Is 'computer' an agent noun?

Yes, it is an instrument agent noun, derived from the verb 'to compute', denoting a thing that performs the action.

What is the difference between an agent noun and a gerund?

An agent noun (e.g., 'driver') denotes the performer of an action. A gerund (e.g., 'driving') is a verbal noun denoting the action itself.

Can agent nouns be formed from adjectives?

Typically no. Canonical agent nouns are derived from verbs. Nouns from adjectives (e.g., 'liberal' -> 'liberalist') are often considered denominals, not pure agent nouns.

Is 'agent noun' a useful term for language learners?

For most learners, no. It is more important to learn the high-frequency agent nouns (worker, manager, writer) and their patterns, rather than the meta-linguistic label.

agent noun

C1/C2 (linguistic terminology)

UK/ˈeɪ.dʒənt naʊn/US/ˈeɪ.dʒənt naʊn/

academic, linguistic, technical, formal

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A noun that denotes a person or thing that performs the action of a verb.

A derivational noun (typically ending in -er, -or, -ar, -ist, -ian, etc.) that identifies the doer of an action, an instrument, or a characteristic entity associated with a verb or base noun.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The term is used in linguistics and grammar to categorize a specific type of derived noun. In everyday language, people use agent nouns (e.g., 'teacher', 'actor') without labeling them as such.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in the technical meaning or usage. The formation of specific agent nouns may show regional preferences (e.g., 'adviser' vs. 'advisor'), but the category label is identical.

Connotations

Purely technical and neutral in both varieties.

Frequency

Equally low frequency in general discourse, confined to academic/linguistic contexts.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

form an agent nountypical agent nounagent noun suffixEnglish agent noun

medium

create an agent nouncommon agent nounexample of an agent nounderived agent noun

weak

simple agent nounpossible agent nounexplain agent nounstudy agent nouns

Grammar

Valency Patterns

The verb 'to teach' yields the agent noun 'teacher'.Agent nouns are derived from verbal bases.One can analyse the suffix '-er' as an agent noun formative.

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

agentive noun

Neutral

actor nounnomina agentis

Weak

doer noun

Vocabulary

Antonyms

patient nountheme nounresult noun

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“N/A”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Virtually never used.

Academic

Standard term in linguistics and grammar textbooks.

Everyday

Extremely rare; the concept is used but not the label.

Technical

Precise term in morphological analysis and language description.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

We can agent-noun that verb to form 'sleeper'.
How do you agent-noun 'to cycle'?

American English

Linguists agent-noun verbs to create new job titles.
Can we agent-noun the verb 'to stream'?

adverb

British English

He explained the concept agent-noun-ly, focusing on the doer.
The word was formed agent-noun-ly from the verb.

American English

She described it agent-noun-ly, highlighting the actor.
The suffix is used agent-noun-ly in many languages.

adjective

British English

The agent-noun suffix is highly productive.
This is an agent-noun formation process.

American English

We studied agent-noun morphology in class.
An agent-noun analysis explains the derivation.

Examples

By CEFR Level

'Teacher' is a person who teaches. It is an agent noun.

In the word 'baker', the '-er' is an agent noun suffix showing who bakes.

Linguists classify 'investigator' as an agent noun derived from the verb 'to investigate'.

The productivity of the agent-noun-forming morpheme '-ist' is evident in neologisms like 'podcastist'.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

An AGENT noun has an AGENT who does the action. Think of a secret agent 'acting'.

Conceptual Metaphor

LANGUAGE IS A TOOLBOX (Agent nouns are specific tools for naming doers).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not translate as 'агентское существительное' (incorrect calque). The Russian equivalent is 'отглагольное существительное со значением деятеля' or 'номен агента'.
The word 'agent' in 'agent noun' is linguistic, not related to spies or representatives.

Common Mistakes

Using 'agent noun' to refer to any noun representing a person (e.g., 'woman' is not an agent noun).
Confusing it with 'gerund' (which is a verbal noun).
Mispronouncing 'agent' as /əˈɡent/.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The word 'runner' is an example of an noun, derived from the verb 'to run'.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT typically considered an agent noun suffix in English?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes, it is an instrument agent noun, derived from the verb 'to compute', denoting a thing that performs the action.
: An agent noun (e.g., 'driver') denotes the performer of an action. A gerund (e.g., 'driving') is a verbal noun denoting the action itself.
: Typically no. Canonical agent nouns are derived from verbs. Nouns from adjectives (e.g., 'liberal' -> 'liberalist') are often considered denominals, not pure agent nouns.
: For most learners, no. It is more important to learn the high-frequency agent nouns (worker, manager, writer) and their patterns, rather than the meta-linguistic label.