Nominalization and Verb Tense Usage in Text Structure

Information Condensation Techniques

Nominalization Explained

Nominalization is a process that transforms a sentence's information into a noun or a nominal phrase. Nominalization can express more meaning within less space and using fewer words.

Linguistic Transformations: Nominalization Example

Nominalization involves a series of linguistic transformations. The statement «Laura and Michael met by chance. Thus, they felt very happy.» explains a situation. But it is not the only way to say it. If we say: «The chance meeting of Laura and Michael brought happiness.», we convey the same information but more concisely. We used two nominalizations. This has allowed us to condense two sentences or propositions into one. In short, the verb structure itself becomes a nominal phrase.

Understanding Verb Tenses in Text

Absolute vs. Relative Verb Tenses

The use of tenses is important as a cohesive element, grouped with mechanisms of reference, as it points to whether the action or situation is prior, simultaneous, or subsequent to the time of speaking. Thus, the present tense, simple past (periphrastic), past perfect, and future tense are called absolute or deictic tenses. Their function is to indicate whether the situation is prior, simultaneous, or subsequent to the time of speaking.

There are also tenses called relative or anaphoric tenses. These refer to a time point different from the actual moment the sentence is uttered. The simple conditional tense, for example, represents a future relative to a past time of speaking; the imperfect tense expresses simultaneity with a past action, and the pluperfect expresses precedence relative to a past action.

Verb Tenses and Text Structures

Expository text structures often use this axis, employing absolute or deictic tenses, which indicate a relationship between the event and the moment of speaking. In contrast, narrative structures tend to use the other axis, employing relative or anaphoric tenses, which relate events to a reference point other than the moment of speaking. Descriptive text structures often align with absolute tenses. Argumentative structures use a combination of deictic and anaphoric tenses, drawing on expository, descriptive, or narrative features to reach conclusions.