Utah Foundation of Reading Test (FORT) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The suffix "ist" is classified as a derivational suffix because it is used to create a new word that alters the meaning of the base word to indicate someone who practices, specializes in, or is related to a particular field or activity. For example, adding "ist" to "art" creates "artist," which refers to someone who practices art. This transformation often results in a change of grammatical category as well, indicating not just a relationship to the original word but also suggesting a role or profession associated with it.

In contrast, inflectional suffixes modify a word's tense, number, or case without changing its fundamental meaning or category. Compound suffixes are formed from two or more morphemes joined together, while negative suffixes typically indicate negation or opposition. These categories highlight the unique function of the "ist" suffix in contributing to the meaning of the word it modifies in a more substantial way than the other categories do.