English grammar
Nominalisation: sell → the sale, evict → the eviction
Understand official texts full of nouns made from verbs, and turn them back into everyday English.
From the scene The sale of the building
In short
Official texts turn verbs into nouns: sell becomes the sale, evict becomes the eviction. In speech, use the verbs.
Your turn
Which one goes with evict → the eviction?
Options: the increase in the price · the eviction of the tenants · the sale of the building
Show answer
evict → the eviction → the eviction of the tenants
How it works
Official texts turn verbs into nouns: the sale (sell), the eviction (evict), the increase (increase), the arrival (arrive).
Good to know
Common endings are -ion/-tion (eviction) and -al (renewal); some look just like the verb (increase), and some change shape (sell → sale).
Good to know
Nobody does the action in these nouns, so the text sounds neutral; in conversation, turn them back into verbs: when they sell it, they'll renovate it.
sell → the sale the sale of the building
Javi
"After the sale of the building, the renovation will begin."
"Tras la venta del edificio, comenzará la reforma."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"After (blank), the renovation will begin."
Options: the eviction of the tenants · the increase in the price · the sale of the building
Show answer
Javi
"After the sale of the building, the renovation will begin."
"Tras la venta del edificio, comenzará la reforma."
evict → the eviction the eviction of the tenants
Nuria
Here: "the eviction of the tenants". Page two, in small print.
Aquí: "el desalojo de los inquilinos". Página dos, en letra pequeña.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Here: "(blank)". Page two, in small print.
Options: the sale of the building · the increase in the price · the eviction of the tenants
Show answer
Nuria
Here: "the eviction of the tenants". Page two, in small print.
Aquí: "el desalojo de los inquilinos". Página dos, en letra pequeña.
increase (verb) → the increase (noun) the increase in the price
Nuria
"And the increase in the price per square metre."
"Y el aumento del precio del metro cuadrado."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"And (blank) per square metre."
Options: the eviction of the tenants · the increase in the price · the sale of the building
Show answer
Nuria
"And the increase in the price per square metre."
"Y el aumento del precio del metro cuadrado."
arrive → the arrival the arrival of the lift
Nuria
"Final phase: the arrival of the lift."
"Fase final: la llegada del ascensor."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"Final phase: (blank)."
Options: the eviction of the tenants · the arrival of the lift · the sale of the building
Show answer
Nuria
"Final phase: the arrival of the lift."
"Fase final: la llegada del ascensor."
turning it back into a verb when they sell it, they'll renovate it
Nuria
In other words: when they sell it, they'll renovate it.
O sea: cuando lo vendan, lo reforman.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
In other words: (blank).
Options: the eviction of the tenants · when they sell it, they'll renovate it · the sale of the building
Show answer
Nuria
In other words: when they sell it, they'll renovate it.
O sea: cuando lo vendan, lo reforman.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| sell → the sale | the sale of the building |
|---|---|
| evict → the eviction | the eviction of the tenants |
| increase (verb) → the increase (noun) | the increase in the price |
| arrive → the arrival | the arrival of the lift |
| turning it back into a verb | when they sell it, they'll renovate it |
More lines from the story
- JaviTranslation: prices go up and we're out on the street.Traducción: suben los precios y nosotros, a la calle.