English For Music Students

 - ian

Noun Agent Noun

music musician

technique technician

 - er

Noun Agent Noun

song songster

rhyme rhymester

choir chorister

engine engineer

programme programmer

drum drummer

trumpet trumpeter

Note: the base forms of the last three words (programmer, drummer, and
trumpeter) are both nouns and verbs. So, it can be said that the suffix ‘er' is
actually added to the verbs (drum, trumpet,...) to make agent nouns. More
about the agent nouns derived from verbs in the next unit.

a. Form agent nouns for the following list of words. Make the
necessary spelling changes. Then write a definition for the resulting
agent noun.

1. bass ____

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2. music ____

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3. timpani ____

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4. choir ____

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