Section 4.5 Homework: Morphology and Word Structure
Subsection 4.5.1 Morpheme Identification
Instructions.
For each word below, determine whether it contains multiple morphemes or just one. If it contains multiple morphemes, divide it and classify each morpheme as free or bound. State the total number of morphemes.
Remember: A word can only be divided into morphemes if the base is a word in modern English.
You may present your analysis using any clear method, such as:
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Listing with labels (e.g., un- (bound) + happy (free) + -ness (bound) = 3 morphemes)
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A simple chart or table
Be sure your method clearly shows each morpheme and its classification.
Example (completed).
Word: “unhappiness”
un- (bound) + happy (free) + -ness (bound) = 3 morphemes
Word: “contain”
Number of morphemes: 1
Although “contain” appears to begin with con-, the remaining part -tain is not a word in modern English. Therefore, “contain” is a single morpheme.
Exercises.
Exercise 1. disagreements
Exercise 2. rebuilding
Exercise 3. thoughtfulness
Exercise 4. international
Exercise 5. unforgettable
Exercise 6. grandmother
Exercise 7. describe
Exercise 8. replayable
Exercise 9. subtract
Exercise 10. misplace
Subsection 4.5.2 Morphemes for Economy
Instructions.
Rewrite each sentence using an affix to replace the underlined phrase. Identify the morpheme you used and its meaning.
Example (completed).
Sentence: “She judged the distance in a wrong way.”
Revised: “She misjudged the distance.”
Morpheme: mis- (meaning "wrongly")
Exercises.
Exercise 11. “They designed the memorial in a time before the war.”
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Revised:
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Morpheme:
Exercise 12. “He watched his favorite film for a second time.”
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Revised:
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Morpheme:
Exercise 13. “The test results were not satisfying to the research team.”
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Revised:
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Morpheme:
Exercise 14. “She completed the calculations in a careless manner.”
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Revised:
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Morpheme:
Exercise 15. “The technician had connected the wires in an improper way.”
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Revised:
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Morpheme:
Subsection 4.5.3 Word Building
Instructions.
Using the base words provided, create new words by adding affixes. Write the complete word and identify all morphemes.
Example (completed).
Base word: “hope”
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Word with one suffix: hopeful
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Morphemes: hope (free) + -ful (bound)
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Word with a prefix and suffix: unhopeful
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Morphemes: un- (bound) + hope (free) + -ful (bound)
Exercises.
Exercise 16. Base word: “teach”
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Create a word with one suffix:
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Morphemes:
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Create a word with two suffixes:
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Morphemes:
Exercise 17. Base word: “kind”
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Create a word with a prefix:
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Morphemes:
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Create a word with a prefix and a suffix:
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Morphemes:
Exercise 18. Base word: “modern”
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Create a word that is a verb:
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Morphemes:
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Create a word that is a noun:
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Morphemes:
Subsection 4.5.4 Morpheme Identification in Context
Instructions.
Read the passage below. Identify five words that contain multiple morphemes and list the morphemes for each.
Passage.
The researchers carefully analyzed the unprecedented developments in artificial intelligence. Their findings suggested that technological modernization would dramatically reshape workplaces worldwide. The implications were unmistakable.
Example (completed).
Word: “researchers”
Morphemes: research (free) + -er (bound) + -s (bound)
Exercises.
Exercise 19. Identify five words with multiple morphemes from the passage above.
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Word 1:
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Morphemes:
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Word 2:
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Morphemes:
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Word 3:
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Morphemes:
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Word 4:
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Morphemes:
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Word 5:
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Morphemes:
Subsection 4.5.5 Comparing Morphological Choices
Instructions.
Read the two paragraphs below. Both describe the same situation, but each sentence makes different morphological choices—some use affixed forms (reread, unfairly) while others use descriptive phrases (read again, in an unfair manner). In Paragraph 2, every choice is swapped: what was an affix becomes a phrase, and vice versa.
Neither paragraph is entirely better than the other. Each contains some choices that improve the writing and some that weaken it.
Paragraph 1.
The hiring committee re-reviewed the applications after discovering that several candidates had been evaluated in an unfair manner. The lead reviewer, who had assessed the submissions carelessly at first, now worked with unusual diligence. Two applicants who had seemed underqualified actually possessed experience that the committee had failed to recognize previously. After reaching their decision, they resubmitted the recommendations to HR, confident that the process was now irreproachable.
HR, however, responded unfavorably to the revised documentation. The department head believed the committee had misjudged several candidates and requested that they consider the selections again. The committee members, though initially not satisfied with this feedback, reviewed the criticisms thoughtfully. They discovered that certain qualifications had been overvalued while others had gone without notice. After rewriting their justifications with great care, they submitted the final version for a third time, which HR found unobjectionable.
Paragraph 2.
The hiring committee reviewed the applications again after discovering that several candidates had been evaluated unfairly. The lead reviewer, who had assessed the submissions without care at first, now worked unusually diligently. Two applicants who had seemed insufficiently qualified actually possessed previously unrecognized experience. After deciding, they submitted the recommendations to HR again, confident that the process was now beyond reproach.
HR, however, responded in an unfavorable manner to the revised documentation. The department head believed the committee had made misjudgments about several candidates and requested that they reconsider the selections. The committee members, though initially dissatisfied with this feedback, reviewed the criticisms in a thoughtful manner. They discovered that certain qualifications had been valued too highly while others had gone unnoticed. After writing their justifications again carefully, they resubmitted the final version, which HR found without objection.
Exercises.
Exercise 20. Identify one position where Paragraph 1 makes the better choice. Quote both versions (from Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2), and explain why Paragraph 1’s version is more effective. Consider factors like clarity, concision, and naturalness.
Exercise 21. Identify one position where Paragraph 2 makes the better choice. Quote both versions, and explain why Paragraph 2’s version is more effective.
Exercise 22. Based on your analysis, write 2-3 sentences explaining what factors help you decide when to use an affixed form versus a descriptive phrase.
Total estimated time: 50-60 minutes
