How to use this lesson

"My aunt is a decorator, and she paints the walls of new flats."

We add -er to a verb or a noun for a person who does that work (build → builder). If the word ends in e, we add only r (bake → baker). A short word ending in one vowel plus one consonant doubles that consonant (run → runner), but not w, x, or y (fix → fixer).

💡 Side-by-side tip: Remember to double the last letter for short words like run (runner), but never double x in words like fix (fixer)!

We use -or with some words instead of -er, often words that end in -ate (operate → operator). Also, survey takes -or (survey → surveyor).

💡 Side-by-side tip: There is no single rule for every word, so learn each word with its special ending!

We add -ist to name a person who plays an instrument or works with an art or a science (guitar → guitarist, art → artist). A few words change a little (piano → pianist, science → scientist).

💡 Side-by-side tip: Use -ist for music instruments and experts, not -er!

We use -ian after words that end in -ic to name an expert in it (music → musician, magic → magician).

💡 Side-by-side tip: Notice how words ending in -ic change the ending to add -ian!