Adjectives and verbs as nouns in German

In German it is possible to form nouns out of adjectives or verbs: these are the substantivized adjectives or verbs. To form these words, you simply change the first letter into a capital letter and you add a definite and indefinite article. 

What is a substantivized adjective in German?

Substantivized adjectives are nouns formed from adjectives, without their prefix or suffix. All German adjectives can be used as nouns.

This table shows some examples:

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Robert R.

Gian Francesco D.

Amal E.

Melanie A.

Luisa H.

Miwa S.

Justin E.

Ilaria M.

Miriam C.

Chiara B.

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Gender of substantivized adjectives

Substantivized adjectives can be masculine or feminine. In this case, they designate animate beings.

Examples:

Neuter substantivized adjectives refer to qualities or certain abstract concepts.

Examples:

Declension table of substantivized adjectives

Although substantivized adjectives are nouns, they are declined as adjectives. You can also have look in the topic of the declension of adjectives.

Translation: alt - old  der Alte - the old

Usage of substantivized adjectives with etwas, nichts, wenig and viel

Neuter substantivized adjectives can be used with the words etwas, nichts, wenig, and viel. However, they remain nouns and are therefore capitalized. In this case, the noun is used in the nominative case singular and ends with -s or -es.

Examples: 

What is a substantivized verb in German?

Like substantivized adjectives, substantivized verbs are formed from a verb (infinitive or past/present participle) without any prefix or suffix.

Substantivized infinitive

The substantivized infinitive is formed from the infinitive of a verb. They take a capital letter. The substantivized infinitive describes an action, the act of doing something.

Substantivized infinitves are always neuter.

It is common to use these substantivized infinitives without any articles. Here are some examples.

• Radfahren macht Spaß. - Riding a bike is fun. 
• Telefonieren ist teuer. - Phoning is expensive.
• Wandern ist gesund. - Hiking is healthy.

Table of declension of substantivized infinitives 

The substantivized infinitives are declined as regular neuter nouns. They take the -s only in Genitive singular and they remain unchanged in the other cases. Normally is only used in the singular. Here you can find the declension table of das Laufen (laufen) - the walking (walking).

Substantivized infinitives with bei, zu and von

Substantivized infinitives are often used in combination with bei, zu and von. Be careful: This prepositions are changing, if they are used with an article. Substantivized infinitives are similar to the English gerund with -ing or a simple infinitive. Here are some examples:

Substantivized present participle 

You can form a noun out of the present participle of a verb. Have also a look into the topic of the present participle of verbs.

Remember: to form a present participle in German, you need to add an -end or -nd to the radical of the verb.

In this table you can find some examples.

Declension of substantivized present participle

The nouns of present participle are declined as adjectives. You can find the declension of der Reisender - traveller in this table below.

Substantivized past participle

You can also form a noun out of the past participle of a verb. Have a look into the topic of the present participle of verbs. In this table you can find some examples.

Declension of substantivized past participle

As for the present participle, also the substantivized past participle are declined as adjectives. You can find the declension of das Gekaufte - the bought thing in this table below.