MTEL Communication Literacy Skills : Reading Practice Test

What does the noun suffix -er (or) generally represent?

1. State, result

2. Position

3. Office, action

4. Quality, state

The correct answer is: Office, action

The suffix -er (or) typically denotes someone who performs a specific action or holds a particular role related to a verb or noun. This aspect of the suffix is often evidenced in words like "teacher," meaning someone who teaches, and "runner," indicating someone who runs. By implying a relationship to an action or duty, the suffix accurately emphasizes the role or activity associated with the noun. In this context, the other options do not align with the primary function of the suffix. For instance, the notion of "state, result" or "quality, state" typically relates to different types of noun formations that describe characteristics or conditions, rather than focusing specifically on an actor or a doer. Likewise, “position” is a broader term that does not encapsulate the specific action-oriented aspect that -er (or) conveys. Therefore, the correct answer emphasizes the link between the suffix and the actions or roles that can be derived from verbs or related activities.