Grammar: Word classes: Nouns: Noun formation

Forming nouns from other word classes

Adjective to noun

It is not only actions which can be represented as nouns. A writer or speaker can take a quality or state which is usually represented by an adjective, and represent it as a noun (deep - depth, happy - happiness).

Many nouns are formed from adjectives, by adding one of two common suffixes:

	'-ity'           regular - regularity
	'-ness'       happy - happiness

Clause to noun

A whole clause can also be summarised in a noun. The noun may be derived from the main verb:

Sometimes the noun merely summarises the clause, without there being any close connection in word form:

"Sorry for being late!" Bozo said, but his apology was not accepted.