In our Intro to Nominalisierung, we learned that German loves to turn other words into nouns. But how exactly do you do it? Do you just add a capital letter, or do you need to change the whole word?
The answer is: It depends on the “building blocks” you use. There are three main ways to form a noun in German from a verb or an adjective. Let’s look at the rules and structures so you can build your own nouns like a native.
1. The Infinitive Method (Easy Mode)
This is the simplest structure. You take the verb in its basic form (the infinitive), capitalize it, and add “das”. No suffixes required!
- Rule: Verb Infinitive -> Capitalized Noun (always Neuter).
- Structure: lernen -> das Lernen
- Example: “Das Lernen (1) ist (2) anstrengend.” —
2. The Suffix Method (Turning Verbs into Nouns)
Sometimes, just capitalizing the verb isn’t enough. German uses specific endings (suffixes) to create nouns. Most of these nouns are Feminine (die).
| Suffix | Verb | Formed Noun |
| -ung | entscheiden (to decide) | die Entscheidung (the decision) |
| -ung | erklären (to explain) | die Erklärung (the explanation) |
| -t | fahren (to drive) | die Fahrt (the trip) |
Pro Tip: If you see a word ending in -ung, you can be 100% sure it is a Feminine noun!
3. Turning Adjectives into Nouns
When you want to turn an adjective into an abstract noun (like “beauty” from “beautiful”), you use these common endings:
- -heit: gesund (healthy) -> die Gesundheit (health)
- -keit: einsam (lonely) -> die Einsamkeit (loneliness)
- -igkeit: müde (tired) -> die Müdigkeit (tiredness)
- -tät: aktiv (active) -> die Aktivität (activity)
4. Structure: Signal Words for Nominalisierung
How do you know when to apply these rules? In a sentence, Nominalisierung usually follows certain “trigger” words:
- Prepositions:beim, zum, vom, nach, vor.
- “Vor dem Essen (1) wasche (2) ich mir die Hände.”
- Indefinite Pronouns:alles, viel, wenig, etwas.
- “Ich wünsche dir alles Gute.”
Word Order Reminder: Even with complex nominalized nouns, the Satzbau rule never changes: the conjugated verb stays in Position 2.
💡 Summary Cheat Sheet
- Verbs -> Nouns: Use the infinitive + das OR the suffix -ung + die.
- Adjectives -> Nouns: Use suffixes like -heit or -keit + die.
- Always capitalize the first letter!
If you’re unsure whether your new noun is masculine, feminine, or neuter, it’s always better to double-check. You can see how these nouns fit into real sentences in our guide on Unbestimmte Artikel.
Final Thoughts
Nominalisierung is the key to moving from “basic” German to “professional” German. It allows you to express complex ideas with just one word instead of a whole sentence.
Next Step: Try to find 5 verbs in your current vocabulary and turn them into nouns using the rules above. Use our German Grammar Checker to see if you’ve chosen the right article!