2. Rocks: Verbs → Nouns 2

Science explanations often turn actions (verbs) into things (nouns).
This grammatical change is called nominalisation and is commonly used in
scientific writing to describe processes clearly and efficiently.

Your task is to rewrite each short clause by expressing its process as a noun group.

2.1. Example

Verb: Lava cools

Nominalisation: The cooling of lava

Verb: Water evaporates

Nominalisation: The evaporation of water

2.2. Igneous rocks

Igneous processes: nominalisation

Rewrite each short clause so the process it describes is expressed as a noun group. Keep the meaning the same. The first one has been done for you.

Process to Participant
Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Lava cools	The cooling of lava
Magma crystallises
Volcanoes erupt
Rocks weather
Magma solidifies

Reveal Answer Key

Model Answer

Process to Participant
Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Lava cools	The cooling of lava
Magma crystallises	The crystallisation of magma
Volcanoes erupt	The eruption of volcanoes
Rocks weather	The weathering of rocks
Magma solidifies	The solidification of magma

Fill in the Gaps — Nominalisation (Igneous processes)

Complete each scientific sentence by filling in the missing nominalised form.

Lava cools rapidly at the surface.
The ______________ of lava is rapid at the surface.
Magma crystallises as it loses heat.
The ______________ of magma occurs as it loses heat.
Volcanoes erupt when pressure builds up.
The ______________ of volcanoes happens when pressure builds up.
Rocks weather when exposed to wind and rain.
The ______________ of rocks occurs when they are exposed to wind and rain.
Magma solidifies when cooling is slow.
The ______________ of magma occurs when cooling is slow.

2.3. Sedimentary rocks

Sedimentary processes: nominalisation

Rewrite each short clause so the process it describes is expressed as a noun group. Keep the meaning the same.

Process to Participant
Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Water deposits sediments
Sediments compact
Minerals cement particles
Rocks erode
Minerals precipitate from solution

Reveal Answer Key

Model Answer

Process to Participant
Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Water deposits sediments	The deposition of sediments by water
Sediments compact	The compaction of sediments
Minerals cement particles	The cementation of particles by minerals
Rocks erode	The erosion of rocks
Minerals precipitate from solution	The precipitation of minerals from solution

Fill in the Gaps — Nominalisation (Sedimentary processes)

Complete each scientific sentence by filling in the missing nominalised form.

Water deposits sediments in rivers and oceans.
The ______________ of sediments by water occurs in rivers and oceans.
Sediments compact under great pressure.
The ______________ of sediments occurs under great pressure.
Minerals cement particles together during rock formation.
The ______________ of particles by minerals occurs during rock formation.
Rocks erode when exposed to wind and moving water.
The ______________ of rocks happens when they are exposed to wind and moving water.
Minerals precipitate from solution in underground cavities.
The ______________ of minerals from solution occurs in underground cavities.

2.4. Metamorphic rocks

Metamorphic processes: nominalisation

Rewrite each short clause so the process it describes is expressed as a noun group. Keep the meaning the same.

Process to Participant
Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Heat melts rock
Pressure compresses rock
Minerals recrystallise
Rocks deform
Rocks transform

Reveal Answer Key

Model Answer

Process to Participant
Everyday (process)	Scientific (participant)
Heat melts rock	The melting of rock by heat
Pressure compresses rock	The compression of rock by pressure
Minerals recrystallise	The recrystallisation of minerals
Rocks deform	The deformation of rock
Rocks transform	The transformation of rock

Fill in the Gaps — Nominalisation (Metamorphic Processes)

Complete each scientific sentence by filling in the missing nominalised form.

Heat melts rock deep underground.
The ______________ of rock occurs deep underground.
Pressure compresses rock during mountain building.
The ______________ of rock happens during mountain building.
Minerals recrystallise when exposed to heat and pressure.
The ______________ of minerals occurs when they are exposed to heat and pressure.
Rocks deform under intense tectonic forces.
The ______________ of rock takes place under intense tectonic forces.
Rocks transform when conditions change inside the Earth.
The ______________ of rock occurs when conditions change inside the Earth.