Morphology: Affixation and Contrast Markers 1.2

Please wait while the activity loads.
If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Also, this page requires javascript. Please visit using a browser with javascript enabled.

If loading fails, click here to try again

The goal of this exercise is to help you recognize different types of morphological processs in various languages as well as label morphemes as derivational or inflectional.  You will be choosing from some of the following options: suffix, prefix, infix, circumfix, tone, stress, reduplication, internal change (ablaut), and suppletion. If you are unfamiliar with any of these terms, check out our tutorial The Basics of Morphological Processes. 

Start

You scored %%SCORE%% out of %%TOTAL%%.

Your answers are highlighted below.

Question 1

morphology-affixation-and-contrast-1-2-q2

A	reciprocal prefix Hint: A prefix is a bound morpheme that attached at the initial position of a root. See the glossary for the definition of a reciprocal affix.
B	reciprocal suffix
C	reduplicating suffix Hint: A suffix is a bound morpheme that attached at the final position of a root, and reduplication refers to the process of copying/repeating a word to produce a new word.
D	reduplicating prefix Hint: A prefix is a bound morpheme that attached at the initial position of a root, and reduplication refers to the process of copying/repeating a word to produce a new word.

Question 1 Explanation:

A suffix is a bound morpheme that attached at the final position of a root. Reciprocal affixes, particles, words and phrases are the elements that create reciprocal action (e.g. understanding each other, loving each other). In English, the phrase 'each other' is used for this purpose.

Question 2

morphology-affixation-and-contrast-1-2-q3

A	infix
B	circumfix Hint: Circumfixes are morphemes that are attached to a base morpheme both initially and finally.
C	root Hint: Roots are morphemes from which affixes can be added.
D	adfix Hint: An adfix refers to morphemes that attach to the outside of a stem. Prefixes and suffixes are both types of adfixes.

Question 2 Explanation:

An infix is a type of morpheme that is inserted into, rather than attached at the edge of other morphemes. (Bontoc is a language spoken in the Philippines)

Question 3

morphology-affixation-and-contrast-1-2-q5

A	inflectional
B	derivational Hint: Derivational morphemes contain semantic content. Inflectional morphemes do not.

Question 3 Explanation:

Inflectional morphemes modify properties of a root. In the example, the property of 'person' is being modified to change who is speaking.

Question 4

morphology-affixation-and-contrast-1-2-q7

A	affixation Hint: If an affix were used here, it would be the same in each instance.
B	reduplication
C	compounding Hint: Compounds are formed using two or more words to form a new word. This is not the process employed in the data set.

Question 5

morphology-affixation-and-contrast-1-2-q4

A	suffix Hint: Suffixes are added to other morphemes. Consider which morphemes from the examples are being attached, and which are receiving.
B	free morpheme Hint: A free morpheme is capable of standing alone as a word. The morphemes '-ceive' and '-mit' are unable to do so.
C	bound roots
D	prefix Hint: Prefixes are attached initially to a root.

Question 5 Explanation:

Bound roots are morphemes that do not occur in isolation. They become words only when an affix is attached to them. Do not be confused by the fact that '-ceive' and '-mit' are common bound roots, and thus might appear to have some meaning in isolation. They are of Latin origin, and to the original speakers of Latin these morphemes had clear meanings. However, in English they do not, and are thus bound roots. Taken in entirety, words such as these are called bound stems.

Question 6

morphology-affixation-and-contrast-1-2-q1

A	prefix
B	root Hint: Roots are morphemes from which affixes are attached.
C	circumfix Hint: Circumfixes are bound morphemes that are attached to a base morpheme both initially and finally.
D	suffix Hint: Suffixes are bound morphemes that precede roots.

Question 6 Explanation:

Prefixes are a type of affix that are bound morphemes attached to the initial position of a root. This definition is in contrast to suffixes, which attach to the final position. (Isthmus Zapotec is a language spoken in Mexico)

Question 7

morphology-affixation-and-contrast-1-2-q6

A	inflectional clitics Hint: Clitics function above the word level syntactically and on the word level phonologically. Here, these morphemes function at the word level both syntactically and phonologically.
B	derivational prefixes Hint: Derivational morphemes modify the meaning of the root. In each case, these morphemes modify grammatical number, not meaning, so they are inflectional.
C	derivational clitics Hint: Derivational morphemes modify the meaning of the root. In each case, these morphemes modify grammatical number, not meaning, so they are inflectional.
D	inflectional prefixes

Once you are finished, click the button below. Any items you have not completed will be marked incorrect. Get Results

There are 7 questions to complete.

Return to Morphology Exercises

Morphology: Affixation and Contrast Markers 1.2

Your Subscription Information

Suggestions, Comments, & Questions