er suffix

Meanings

1. 1suffix

   Added to a verb to make a noun for a person or thing that does the action.

   Grammar: The new noun is usually countable: a teacher, a cooker. Sometimes the spelling of the verb changes (run → runner, write → writer).

   Patterns

   • verb + er
   • a/an + verb + er

   A person who teaches is a teacher.

   This machine is a blender; it blends fruit into a smooth drink.

   She is a careful driver and never speeds.

2. 2suffix

   Added to a place or a group to make a noun for someone who lives there or belongs to it.

   Grammar: The noun is countable: a Londoner, a villager. It often ends in -er after a place name or a group word.

   Patterns

   • place + er
   • group + er

   My friend is a Londoner; she was born in the city.

   The villagers all came out to watch the parade.

   He is a New Yorker who works in a bank.

3. 3suffix

   Added to short adjectives and adverbs to make the comparative form, meaning 'more'.

   Grammar: Use -er for one-syllable adjectives and some two-syllable ones; longer adjectives take 'more' instead (more beautiful, not beautifuller).

   Patterns

   • adjective + er
   • adverb + er

   This box is heavier than that one.

   She runs faster than her brother.

   The weather is getting colder as winter comes.

Common combinations

a person who + verb + s

A person who paints is a painter.

one-syllable adjective + er

Tall becomes taller in the comparative.

place name + er

A person from London is a Londoner.

Word family

-or suffix

A related suffix that also makes person or thing nouns, often from Latin verbs: actor, elevator.

-ist suffix

Another suffix for people, often showing a job or belief: artist, scientist.

Commonly confused: er suffix or -est?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “er suffix”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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