Instrumental nominalizations

The suffix -er also derives an Inst-nom; that is, a nominalization which describes an instrument (including a machine or vehicle) or some other material object involved in the activity. The main possibilities are:

(a) Instrument, typically derived from AFFECT verbs, including mower, shaver, curler, mixer. The meaning is sometimes restricted by a modifier; for example,

(baby) feeder, (tin) opener, (post hole) digger. Some Inst-nom’s have a specialized function—a (door) knocker is fixed to the door, a bumper (bar) is on a car, a (door) closer automatically closes a door, a shutter is a specific contraption to shut a window. A scraper can be something fixed to the ground near a front door, for visitors to scrape mud off their boots on, or a hand-held device to scrape old paint off a surface.

(b) Machine, which can function as A argument to the verb. A heater or a freezer or starter (motor in a car) does not require any human intervention, but can perform an activity on its own—Turn the ignition on and the starter (motor) starts the engine, and The heater will soon warm up the room.

(c) Vehicle involved in an activity—transporter, loader.

(d) Clothing or footwear typically donned by Agent undertaking the activity— swimmers (bathing costume), runners (shoes), joggers (shoes to jog in, and sometimes also trousers to wear while jogging). Note that all these require plural -s.

(e) A body part used in the activity; for example, feeler ‘tentacles’ and, colloquially, smeller ‘nose’.

(f) The location at which an activity takes place; for example sleeper (where one sleeps, on a train), diner (in a train or otherwise), kneeler (a cushion to kneel on), locker (cupboard in which things can be locked up).

Many of these Inst-nom forms are ambiguous, and can also have an Agent-nom sense. A man who manually mixes cement with sand and water to make concrete could be called a mixer; alternatively, a cement mixer (a machine) could be used. A person who mows a lawn using a motor mower could be called a mower. Anyone who knocks on doors (using the attached door knocker), collecting money for charity, can be called a door knocker. Diner can refer to someone who dines, whether at a high-class restaurant or in a cheap diner. Someone who operates a large transporter truck can be called a transporter.

There is generally no automatic relation of possession between an Inst-nom and an argument of the underlying verb. When one hears Mary mixed the ingredients with an electric mixer, the mixer may or may not be Mary’s. However, if Simon books a sleeper on a train from Amsterdam to Milan then—for that night only—the berth is Simon’s sleeper.