To form the occupation Custodian, which base word pairs with 'agent'?

To form the occupation Custodian, which base word pairs with 'agent'?

• A. Dust
• B. Wash
• C. Sweep
• D. Clean

Answer: (D)

In ASL, many occupation signs form by taking a verb that describes the action the job does and adding an agent meaning “a person who does X.” This makes a natural way to name roles like custodian: someone who cleans. The base word that fits best is the action of cleaning. When you pair “clean” with the agent concept, you get “one who cleans,” which matches the occupation of a custodian—the person responsible for keeping spaces clean. The other base actions—dust, wash, sweep—could describe specific tasks a custodian might perform, but they point to narrower roles (someone who dusts, someone who washes, someone who sweeps). The broader, more general sense of the job aligns with the base word clean, making it the best fit.

In ASL, many occupation signs form by taking a verb that describes the action the job does and adding an agent meaning “a person who does X.” This makes a natural way to name roles like custodian: someone who cleans.

The base word that fits best is the action of cleaning. When you pair “clean” with the agent concept, you get “one who cleans,” which matches the occupation of a custodian—the person responsible for keeping spaces clean. The other base actions—dust, wash, sweep—could describe specific tasks a custodian might perform, but they point to narrower roles (someone who dusts, someone who washes, someone who sweeps). The broader, more general sense of the job aligns with the base word clean, making it the best fit.