Verbal nouns

A verbal noun is a noun formed from a verb but acting as a noun; it can take the plural form, it can be modified by adjectives. In English, verbal nouns are usually formed by adding a suffix to the end of the verb. For example: 'Protect' is the base form of the verb, but you can make a noun from it by adding the suffix -ion (Protection).

Be careful to spell the new words correctly.

• After some hesitation, he began to speak. (hesitate+tion=hesitation)
• We finally reached a decision on the matter. (decide+sion=decision)
• The proposal is still under discussion. (discuss+sion=discussion) (propose+al=proposal)
• We made an emergency landing. (land+ing=landing)
• Their attempt ended in failure. (fail+ure=failure)
• I made the payment by credit card. (pay+ment=payment)

In English, some nouns and verbs have the same form. Note that some words may differ in pronunciation. For example: When 'protest' is used as a noun, the stress falls on the first syllable. Where 'protest' is used as a verb, the stress falls on the second syllable.

PROtest is a noun.

proTEST is a verb.

• They are offering a 10% discount on all leather goods. (noun)
• The electrical goods have been heavily discounted. (verb)
• Would you like a drink of tea? (noun)
• What would you like to drink? (verb)
• We welcomed his return to office. (noun)
• I returned to London 5 years later. (verb)

Gerunds

Do not confuse a verbal noun with a gerund. Both gerunds and verbal nouns are directly derived from verbs. However, verbal nouns do not have any verbal properties. Gerunds have some properties of a verb, for example, they can take a direct object.

• I enjoy playing cards. (gerund)
• He delayed paying the gas bill. (gerund)
• I recognized his writing on the envelope. (verbal noun)
• The book has a happy ending. (verbal noun)