1.

Definition of Morphemes
Katamba (1993:20) = Morpheme is the smallest difference in the shape of a word
that correlates with the smallest difference in word or sentence meaning or in
grammatical structure.
Richards et all (1995:183) = Morpheme is the smallest unit in a language. A
morpheme can not be divided without altering or destroying its meaning.
2. 1. Many words of English are morphologically simple (indivisible unit).
a. Table, mask, win, mosque, etc are words examplifying a morpheme that
cannot be segmented or divided into smaller units that are themselves meaningful. In
short, those examples cannot be broken into -ble part of table, -que part of mos, etc.
b. Kind, hope, bowl, etc are words revealing a morpheme that cannot be
destroyed. If the d, e, and l are removed, they change into kin, hop, and bow which have
a different meaning.
c. Fee, Dow, etc are words that are impossible to say [f] and [i:]; [d] and [u] as
each sound do not have meaning.
2. Many English words are morphologically complex (divisible unit).
Chairs, books, doors etc are words that can be broken into smaller meaningful unit.
-s can be removed from those words in which chair refers to one piece of furniture,
book refers to one book in number, and door refers to one different door in type, while
in three cases the s serves grammatical function of indicating plurality.
3. How do we recognize a single sound or a string of sounds representing a morpheme?
Answer:
A single sound or string of sounds regarded as a manisfestation of a morpheme depends
on the word which it appears.
1. un- representing a negative morpheme and has a meaning that is roughly as not in
words unclear, unobvious, unsafe, etc.
2. un- cannot be claimed as a morpheme when it, for instance, occurs in under, uncle
as der and cle have no identifiable grammatical or semantic value and have no
meaning at all.
4. TYPES OF MORPHEMES
1. Free Morpheme/Free Form
It is a linguistic form (morpheme) that can be used on its own. Examples: horse,
drive, take, etc.
2. Bound Morpheme/Bound Form

it is a linguistic form (morpheme) which is never used alone but must be used with
another morpheme. For instance, the English suffix ing must be used with a verb
stem as in the words driving, writing, etc.