Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 June 2015
Let   $M$  be a connected
 $M$  be a connected   $1$ -manifold, and let
 $1$ -manifold, and let   $G$  be a finitely-generated nilpotent group of homeomorphisms of
 $G$  be a finitely-generated nilpotent group of homeomorphisms of   $M$ . Our main result is that one can find a collection
 $M$ . Our main result is that one can find a collection   $\{I_{i,j},M_{i,j}\}$  of open disjoint intervals with dense union in
 $\{I_{i,j},M_{i,j}\}$  of open disjoint intervals with dense union in   $M$ , such that the intervals are permuted by the action of
 $M$ , such that the intervals are permuted by the action of   $G$ , and the restriction of the action to any
 $G$ , and the restriction of the action to any   $I_{i,j}$  is trivial, while the restriction of the action to any
 $I_{i,j}$  is trivial, while the restriction of the action to any   $M_{i,j}$  is minimal and abelian.It is a classical result that if
 $M_{i,j}$  is minimal and abelian.It is a classical result that if   $G$  is a finitely-generated, torsion-free nilpotent group, then there exist faithful continuous actions of
 $G$  is a finitely-generated, torsion-free nilpotent group, then there exist faithful continuous actions of   $G$  on
 $G$  on   $M$ . Farb and Franks [Groups of homeomorphisms of one-manifolds, III: Nilpotent subgroups. Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys.23 (2003), 1467–1484] showed that for such
 $M$ . Farb and Franks [Groups of homeomorphisms of one-manifolds, III: Nilpotent subgroups. Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys.23 (2003), 1467–1484] showed that for such   $G$ , there always exists a faithful
 $G$ , there always exists a faithful   $C^{1}$  action on
 $C^{1}$  action on   $M$ . As an application of our main result, we show that every continuous action of
 $M$ . As an application of our main result, we show that every continuous action of   $G$  on
 $G$  on   $M$  can be conjugated to a
 $M$  can be conjugated to a   $C^{1+\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}}$  action for any
 $C^{1+\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}}$  action for any   $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}<1/d(G)$ , where
 $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FC}<1/d(G)$ , where   $d(G)$  is the degree of polynomial growth of
 $d(G)$  is the degree of polynomial growth of   $G$ .
 $G$ .
 $C^{1}$
                  
                actions on the interval arising from hyperbolicity I: Solvable groups. Preprint, 2013, http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.5277.Google Scholar
                     $C^{1}$
                  
                actions on the interval arising from hyperbolicity I: Solvable groups. Preprint, 2013, http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.5277.Google Scholar $C^{1}$
                  
               . Compos. Math. to appear. Preprint, 2012, http://arxiv.org/abs/1208.4815.Google Scholar
                     $C^{1}$
                  
               . Compos. Math. to appear. Preprint, 2012, http://arxiv.org/abs/1208.4815.Google Scholar