Abstract: Transformation from verbs to nouns in modern Chinese is a hot issue in the study of Chinese grammar.On the basis of the categorization theory in cognitive grammar, this paper proposes that referring is the basis and starting point of transformation from verbs to nouns and that referring is a continuing process, so the reference of verbs has level differences.This paper divides the referential meaning of verbs into four layers: concept，concrete event，classevent and reification reference.These referential meanings correspond to different stages of transformation from verbs to nouns.