31 July 2008 - Written by Lyle

A suffix is a group of letters that is attached to the end of a word to alter the meaning. Let’s look at suffixes that change verbs into nouns. There are five main suffixes which are used to change an action into a person who performs the action. Here they are…

-ee

a person to whom something is done. Eg: train – trainee / pay – payee / escape - escapee.

-er

a person who does something. (usually physical). Eg: work – worker / wrestle – wrestler / write - writer

-ian

a person who does something as a job or hobby. Eg: music – musician / electric – electrician / vet - veterinarian

-ist

a person who believes in something, or does something. Eg: nude – nudist / Buddha - Buddhist / baptise - baptist

Or Eg: piano – pianist / violin - violinist / cycle - cyclist

-or

a person who does something (often as a job). Eg: act – actor / sail – sailor / direct - director

Try to choose the correct suffix for the following people.

1. A person who paints. Paint___.

2. A person who conducts. Conduct___.

3. A person who believes in capitalism. Capital___.

4. A person who works in science. Scient___.

5. A person who is employed. Employ___.

6. A person who translates. Translat___.

7. A person who builds. Build___.

8. A person who works in comedy. Comed___.

9. A person who works in politics. Politic___.

10. A person who believes in conformity. Conform___.