Prepare for the ASVAB Skilled Technical Test. Practice with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which suffix means the agent or doer, as in a person who practices or performs an activity?

The agent or doer, a person who practices or performs an activity, is indicated by the suffix -ist. When attached to a base, -ist turns it into the term for a person in that field or who engages in that activity: artist, pianist, chemist, dentist, scientist. This usage flags occupation or specialization, focusing on the person doing the activity. The other suffixes shift meaning in different ways: -ish tends to form adjectives meaning somewhat like or related to; -ation creates nouns that name actions or processes; -ity forms abstract nouns that express a quality or state. So -ist best captures the idea of a person who practices or performs.

The agent or doer, a person who practices or performs an activity, is indicated by the suffix -ist. When attached to a base, -ist turns it into the term for a person in that field or who engages in that activity: artist, pianist, chemist, dentist, scientist. This usage flags occupation or specialization, focusing on the person doing the activity. The other suffixes shift meaning in different ways: -ish tends to form adjectives meaning somewhat like or related to; -ation creates nouns that name actions or processes; -ity forms abstract nouns that express a quality or state. So -ist best captures the idea of a person who practices or performs.