Here's a list (generated from an aspell file) of all the reasonably
common verbs ending in -tion. All were ultimately derived from nouns,
although for some of them (e.g., apportion) the conversion took place
before the word was borrowed.

It's not a large list, but it does show that the -tion = N rule is too tidy.

apportion
auction
audition
caption
caution
condition
function
malfunction
mention
motion
partition
petition
portion
position
precondition
proportion
proposition
question
ration
reapportion
recondition
reposition
requisition
sanction
section
station
vacation


rbetting wrote:
> Herb,
> 
> Comments on noun functions. Does calling nouns used this way adjective make
> sense to students? Our linguistic system likes to be able to manipulate form
> words into other parts of speech, nouns to verbs and so on. One choice that
> appears to be handy is our use of nouns as modifiers, as in "the stocking
> committee planning chart" or "a fan belt compression fitting design plan."
> So we might hear of a "site plan coordination effort currently underway." I
> just read about the " 2007 Devils Lake operation summary report document."
> How's this: "The linear realignment task force control system planning
> session." That could apply to grammar study.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "STAHLKE, HERBERT F" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2008 9:33 AM
> Subject: Re: tion & nouns
> 
> 
> Linda,
> 
> You're right that nouns can modify nouns and therefore function as
> adjectives.  And function is a nice instance of a verb in -tion.
> English borrowed "function" from French as a noun in the late 16th c.
> It's verb use doesn't appear until 1856.
> 
> And your cynicism is well founded.
> 
> Herb
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Linda Comerford
> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 11:50 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: tion & nouns
> 
> Can't words ending in -tion (or -ion) also function as adjectives like
> an
> election poll (or like a verb as used in this sentence:  function)? I'm
> all
> for simplifying as much as possible for my students, but I've learned to
> be
> cynical about using the words "all" or "none" regarding grammar.
> 
> Linda
> 
> 
> 
> Linda Comerford
> 317.786.6404
> [log in to unmask]
> www.comerfordconsulting.com
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jan Kammert
> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 12:36 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: tion & nouns
> 
> 
> I teach middle school.  One of the teachers in my district (not my
> building)
> said that all words that end in -tion are nouns.  I never heard that
> before,
> but I thought of all the words I could that end in -tion.  I think he
> might
> be right.
> 
> Then I thought maybe all words that end in just -ion are nouns.  Am I
> right?
> Maybe this information will help my students, but I don't want to tell
> them
> something wrong.
> 
> If all words that end is -ion are nouns, can someone tell me why?  Is
> there
> some history about those words?
> Thanks!
> Jan
> 
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