Morphemes are the smallest meaningful units of language. They can be either free morphemes, which can stand alone as words, or bound morphemes, which must be attached to other morphemes to convey meaning. Here, I will provide you with 10 examples of morphemes, showcasing both free and bound morphemes.
1. Cat – This is an example of a free morpheme, as it can stand alone as a word and carries its own meaning. It refers to a domesticated carnivorous mammal.
2. Un- – This is an example of a bound morpheme, specifically a prefix. When added to words like “happy,” it changes the meaning to “not happy,” indicating a negation.
3. -ed – This is another example of a bound morpheme, specifically a suffix. When added to words like “walk,” it changes the tense to past, as in “walked.”
4. Friend – This is a free morpheme that stands alone as a word, referring to a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.
5. -er – This is a bound morpheme, functioning as a suffix. When added to words like “teach,” it changes the word to a noun, as in “teacher.”
6. Play – This is a free morpheme, representing an action or activity engaged in for enjoyment or recreation.
7. -ing – This is a bound morpheme, serving as a suffix. When added to words like “read,” it transforms the word into a present participle, as in “reading.”
8. Dog – This is a free morpheme, standing independently as a word, referring to a domesticated carnivorous mammal.
9. Mis- – This is a bound morpheme functioning as a prefix. When added to words like “understand,” it changes the meaning to “not understand,” indicating a lack of comprehension.
10. -est – This is a bound morpheme, acting as a suffix. When added to words like “good,” it forms the superlative degree, as in “best.”
These examples demonstrate the variety of morphemes in the English language, showcasing both free and bound morphemes in different forms and functions.