What is nominalization in Vietnamese?

Nominalization is the process of turning verbs or adjectives into nouns using words like sự , việc , or chuyện , allowing abstract ideas or actions to be expressed as nouns.

When should I use “sự” instead of “việc” or “chuyện”?

Use sự for formal, abstract nouns (e.g. sự thành công – success), while việc refers more to actions or tasks ( việc học – the act of studying), and chuyện is used for events or stories, often informal.

Can I use “sự” before any verb?

Not all verbs can be nominalized with sự . It typically applies to Sino-Vietnamese words and more formal verbs. Native speakers may not use it with purely native or colloquial words.

Is there a difference between “việc học” and “sự học”?

Yes. Việc học emphasizes the activity of studying, while sự học is more abstract and formal, referring to the concept or process of education in a broader sense.

Is nominalization common in spoken Vietnamese?

Việc and chuyện are quite common in everyday speech, while sự appears more frequently in written or formal contexts like news, reports, or academic texts.

Can I study in Vietnam with LTL?

Yes, you can! You can study with us in Saigon or Hanoi, in both group or individual classes. You’ll even have the opportunity to live with a Vietnamese family, thanks to our homestays .

B1

Grammar Point	Pattern	Example
Nominalization in Vietnamese	Sự + Verb/Adjective → Noun	Sự thành công
Passive voice in Vietnamese	Subject + được + Verb + bởi + someone/something	Tôi được dắt đi bơi bởi ba tôi
Quoting someone in Vietnamese	Subject + quoting words + rằng + “speech"	Anh ấy nói rằng: “Anh yêu em"
Expressing hearsay in Vietnamese	Subject + nghe nói là + clause	Nghe nói là công ty sẽ đóng cửa.
Expressing degree in Vietnamese	Hơi + Adjective	Món canh hơi mặn
How to say "only" in Vietnamese	Subject + chỉ + verb/adjective	Em chỉ ngủ khi trời sáng
How to say "instead" in Vietnamese	Thay vì + clause A, clause B (alternative option)	Thay vì chị chia tay anh ấy, chị nên lắng nghe anh ấy giải thích
How to say "even though" in Vietnamese	Mặc dù + Clause 1, nhưng + Clause 2	Mặc dù trời mưa, nhưng tôi vẫn đi ra ngoài
How to say "for now" in Vietnamese	Tạm thời, Subject + Verb	Tạm thời, tôi sẽ ở lại đây
Expressing "seem to be" in Vietnamese	Hình như + Subject + Verb/Adjective	Hình như anh ấy đang buồn.
Include & exclude in Vietnamese	Subject + bao gồm + Nouns/Items	Bữa ăn bao gồm nước uống.
Certainty & uncertainty in Vietnamese	Subject + chắc chắn + clause/verb/adjective	Tôi chắc chắn anh ấy sẽ đến.