Abstract: Conversion refers to changing words of a part of speech into words of another part of speech without any change of word forms, thus endowing the original words with fresh meanings and functions. In this thesis, denominal verbs generated by conversion are my research focus, with their conversion mechanisms termed as the N-V shift which extends word meanings. Denominal verbs enjoy so many material examples, though with its own confines. In this essay, I expound the classification, characteristics, grammatical functions, rhetoric effect and practical meanings of denominal verbs, where my great interest lies. 

Key words: conversion; denominal verbs; classification; characteristic; grammatical function; rhetoric effect

中文摘要：词类转化是英语中一种较为活跃的构词法，即一个词在不加任何词缀的情况下，从一种词类演变成另一种词类，所以，转化法又称zero derivation. 词类转化可以为原生名词增加新的含义及语法功能。 本文主要研究由名词所转化而成的动词, 以及伴随名词动用而派生出来的词意。 名词动用有许多实例,但也有其规范. 本文将根据我的兴趣对名词动用这一语言现象作出分类, 分析其特征, 语法功能,及修辞效果。

关键词：词性转换; 名词动用; 分类; 特征; 语法功能; 修辞效果