3. Earth: Verb and Nominalisation Sentence Pairs

Nominalisation Sentences

For each pair:

  • Read the verb sentence.

  • Rewrite it using a nominalisation.

  1. spread β†’ spreading

    Verb: New crust spreads away from the mid-ocean ridge.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  2. erupt β†’ eruption

    Verb: The volcano erupts, releasing lava and ash.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  3. collide β†’ collision

    Verb: Two continental plates collide, forming mountains.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  4. diverge β†’ divergence

    Verb: Plates diverge at mid-ocean ridges.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  5. converge β†’ convergence

    Verb: Plates converge, causing earthquakes and volcanoes.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  6. transform β†’ transformation

    Verb: Tectonic forces transform Earth’s surface over time.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  7. form β†’ formation

    Verb: Mountains form when plates push together.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  8. interact β†’ interaction

    Verb: Plates interact at their boundaries.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  9. create β†’ creation

    Verb: Magma creates new oceanic crust.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  10. destroy β†’ destruction

    Verb: Subduction destroys oceanic crust.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  11. detect β†’ detection

    Verb: Seismometers detect ground movement.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  12. reduce β†’ reduction

    Verb: Strong building design reduces earthquake damage.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  13. predict β†’ prediction

    Verb: Scientists struggle to predict earthquakes accurately.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  14. evacuate β†’ evacuation

    Verb: Authorities evacuate coastal communities before tsunamis.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  15. subduct β†’ subduction

    Verb: One tectonic plate subducts beneath another.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  16. erode β†’ erosion

    Verb: Water erodes weakened rock.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  17. compress β†’ compression

    Verb: Plates compress the crust at convergent boundaries.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  18. extend β†’ extension

    Verb: The crust extends at divergent boundaries.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  19. fracture β†’ fracturing

    Verb: Stress fractures the crust.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  20. slip β†’ slippage

    Verb: Plates suddenly slip along faults.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  21. melt β†’ melting

    Verb: Rock melts beneath Earth’s crust.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  22. cool β†’ cooling

    Verb: Lava cools after an eruption.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  23. harden β†’ hardening

    Verb: Lava hardens as it cools.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  24. sink β†’ sinking

    Verb: Dense crust sinks into the mantle.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________

  25. weaken β†’ weakening

    Verb: Heat weakens the crust.
    Nominalisation:: ________________________________________________________
Reveal Answer Key

Each answer rewrites the sentence using a nominalisation while keeping the scientific meaning the same.

  1. spread β†’ spreading

    New crust spreads away from the mid-ocean ridge.
    β†’ The spreading of new crust occurs away from the mid-ocean ridge.

  2. erupt β†’ eruption

    The volcano erupts, releasing lava and ash.
    β†’ The eruption of the volcano releases lava and ash.

  3. collide β†’ collision

    Two continental plates collide, forming mountains.
    β†’ The collision of two continental plates forms mountains.

  4. diverge β†’ divergence

    Plates diverge at mid-ocean ridges.
    β†’ The divergence of plates occurs at mid-ocean ridges.

  5. converge β†’ convergence

    Plates converge, causing earthquakes and volcanoes.
    β†’ The convergence of plates causes earthquakes and volcanoes.

  6. transform β†’ transformation

    Tectonic forces transform Earth’s surface over time.
    β†’ The transformation of Earth’s surface occurs over time .

  7. form β†’ formation

    Mountains form when plates push together.
    β†’ The formation of mountains occurs when plates push together.

  8. interact β†’ interaction

    Plates interact at their boundaries.
    β†’ The interaction between plates occurs at their boundaries.

  9. create β†’ creation

    Magma creates new oceanic crust.
    β†’ The creation of new oceanic crust occurs from magma.

  10. destroy β†’ destruction

    Subduction destroys oceanic crust.
    β†’ The destruction of oceanic crust occurs through subduction.

  11. detect β†’ detection

    Seismometers detect ground movement.
    β†’ The detection of ground movement is carried out by seismometers.

  12. reduce β†’ reduction

    Strong building design reduces earthquake damage.
    β†’ The reduction of earthquake damage occurs through strong building design.

  13. predict β†’ prediction

    Scientists struggle to predict earthquakes accurately.
    β†’ The accurate prediction of earthquakes is difficult for scientists.

  14. evacuate β†’ evacuation

    Authorities evacuate coastal communities before tsunamis.
    β†’ The evacuation of coastal communities occurs before tsunamis.

  15. subduct β†’ subduction

    One tectonic plate subducts beneath another.
    β†’ The subduction of one tectonic plate occurs beneath another.

  16. erode β†’ erosion

    Water erodes weakened rock.
    β†’ The erosion of weakened rock is caused by water.

  17. compress β†’ compression

    Plates compress the crust at convergent boundaries.
    β†’ The compression of the crust occurs at convergent boundaries.

  18. extend β†’ extension

    The crust extends at divergent boundaries.
    β†’ The extension of the crust occurs at divergent boundaries.

  19. fracture β†’ fracturing

    Stress fractures the crust.
    β†’ The fracturing of the crust is caused by stress.

  20. slip β†’ slippage

    Plates suddenly slip along faults.
    β†’ The sudden slippage of plates occurs along faults.

  21. melt β†’ melting

    Rock melts beneath Earth’s crust.
    β†’ The melting of rock occurs beneath Earth’s crust.

  22. cool β†’ cooling

    Lava cools after an eruption.
    β†’ The cooling of lava occurs after an eruption.

  23. harden β†’ hardening

    Lava hardens as it cools.
    β†’ The hardening of lava occurs as it cools.

  24. sink β†’ sinking

    Dense crust sinks into the mantle.
    β†’ The sinking of dense crust occurs into the mantle.

  25. weaken β†’ weakening

    Heat weakens the crust.
    β†’ The weakening of the crust is caused by heat.