Lesson 1: Understanding Morphology Flashcards
What is a morpheme?
The smallest unit of meaning in a word.
True or False: Every syllable is a morpheme.
False. Some syllables don’t carry meaning.
What are the four types of morphemes?
Base words
Root words
Prefixes
Suffixes.
What is a prefix?
A morpheme added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
What is a suffix?
A morpheme added to the end of a word to change its meaning.
What is a base word?
A word that can stand alone and has meaning.
What is a root word?
A word part (often Latin or Greek) that carries meaning but usually can’t stand alone.
How does morphology help with spelling?
Recognizing morphemes makes spelling predictable and easier.
How does morphology help with vocabulary?
It helps you figure out unknown words by breaking them into parts.
What does the prefix “un-“ mean like in unhappy?
Not / Opposite of (unhappy = not happy).
What does the prefix “re-“ mean like in redo?
Again (redo = do again).
What does the prefix “pre-“ mean like in preview?
Before (preview = view before).
What does the prefix “dis-“ mean like in dislike?
Opposite of (dislike = not like).
What does the prefix “mis-“ mean like in misunderstand?
Wrong or badly (misunderstand = understand incorrectly).
What does the prefix “sub-“ mean like in submarine?
Under or below (submarine = under the sea).
What does the prefix “over-“ mean like in overeat?
Too much (overeat = eat too much).
What does the prefix “inter-“ mean like in international?
Between or among (international = between nations).
What does the prefix “auto-“ mean like in autograph?
Self (autograph = self-written signature).
What does the prefix “non-“ mean like in nonsense?
Not (nonsense = not making sense).
What does the suffix “-s” or “-es” mean like in cats or boxes?
Plural (more than one cat, more than one box).
What does the suffix “-ed” mean like in jumped?
Past tense (jumped = happened in the past).
What does the suffix “-ing” mean like in running?
Happening now (running = running now).
What does the suffix “-er” mean like in faster?
More than (faster = more fast).
What does the suffix “-est” mean like in biggest?
The most (biggest = the most big).
What does the suffix “-ful” mean like in joyful?
Full of (joyful = full of joy).
What does the suffix “-less” mean like in hopeless?
Without (hopeless = without hope).
What does the suffix “-able” mean like in readable?
Can be done (readable = can be read).
What does the suffix “-ment” mean like in enjoyment?
The act of (enjoyment = the act of enjoying).
What does the suffix “-tion” mean like in education?
A state or action (education = the process of being educated).
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word play?
Possible answers: Replay, playful, playing.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word help?
Possible answers: Helpful, helpless, helping, unhelpful.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word read?
Possible answers: Reread, reading, readable, unreadable
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word run?
Possible answers: Running, rerun, runner.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word move?
Possible answers: Movement, moving, remove.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word light?
Possible answers: Lighter, lightness, enlighten, lighting
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word kind?
Possible answers: Kindness, unkind, kindly.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word write?
Possible answers: Writer, rewrite, writing.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word speak?
Possible answers: Speaker, speaking, unspeakable.
Can you think of a prefix or suffix to add to the word act?
Possible answers: Actor, action, react, acting
AQTrue or False: Every word has at least one morpheme.
True.
Multiple Choice: Which of these is NOT a morpheme? A) Un- B) Play C) -ing D) Re-
B) Play (It’s a base word, but not a morpheme that attaches to others).
What is the difference between a prefix and a suffix?
A prefix is added before a word, while a suffix is added after.
Break apart the word transportation into its morphemes.
Trans- (across) + port (carry) + -ation (act of).
Break apart the word disagreeable into its morphemes.
Dis- (opposite) + agree + -able (can be).
What do you call a word part that comes from Latin or Greek and carries meaning?
A root word.
What is the base word in unhappiness?
Happy.
What is the prefix in preheat?
Pre- (before).
What is the suffix in hopeless?
-less (without).
What happens when you remove the prefix from replay?
You get the base word play.
