Assignment 1 BBI 3212 ENGLISH SYNTAX AND MORPHOLOGY NAME: _____________________________________
MATRIC NO: ____________________
1. State the number of morphemes in each of the following words. State whether each word is a simple or complex word. Word i ii iii iv v vi vii
No. of morphemes
terror greatest oxen cupboard heavenly forest alligator
Simple or complex (circle your answer) Simple/ complex Simple/ complex Simple/ complex Simple/ complex Simple/ complex Simple/ complex Simple/ complex
2. Divide the following words into their component morphemes, and state whether each morpheme is free or bound. Word e.g. teacher i
demigod
ii
recycling
iii
humorous
iv
reject
v
clarify
vi
senseless
Free or bound teach/ er
teach - free, er - bound
vii refreshment
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3. For each word, indicate whether the underlined bit is an affix, base or root. (You may select more than one option) i.
4.
5.
reformist
affix
root
base
ii. reformist
affix
root
base
iii. cracked
affix
root
base
iv. mismanaged
affix
root
base
v. mismanaged
affix
root
base
State the word-formation processes involved in the creation of the following words. i.
fanatic
fan
________________
ii.
formula translation
iii.
common business oriented language
iv.
narcotics agent
v.
tuberculosis
TB
________________
vi.
nose + bleed
nosebleed
________________
vii.
as soon as possible
ASAP
________________
viii.
Earl of Sandwich
sandwich
________________
x.
camera + video recorder
Fortran
________________ COBOL
narc
________________ ________________
camcorder
________________
State whether the underlined words are compounds. i.
Nosebleeds are very common among children
ii.
The new market is located near the community building.________________
iii.
Henry bought a camcorder last week.
________________
iv.
He works as a real estate agent.
________________
v.
The hypermarket just opened for business.
________________
2
________________
6.
7. E.g.
For each of the following, state the morphological process that can account for the change in the form of the word given. i.
clean cleans
________________
ii.
seek sought
________________
iii.
beg begged
________________
iv.
Mary Mary’s (as in Mary’s friend)
________________
v.
drive drove
________________
vi.
they are they’re
________________
vii.
enthusiasm enthuse
________________
viii.
reform pro-reform
________________
ix.
market + place marketplace
________________
x.
dream (V) dreams (V)
________________
xi.
dream [noun, sing.] dreams [noun, plu.]
________________
xii.
go went
________________
xiii.
sing sang
________________
xiv.
drink (V) drink (N)
________________
xv.
pull pulley
________________
xvi.
(My) finger (to) finger (the suspect)
________________
xvii.
chuckle + snort = chortle
________________
Name the inflectional morphemes underscored. The girl cried
=
past tense morpheme
i.
the boxes
________________
ii.
He listened intently.
________________
iii.
the prettier one
________________
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8.
Represent the structure of the following words using tree diagrams and labeled bracketing. Where an affix is used, state whether the affixation is derivational or inflectional. i.
E.g.
oxen N
[[ox]N en]N
N
Af (inflectional affix)
ox
en
ii.
ranger
________________
iii.
(She was) worried (about the exam)
________________
iv.
facebooker
________________
v.
additionally
________________
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