Understanding and Using Nominalisation

Nominalisation is a powerful tool in Hungarian that allows you to transform verbs or adjectives into nouns. This can greatly enhance the formality and sophistication of your writing. In this guide, you will learn how to effectively use nominalisation in your Hungarian sentences.

1. What is Nominalisation?

Nominalisation is the process of turning a verb or adjective into a noun. This can be done by adding appropriate suffixes to the word. The resulting noun can then be used as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. Nominalisation is commonly used to express abstract ideas, actions, or qualities in a more formal manner.

2. How to Nominalise Verbs

To nominalise a verb in Hungarian, you usually need to add a suffix that corresponds to the desired noun form. Here are some common suffixes used for nominalisation:

• -ás/-és: This suffix is used to form nouns from verbs. For example:

  • tanul (to study) -> tanulás (studying)
  • ír (to write) -> írás (writing)

• -atás/-etés: This suffix is used to express the result or process of an action. For example:

  • főz (to cook) -> főzés (cooking)
  • szeret (to love) -> szeretet (love)

• -ás/-ési/-ésű: These suffixes are used to form nouns denoting the action, manner, or quality of something. For example:

  • érzékel (to perceive) -> érzékelés (perception)
  • gondol (to think) -> gondolás (thought)

3. How to Nominalise Adjectives

Nominalising adjectives is quite straightforward in Hungarian. You can simply add the appropriate suffixes to the adjective stem to create a noun form. Here are some commonly used suffixes for nominalising adjectives:

• -ság/-ség: These suffixes are used to form abstract nouns expressing a quality or state. For example:

  • fontos (important) -> fontosság (importance)
  • szép (beautiful) -> szépség (beauty)

• -i: This suffix is used to form nouns denoting a person or animal with a particular characteristic. For example:

  • magyar (Hungarian) -> magyari (Hungarian person)
  • gazdag (rich) -> gazdagi (rich person)

4. Usage of Nominalised Nouns

Once you have nominalised a verb or adjective, you can use the resulting nouns in various ways to enhance your writing. Here are a few examples:

• As a subject:

  • A tanulás fontos része az életnek. (Studying is an important part of life.)
  • Az írás segít kifejezni a gondolatainkat. (Writing helps express our thoughts.)

• As an object:

  • Szeretek főzéssel eltölteni egy jó estét. (I enjoy spending a good evening cooking.)
  • A szeretet fontos az emberi kapcsolatokban. (Love is important in human relationships.)

• As a complement:

  • Az önállóság jellemzi a sikeres embereket. (Independence characterizes successful people.)
  • A fájdalom része a gyógyulásnak. (Pain is part of the healing process.)

5. Key Points to Remember

• Nominalisation is the process of turning a verb or adjective into a noun.
• Nominalised verbs often use suffixes like -ás/-és, -atás/-etés, or -ás/-ési/-ésű.
• Nominalised adjectives can use suffixes like -ság/-ség or -i.
• Nominalised nouns can be used as subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence.

By incorporating nominalisation into your Hungarian writing, you can add a level of formality and sophistication. Experiment with these techniques and gradually expand your vocabulary of nominalised nouns to further enhance your writing skills.