This page aims to give you practice in using nouns formed by suffixes.
A suffix is a verbal element placed at the
end of a word to change its word class and meaning. Common noun suffixes
include:-er, -ism, -ist, -ee, and -(t)ion.
Suffix
Meaning
Examples
-er
Changes an activity to the person who performs the
activity. For example, if we add –er to work,
we form worker. Sometimes we use –or for the same purpose.
director, operator, monitor
-ism
Signifies an activity,
ideology or belief.
journalism, communism
-ist
Signifies a person’s
activity, occupation, politics or beliefs.
terrorist, biologist, anarchist, Buddhist
-ee
Indicates the person
who receives an action.
employee, supervisee, payee
-(t)ion
Used to make nouns
from verbs. For example, the verb communicate can be
changed to the noun communication.
