Which of the following is an example of a bound morpheme?

Which of the following is an example of a bound morpheme?

• A. The prefix "un-" in "unkown"
• B. The suffix "-ing" in "running"
• C. The word "cat"
• D. The compound word "toothbrush"

Answer: (B)

A bound morpheme is a linguistic unit that cannot stand alone and must be attached to a free morpheme to convey meaning. The correct answer illustrates this concept through the suffix "-ing." In the word "running," the suffix "-ing" is added to the root word "run," creating a verb form that indicates ongoing action. Without the root, the suffix does not convey any meaning on its own. In contrast, the other choices involve free morphemes or compound words. The prefix "un-" in "unknown" is also a bound morpheme, but in this case, the focus is on the suffix, which is commonly used in English to indicate tense or aspect. The word "cat" is a free morpheme because it can stand alone as a word, and "toothbrush" is a compound word made up of two free morphemes that can be understood independently. Thus, the emphasis on the bound nature of "-ing" in "running" solidifies it as the correct choice.

A bound morpheme is a linguistic unit that cannot stand alone and must be attached to a free morpheme to convey meaning. The correct answer illustrates this concept through the suffix "-ing." In the word "running," the suffix "-ing" is added to the root word "run," creating a verb form that indicates ongoing action. Without the root, the suffix does not convey any meaning on its own.

In contrast, the other choices involve free morphemes or compound words. The prefix "un-" in "unknown" is also a bound morpheme, but in this case, the focus is on the suffix, which is commonly used in English to indicate tense or aspect. The word "cat" is a free morpheme because it can stand alone as a word, and "toothbrush" is a compound word made up of two free morphemes that can be understood independently. Thus, the emphasis on the bound nature of "-ing" in "running" solidifies it as the correct choice.