MLAT Word Structure & Morphological Analysis 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the word 'unbreakable,' how many morphemes are present?
- Two (un- and breakable)
- Three (un-, break, -able) (Correct answer)
- Four (un-, break, -a-, -ble)
- One (the whole word is a single morpheme)
Correct answer: Three (un-, break, -able)
'Un-', 'break', and '-able' are three distinct morphemes each carrying separate meaning.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of a BOUND morpheme?
- run
- book
- -ness (Correct answer)
- tree
Correct answer: -ness
'-ness' is a bound morpheme because it cannot stand alone as a word.
Question 3: The suffix '-ist' in 'pianist' functions primarily to indicate:
- A verb tense
- A person who performs or practices something (Correct answer)
- A comparative degree
- A negation
Correct answer: A person who performs or practices something
The suffix '-ist' derives agent nouns, meaning a person who plays or practices a skill.
Question 4: What morphological process creates 'teeth' from 'tooth'?
- Suffixation
- Prefixation
- Internal vowel change (ablaut) (Correct answer)
- Reduplication
Correct answer: Internal vowel change (ablaut)
The plural 'teeth' is formed by an internal vowel change, a process called ablaut or umlaut.
Question 5: In 'semifinal,' the morpheme 'semi-' contributes which meaning?
- Against
- Half or partial (Correct answer)
- Before
- Beyond
Correct answer: Half or partial
'Semi-' is a prefix meaning half or partial, indicating a stage before the final.
Question 6: Which pair demonstrates DERIVATIONAL morphology rather than inflectional?
- walk / walked
- cat / cats
- happy / happiness (Correct answer)
- big / bigger
Correct answer: happy / happiness
'Happiness' is a new word (noun) derived from the adjective 'happy,' making it derivational morphology.
Question 7: The word 'cranberry' contains the morpheme 'cran-,' which is best described as:
- A free morpheme with clear meaning
- A derivational prefix
- A cranberry morpheme (unique/non-productive bound morpheme) (Correct answer)
- An inflectional suffix
Correct answer: A cranberry morpheme (unique/non-productive bound morpheme)
'Cran-' has no independent meaning outside 'cranberry' and is the classic example of a cranberry (unique) morpheme.
MLAT Word Structure & Morphological Analysis 4
In the word 'unbreakable,' how many morphemes are present?