Morphology: Counting Morphemes 1.2

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This exercise gives you more practice at understanding the morphological composition of words as you count the number of morphemes in each word.

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Question 1

How many morphemes are there in the word ‘linguistics'?

A	2 Hint: The word 'linguistics' can be separated into its root 'linguist', the suffix '-ic' and the plural 's'.
B	1 Hint: The word 'linguistics' can be separated into its root 'linguist', the suffix '-ic' and the plural 's'.
C	3

Question 2

How many morphemes are there in the word ‘distinguishable’?

A	3
B	2 Hint: The word 'distinguishable' is composed of 3 morphemes. 'Dis' and 'able' are both affixes attached to the bound root 'tinguish', which originates from the Latin verb 'stinguere'.
C	4 Hint: The word 'distinguishable' is composed of 3 morphemes. 'Dis' and 'able' are both affixes attached to the bound root 'tinguish', which originates from the Latin verb 'stinguere'.

Question 3

How many morphemes are there in the word ‘bicycle’?

A	1 Hint: The word 'bicycle' can be separated into the prefix 'bi' and the root 'cycle'.
B	2
C	3 Hint: The word 'bicycle' can be separated into the prefix 'bi' and the root 'cycle'.

Question 4

How many morphemes are there in the word 'unsystematically'?

A	5
B	3 Hint: 'System' is the root. There are four affixes attached, including 'un', 'atic', 'al' and 'ly'.
C	4 Hint: 'System' is the root. There are four affixes attached, including 'un', 'atic', 'al' and 'ly'.

Question 4 Explanation:

Be careful when counting affixes, as some such as 'al' and 'ly' appearing together as '-ally' may cause confusion.

Question 5

How many morphemes are there in the word 'anarchy'?

A	3
B	2 Hint: 'Arch' is the root, which approximately means 'ruler'. 'an' and 'y' are both derivational affixes.
C	1 Hint: 'Arch' is the root, which approximately means 'ruler'. 'an' and 'y' are both derivational affixes.

Question 6

How many morphemes are there in the word 'replacements'

A	2 Hint: 'Place' is the root morpheme. 'Re' and 'ment' are both derivational affixes. The plural 's' is an inflectional morpheme.
B	4
C	3 Hint: 'Place' is the root morpheme. 'Re' and 'ment' are both derivational affixes. The plural 's' is an inflectional morpheme.

Question 6 Explanation:

Do not forget that the plural 's' or 'es' is an inflectional morpheme too.

Question 7

How many morphemes are there in the word 'eaten'?

A	3 Hint: 'Eat' is the root morpheme. 'En' is an inflectional affix that is attached as a past participle.
B	2
C	1 Hint: 'Eat' is the root morpheme. 'En' is an inflectional affix that is attached as a past participle.

Question 8

How many morphemes are in the word 'environmentally'?

A	4
B	5 Hint: 'Environmentally' contains 4 morphemes including the root 'environ' and the suffixes 'ment', 'al', and 'ly'.
C	3 Hint: 'Environmentally' contains 4 morphemes including the root 'environ' and the suffixes 'ment', 'al', and 'ly'.

Question 9

How many morphemes are there in the word 'contestant's'? The contestant's bio stated that she was from Morocco.

A	4 Hint: 'Contest' is the root morpheme. 'ant' and the possessive clitic 's are both inflectional morphemes.
B	5 Hint: 'Contest' is the root morpheme. 'ant' and the possessive clitic 's are both inflectional morphemes.
C	3

Question 9 Explanation:

Clitics are categorically different than most affixes, but they are nonetheless morphemes. The possessive clitic 's is an inflectional morpheme.

Question 10

How many morphemes are there in the word 'station's'? The station's only ticket desk was closed.

A	1 Hint: 'stations's' actually contains 2 morphemes. Station is one morpheme, and the possessive clitic 's is another.
B	3 Hint: 'stations's' actually contains just 2 morphemes. Station is only one morpheme. The possessive clitic 's is the second.
C	2

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Morphology: Counting Morphemes 1.2

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