Nominalisation
Turn verbs and adjectives into useful nouns.
The rule
Capitalise verbs and adjectives used as nouns. Nominalised adjectives still take adjective endings: etwas Neues, die Arbeitslosen.
das Lesen · beim Essen · etwas Neues · die Arbeitslosen
Capitalise every nominalised verb or adjective.
An infinitive used as a noun is neuter and often combines with beim, zum, or nach dem.
Nominalised adjectives keep adjective endings because an understood noun is omitted.
Core forms and structures
Use this table as a reference, then retrieve the forms without looking.
| Form | Function | German example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pattern 1 | Nominalised infinitives are capitalised and neuter. | Das Lesen hilft beim Lernen. | Reading helps with learning. |
| Pattern 2 | Bei dem + nominalised infinitive contracts to beim. | Beim Essen sprechen wir wenig. | While eating, we speak little. |
| Pattern 3 | Nominalised adjective after etwas is capitalised. | Ich möchte etwas Neues lernen. | I would like to learn something new. |
| Pattern 4 | A plural nominalised adjective is capitalised and declined. | Die Arbeitslosen erhalten Beratung. | The unemployed receive advice. |
| Pattern 5 | The nominalised compound infinitive is capitalised and written together. | Vor dem Schlafengehen lese ich. | Before going to sleep, I read. |
German examples with English meanings
Das Lesen hilft beim Lernen.
Reading helps with learning.
Nominalised infinitives are capitalised and neuter.
Beim Essen sprechen wir wenig.
While eating, we speak little.
Bei dem + nominalised infinitive contracts to beim.
Ich möchte etwas Neues lernen.
I would like to learn something new.
Nominalised adjective after etwas is capitalised.
Die Arbeitslosen erhalten Beratung.
The unemployed receive advice.
A plural nominalised adjective is capitalised and declined.
Vor dem Schlafengehen lese ich.
Before going to sleep, I read.
The nominalised compound infinitive is capitalised and written together.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Das lesen hilft beim lernen.
Correct: Das Lesen hilft beim Lernen.
Nominalised infinitives are capitalised and neuter.
Incorrect: Beim essen sprechen wir wenig.
Correct: Beim Essen sprechen wir wenig.
Bei dem + nominalised infinitive contracts to beim.
Incorrect: Ich möchte etwas neues lernen.
Correct: Ich möchte etwas Neues lernen.
Nominalised adjective after etwas is capitalised.
Incorrect: Die arbeitslose erhalten Beratung.
Correct: Die Arbeitslosen erhalten Beratung.
A plural nominalised adjective is capitalised and declined.
Incorrect: Vor dem schlafen gehen lese ich.
Correct: Vor dem Schlafengehen lese ich.
The nominalised compound infinitive is capitalised and written together.
Details and useful distinctions
Use nominal style selectively; verbal style is often clearer in speech.
Practise this grammar
If an action or quality occupies a noun slot, capitalise it and supply the article or adjective ending that the noun phrase requires.
Open Nominalisation exercises →
For source references and editorial level notes, see the grammar reference. You can report a correction if an explanation or example seems wrong.