Nominalisierung von Sätzen (Nominalstil)

Nominalization means expressing an idea with a noun phrase instead of a clause. In formal German, this makes the text denser and more objective.

Nominal style turns clauses into noun phrases, which is typical in formal writing, reports, and academic texts. The key is to keep the meaning but change the grammatical form: cause becomes wegen or aufgrund + Genitiv, contrast becomes trotz + Genitiv, and time relations often become nach, vor, or während plus a noun phrase. Purpose can appear as zum / zur + noun, and manner or means can appear with durch + noun. The subject of the original clause often becomes a Genitiv attribute or a von-phrase, for example die Modernisierung der Stadt instead of a whole verbal clause.

Common nominal-style replacements

• Wegen den Stau komme ich zu spät.

  Wegen des Staus komme ich zu spät.

  Use wegen + Genitiv in nominal style. Wegen dem Stau is common in speech, but in careful written German the Genitiv is the standard.

• Trotz dass die Prüfung ist, geht er ins Kino.

  Trotz der Prüfung geht er ins Kino.

  Trotz replaces an obwohl-clause and needs a noun phrase, usually in the Genitiv. A full clause after trotz is not the nominal style this point teaches.

• Nachdem das Essen, gehen wir spazieren.

  Nach dem Essen gehen wir spazieren.

  For time relations in nominal style, use a preposition plus noun phrase, not a new subordinating clause like nachdem here. The form must fit the noun phrase structure.

• Er lernt Deutsch, zur in Deutschland arbeiten.

  Er lernt Deutsch, zum Arbeiten in Deutschland.

  With um … zu, the infinitive expresses purpose in verbal style. In nominal style, this can become zum Arbeiten in Deutschland or a similar noun phrase, depending on the context.

• In formal writing, nominal style is common in news, reports, instructions, and academic texts. It often sounds less direct than everyday spoken German.
• Not every weil-clause can be replaced neatly. If the sentence becomes heavy or unclear, a verbal clause may still be better.
• Watch the case after the preposition: wegen, trotz and aufgrund usually take Genitiv, while nach, vor and bei take Dativ.
• The subject often turns into a Genitiv attribute or a von-phrase: die Reaktion der Kunden, die Modernisierung der Straßen.