Start with the intended meaning
Use the word’s role, not merely a preceding short word, as the spelling test. Compare a named activity with a verbal infinitive; a separate lexical noun may have another meaning or plural.
Nominalized infinitives are neuter nouns
| Construction | Example | Diagnostic |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Das sorgfältige Prüfen braucht Zeit. | Article + adjective + capitalized infinitive. |
| After a preposition | Beim Prüfen notiert Nuri die Fehler. | beim = bei dem |
| Genitive | die Dauer des Prüfens | Neuter genitive des + -s. |
| Still a verb | Nuri beginnt, die Geräte zu prüfen. | zu-infinitive stays lowercase. |
The nominalized infinitive names the activity as a concept. It is normally singular in this use: das Lernen, das Warten. A lexical noun can have a different meaning or plural, such as die Prüfung, die Prüfungen. Do not assume that the infinitive noun and every related lexical noun are interchangeable. A preceding article is a strong clue, but context decides: an article may instead belong to another following noun.
Distinguish a noun from an omitted noun
Some fixed expressions and ambiguous infinitives permit more than one spelling under the official rules. The examples here deliberately use clear noun and verb contexts. For lexical nouns, learn the actual word: entscheiden → die Entscheidung, ankommen → die Ankunft. Adding -ung to any verb is not a productive rule without limits.
Apply the pattern in another context
Das gemeinsame Kochen macht uns Spaß.
Kochen names an activity as a neuter noun. The adjective takes -e after das.
Wir versuchen, gemeinsam zu kochen.
Kochen remains a verbal infinitive and stays lowercase.
Choose the form and explain the meaning
1. Write the activity as a noun: “das regelmäßig___ lernen”.
das regelmäßige Lernen. Capitalize the infinitive; das takes adjective -e.
2. Complete: “die Vorteile des Lern___”.
des Lernens. The nominalized infinitive is neuter and takes genitive -s.
Additional check 1. Choose the capital: Beim lernen / Lernen mache ich Notizen.
Beim Lernen mache ich Notizen. Beim is bei dem; Lernen names the activity as a noun.
Additional check 2. Complete the genitive: während des gemeinsam___ Wart___.
Während des gemeinsamen Wartens. The adjective takes -en after des; the nominalized infinitive takes genitive -s.
Start with the topic overview
German nominalization: noun forms, endings and nominal versus verbal style · Find another grammar topic
Questions about this topic
Can I add -ung to every verb?
No. Learn the actual lexical noun. The nominalized infinitive is a different pattern and may have a different meaning from a related noun.
Sources and further learning
- Rat für deutsche Rechtschreibung via IDS: Substantivierungen (§§ 57–58)
- IDS grammis: Nominalisierung
- Deutsche Grammatik 2.0: Übersicht Nominalisierung/Verbalisierung
- Goethe-Institut: Deutsch Online C1, Kapitel 14 grammar review
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