People Who Do Things: Exploring the Suffix –ist Professions (Class 4) 

This Grade 4 worksheet introduces students to the suffix –ist, a common word ending used to describe people who practice a profession, skill, or area of study. Words like artist, scientist, dentist, journalist, and botanist help learners understand how English forms new words that identify occupations and expertise. 

In this worksheet, students learn how the suffix –ist connects to a root word to describe a person associated with a particular activity or profession. The exercises guide students through identifying correct meanings of –ist words, sorting profession words from non-professions, completing sentences with appropriate –ist vocabulary, choosing the correct word through multiple-choice questions, and finally writing their own sentences using profession words. 

The activities are carefully designed for Grade 4 learners to move from simple recognition tasks to more advanced vocabulary application. By the end of the worksheet, students will have a clearer understanding of how suffixes work in English and how profession-related words are formed. 

Why Suffixes Matter in Grammar? 

Suffixes are important building blocks in English word formation. For Grade 4 learners, learning suffixes such as –ist helps because: 

1. The suffix –ist often refers to a person who practices a profession or specialized activity. 
2. Understanding suffixes helps students recognize patterns in word formation. 
3. It expands vocabulary by linking root words with new meanings. 
4. It improves reading comprehension and descriptive writing skills. 

Learning suffixes also prepares students to understand many academic and professional vocabulary words they will encounter later. 

What’s Inside This Worksheet? 

This worksheet includes five engaging grammar and vocabulary exercises: 

🧠 Exercise 1 – True or False 
Students read statements describing –ist profession words and decide whether the meanings are correct. 

✏️ Exercise 2 – Sort the Words 
Students categorize words into Profession (–ist) and Not a Profession, helping them identify which words represent real professions. 

📋 Exercise 3 – Fill in the Blanks 
Students complete sentences with the correct –ist profession word based on the description. 

🔤 Exercise 4 – Multiple Choice Questions 
Students choose the correct –ist word from multiple options to complete each sentence correctly. 

📝 Exercise 5 – Sentence Writing 
Students write meaningful sentences using different –ist profession words, encouraging vocabulary use in context. 

✅ Answer Key (For Parents & Educators) 
 

Exercise 1 – True or False 
1. True 
2. False 
3. True 
4. True 
5. False 
6. False 
7. False 
8. True 
9. True 
10. False 

Exercise 2 – Sort the Words 

Profession (–ist) 
journalist, cartoonist, scientist, pianist, geologist, botanist, violinist, dentist, artist, chemist 

Not a Profession 
medalist, cyclist, motorist, hobbyist, tourist 

Exercise 3 – Fill in the Blanks 
1. scientist 
2. pianist 
3. journalist 
4. dentist 
5. cyclist 
6. botanist 
7. novelist 
8. chemist 
9. violinist 
10. geologist 

Exercise 4 – Multiple Choice 

1. pianist 
2. cyclist 
3. chemist 
4. journalist 
5. guitarist 
6. dentist 
7. novelist 
8. botanist 
9. physicist 
10. geologist 

Exercise 5 – Sample Sentences 
(Answers may vary) 

1. Artist – The artist painted a colorful picture. 
2. Journalist – The journalist interviewed the famous athlete. 
3. Tourist – The tourist took photos of the historical monument. 
4. Guitarist – The guitarist played a beautiful melody. 
5. Scientist – The scientist conducted an interesting experiment. 
6. Cyclist – The cyclist rode very fast in the race. 
7. Dentist – The dentist checked my teeth during the appointment. 
8. Chemist – The chemist works in a laboratory studying chemicals. 
9. Botanist – The botanist studies different plants and trees. 
10. Pianist – The pianist played a lovely song at the concert. 

Encourage your child to explore word-building patterns and expand their vocabulary through engaging English grammar practice guided by expert educators. 

🔖Book a free trial!