Chapter 3 Morphology
1. Divide the following words into their separate morphemes by
placing a “+” between each morpheme and the next:
a. microfilm e. telecommunication
b. bedraggled f. forefather
c. announcement g. psychophysics
d. predigestion h. mechanist
答：a. micro + film b. be + draggle + ed
c. announce + ment
d. pre + digest + ion
e. tele + communicate + ion
f. fore + father
g. psycho + physics h. mechan + ist
2. Think of three morpheme suffixes, give their meaning, and specify
the types of stem they may be suffixed to. Give at least two
examples of each.
Model: -or
suffix: -or
meaning: the person or thing performing the action
stem type: added to verbs
examples: actor, “one who acts in stage plays, motion pictures, etc.” translator, “one who translates”
答：(1) suffix: -able
meaning: something can be done or is possible
stem type: added to verbs
examples: acceptable, “can be accepted”
respectable, “can be respected”
(2) suffix: -ly
meaning: functional
stem type: added to adjectives
examples: freely. “adverbial form of ‘free’”
quickly, “adverbial form of 'quick' ”．
(3) suffix: -ee
meaning: the person receiving the action
stem type: added to verbs
examples: employee, “one who works in a company”
interviewee, “one who is interviewed”
3. Think of three morpheme prefixes, give their meaning, and
specify the types of stem they may be prefixed to. Give at least two
examples of each.
Model: a-
prefix: a-
meaning: “without; not”
stem type: added to adjectives
examples: asymmetric, “lacking symmetry” asexual, “without sex or sex organs”
答：(1) prefix: dis-
meaning: showing an opposite
stem type: added to verbs or nouns
examples : disapprove, “do not approve”
dishonesty, “lack of honesty”．
(2) prefix: anti-
meaning: against, opposed to
stem type: added to nouns or adjectives
examples : antinuclear, “opposing the use of atomic weapons and power”
antisocial, “opposed or harmful to the laws and customs of an organized community. ”
(3) prefix: counter-
meaning: the opposite of
stem type: added to nouns or adjectives.
examples: counterproductive, “producing results opposite to those intended”
counteract, “act against and reduce the force or effect of (sth.) ”
4. The italicized part in each of the following sentences is an
inflectional morpheme. Study each inflectional morpheme carefully
and point out its grammatical meaning.
Sue moves in high-society circles in London.
A traffic warden asked John to move his car.
The club has moved to Friday, February 22nd.
The branches of the trees are moving back and forth.
答：(1)-s, the third person singular, present simple tense
(2)-ed, the past tense
(3) has –ed, the present perfect
(4) are+v-ing, the plural form; the present progressive
5. Determine whether the words in each of the following groups are
related to one another by processes of inflection or derivation.
a) go, goes, going, gone
b) discover, discovery, discoverer, discoverable, discoverability
c) inventor, inventor’s, inventors, inventors’
d) democracy, democrat, democratic, democratize
答：(1) go, goes, going, gone (inflection)
go- the root form
go+es, simple present, 3rd person singular
go+ing, present participle
gone, past participle
(2) discover, discovery, discoverer, discoverable, discoverability (derivation)
