In formal writing, news reports, and discussions about city planning, French often turns verb phrases into noun phrases. This technique is called nominalization. Instead of saying "they are building a bridge," you say "the construction of a bridge."
Linking with "De"
When you turn a verb into a noun, its direct object must connect to the new noun using the preposition de (of). Remember that de combines with definite articles to form contractions: de + le = du and de + les = des.
| The construction of the new bridge is going to start tomorrow. | La construction du nouveau pont va commencer demain. |
| They want to avoid the demolition of the castle. | Ils veulent éviter la démolition du château. |
The Suffix "-tion"
Many verbs become nouns by adding the suffix -tion. Nouns ending in -tion are almost always feminine.
| The creation of a new neighborhood is going to attract a lot of people. | La création d'un nouveau quartier va attirer beaucoup de gens. |
| It's the modernization of the electrical network that is very important. | C'est la modernisation du réseau électrique qui est très importante. |
The Suffix "-ment"
Another very common suffix for transforming verbs into nouns is -ment. Unlike -tion, nouns ending in -ment are masculine.
| The development of the square is going to reduce traffic. | L'aménagement de la place va diminuer la circulation. |
| The development of the city is so fast that I get lost there. | Le développement de la ville est tellement rapide que je m'y perds. |
Building Complex Sentences
Because these are standard noun phrases, they can do anything a noun can do. You can use them as the subject of the sentence to perform an action, or as the direct object of another verb.
| The extension of the subway line is going to help the passengers. | L'extension de la ligne de métro va aider les passagers. |
| The government is having the extension of the highway financed. | Le gouvernement fait financer l'extension de l'autoroute. |
By stringing these noun phrases together, you can describe complex events, causes, and effects in a very concise and professional way.
| Urban development and the renovation of the city center cause the destruction of the forest. | Le développement urbain et la rénovation du centre-ville provoquent la destruction de la forêt. |
