement with the plan.
The noun form of 'agree' is 'agreement.' We use it after possessive words like 'his' to name the state of having the same opinion. 'Agree' is an action, not a naming word.
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Q35Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: A. The failure of the engine caused the plane to land.
The noun form of 'fail' is 'failure.' It names the event of something not working. We do not use 'fail' or 'failed' as the name of the event in this sentence.
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Q36Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: A. They showed great creativity in their project.
The noun form of 'creative' is 'creativity.' It names the ability to have original ideas. 'Creative' is an adjective used to describe a person or an object, not the name of the quality itself.
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Q37Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: A. The information about the flight was incorrect.
The noun 'information' comes from the action 'inform.' It is a common noun used to talk about facts or data. Words like 'informing' describe an ongoing action, but 'information' is the correct name for the facts.
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Q38Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: D. His happiness was obvious to everyone.
The noun form of the adjective 'happy' is 'happiness.' We often add '-ness' to adjectives to make nouns, such as 'sadness' or 'kindness.' 'Happily' describes how someone does something, like 'He smiled happily.'
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Q39Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: A. The existence of the problem was denied.
The noun form of 'exist' is 'existence.' It names the fact that something is real or present. 'Exist' is an action word, so it cannot be used as a noun after the word 'The' here.
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Q40Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: D. The fluency of her speech was impressive.
The noun 'fluency' comes from the adjective 'fluent.' It names the ability to speak a language well and easily. 'Fluently' is an adverb used to describe how someone speaks, but we need a noun here.
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Q41Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: C. The security of the system is a priority.
The noun form of 'secure' is 'security.' It names the state of being safe from danger. 'Securely' is an adverb, and 'secured' is a past action or adjective.
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Q42Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: B. The appearance of the suspect was strange.
The noun form of 'appear' is 'appearance.' It refers to the way someone or something looks. 'Appear' is an action word, and 'appearing' describes an action that is happening now.
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Q43Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: C. The education of the children is vital.
The noun form of 'educate' is 'education.' It names the whole process of teaching and learning. 'Educated' is an adjective used to describe a person who has been to school.
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Q44Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: B. The weakness of the argument was clear.
The noun form of 'weak' is 'weakness.' It names a quality that is not strong. 'Weakly' is an adverb, and 'weak' is an adjective. We need a noun to name the specific problem with the argument.
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Q45Which sentence uses the correct nominalisation?
Answer: C. The consistency of her work is amazing.
The noun form of 'consistent' is 'consistency.' It means always behaving or performing in the same way. 'Consistently' is an adverb that describes how she works, but we need a naming word after 'The.'
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