Learn French: La diminution de la pollution est notre objectif principal. - The decrease in pollution is our main objective.

It takes the idea of a verbal clause—like La pollution diminue (Pollution decreases)—and turns it into the noun phrase La diminution de la pollution. The verb diminuer becomes the core noun la diminution, and the original subject (la pollution) becomes a complement connected by the preposition de.

Is there a predictable pattern for turning verbs like diminuer into nouns?

Yes, many French verbs can be transformed into nouns by adding the suffix -tion (or -ation) to the stem. Nouns ending in -tion are almost always feminine. Here, diminuer becomes la diminution, and you can see the exact same pattern with polluer becoming la pollution.

Why is it de la pollution and not just de pollution?

When connecting nouns during nominalization, you generally keep the article of the noun being connected. Since French requires definite articles for general or abstract concepts (la pollution), you must use both the preposition de and the article la, resulting in de la pollution.

Could we place the adjective before the noun and say notre principal objectif?