Ultimate English Grammar, Vocabulary, and Names Database
Forming Nouns from Base Words – List
Turning words into nouns is one of the most flexible tricks in English. By adding endings like -tion, -ment, -er, or -ness, we can turn actions and qualities into things, ideas, or people. This process is called nominalisation, and it helps us sound more academic, precise, or formal. For learners, however, it can feel confusing: one verb may produce several related nouns, and spelling often changes. The tables below collect common patterns, showing how verbs, adjectives, and other words regularly become nouns that you will meet in everyday English, exams, and academic writing. Use them as a quick reference tool.
1. Verbs → Nouns (action / process / result)
Verb
Noun
act
action
decide
decision
move
movement
develop
development
agree
agreement
improve
improvement
employ
employment
judge
judgment
arrive
arrival
rehearse
rehearsal
approve
approval
fail
failure
grow
growth
expose
exposure
defend
defence
appear
appearance
perform
performance
refer
reference
disturb
disturbance
resist
resistance
2. Verbs → Nouns (person / agent)
Verb
Noun
teach
teacher
manage
manager
act
actor
sing
singer
write
writer
drive
driver
build
builder
lead
leader
design
designer
employ
employer
assist
assistant
invent
inventor
direct
director
create
creator
farm
farmer
3. Adjectives → Nouns with -ness
Adjective
Noun
happy
happiness
kind
kindness
weak
weakness
sad
sadness
dark
darkness
ill
illness
polite
politeness
fit
fitness
aware
awareness
lonely
loneliness
friendly
friendliness
lazy
laziness
ready
readiness
soft
softness
sick
sickness
4. Adjectives → Nouns with -ity and similar endings
