French nominalisation: rewrite the sentence and keep the facts

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Turn French actions into nouns while preserving the actor, time, possibility and negative meaning. Work through a proposal, then test three rewrites.

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In short

A faithful nominalisation changes an action into a noun while keeping who acted, what was affected, when it happened and how certain it is. Compare the whole sentence: une proposition de report is still a proposal; le report a été décidé announces a decision.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A woman suggesting a change to a planned visit while speaking with a small group at a French café table, no phones screens or schedules.
Une proposition de report still awaits a reply. Illustration: Atelier

Start with the facts in two sentences

Nora a proposé hier de reporter la visite. Le groupe n’a pas encore répondu.

Yesterday, Nora suggested postponing the visit. The group has not replied yet.

Keep these four details
DetailWhat the original says
ActorNora made the proposal.
TimeThe proposal was made yesterday.
StatusPostponement was proposed.
ReplyThe group’s response is still pending.

La proposition de report de la visite, faite hier par Nora, n’a pas encore reçu de réponse du groupe.

The proposal to postpone the visit, made yesterday by Nora, has not yet received a response from the group.

Faite agrees with feminine proposition. Par Nora names the proposer; du groupe identifies the reply still awaited.

This version puts the proposal at the start, ready for a paragraph about its status. For a quick message, the two original sentences are easier to scan. Both versions keep the same facts.

Read the complements as roles

Who does what?
French noun phraseActorAffected thing
la vérification des comptes par LinaLinales comptes
la modification du calendrier par le comitéle comitéle calendrier
la proposition de NoraNora, the proposerthe proposal’s content needs its own wording

The noun vérification names a process; des comptes names what is checked; par Lina names who checks it. De can also introduce an actor, as in la proposition de Nora. Read the meaning of the full noun phrase rather than assigning the same role to every de.

How do you nominalise without changing the meaning?

A noun can keep the original qualification
OriginalFaithful versionDetail retained
Le comité pourrait reporter la visite.Un report de la visite par le comité est possible.A possibility.
La visite sera peut-être reportée.Le report de la visite est possible.An uncertain future outcome.
Nora n’a pas encore répondu.La réponse de Nora est encore attendue.The reply remains pending.

Nora a répondu, mais pas rapidement.

Nora replied, but not quickly.

L’absence de réponse de Nora would lose the fact that she did reply. Keep the clause or write Nora a répondu avec lenteur.

Test one revision

Compare the two versions

A self-review aid, not a grade. Ticks are not saved.

Question 1No account needed
The original reports only a proposal made yesterday. Which rewrite keeps that status and time?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

La proposition de report a été faite hier par Nora.. La proposition stays a proposal. The other versions turn it into a decision or an actual postponement.

Question 2No account needed
Complete the noun phrase for Lina a vérifié les comptes.la vérification des comptes ___ Lina

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

par. Par Lina names the agent of the verification; des comptes names what she checked.

Question 3No account needed
The committee might postpone the visit. Choose a faithful version.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Un report de la visite par le comité est possible.. Est possible preserves the possibility expressed by pourrait. Confirmation or a decision would be stronger.

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