Agent Suffix Sort

Agent suffixes

Agent suffixes are added to verbs to create agent nouns. Agent nouns are the person or thing "doing" the verb.

Hover over each suffix to see examples. Click on each link to learn more.

<-ist>

<-er>

<i> + <-an>

Other

<-or>

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Drag each word to the correct agent suffix. Then write and complete the word sum. (Note any changes!)

fact

work

drive

act

read

teach

collect

bat

dictate

bank

conduct

create

<-or>

<-er>

actor; conductor; creator; factor; collector; dictator

banker; reader; teacher; worker; batter; driver

Solution

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Drag each partial word sum to the correct agent suffix. Then write and complete the word sum. (Note any changes!)

history

veget + ary

bi + o + loge

flor

chem

sci + ent

techn + ic

tour

act + ive

libr + ary

music

custody

<-ist>

<i> + <-an>

scientist; florist; chemist; tourist; biologist; activist

librarian; musician; custodian; historian; technician; vegetarian

Solution

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Agent suffix <-ist>

Words that take the agent suffix <ist> will often have a counterpart in words with the suffix <-ism>: journalist/journalism socialist /socialism This suffix also shows up a lot in musical professions (violinst, pianist) and scientific professions (botanist, psychologist)

Agent suffix <-er>

This is the most frequent agent suffix in English. It is still productive today.

Agent suffix <i> + <an>

Watch your suffixing conventions when using this suffix. Sometimes the connecting vowel letter <i> isn't needed, as in republican. Sometimes the <i> was a <y> in the base or stem, as in comedian. Sometimes, the base is contracted as in American or Mexican.

Latinate suffix <-or>

This suffix is typically found on words or bases of Latin origin. However, just because a base is from Latin does not mean it requires the suffix <-or>. Sometimes if you can add a suffix <-ion> to the base, you can also add agent suffix <-or>, as in actor/action or professor/profession. However, this is not always the case, doctor/*doction. Another rule of thumb says if you can add the suffix <-ate>, it will also take an agent suffix <-or>, as in alternate/alternator.