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Quizzes > Quizzes for Business > Education

Take the English Morphology Knowledge Test

Test your grasp on word formation patterns

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements related to English Morphology Knowledge Test quiz

Ready to dive into the fascinating world of English morphology? This morphology quiz is perfect for students and language lovers aiming to sharpen their word-formation skills. After taking the English Morphology Knowledge Test, you'll build confidence in analysing morphemes and prefixes. For a broader English review, try the English Grammar Knowledge Quiz or English Language Knowledge Test. Feel free to customise this quiz in our easy editor and explore more quizzes.

Identify the root of the word "unhappiness".
un
happy
happiness
nip
The root of "unhappiness" is "happy"; "un-" is a prefix and "-ness" a suffix. The root conveys the core meaning of the word.
Which of the following is an inflectional suffix?
-ly
-ness
-ful
-s
The suffix "-s" marks plural on nouns, which is an inflectional function. Inflectional suffixes modify grammatical features like number.
What type of morpheme is "bio" in "biology"?
Bound root
Inflectional suffix
Derivational suffix
Free root
"Bio-" cannot stand alone and must attach to other elements, so it is a bound root. It provides the core lexical meaning of life.
Identify the derivational suffix in the word "careless".
-ful
-less
-ly
-ing
The suffix "-less" derives an adjective meaning "without care" from the noun "care." It changes the word's lexical category.
Which word shows a plural inflection?
running
runned
dogs
ran
"Dogs" is formed by adding the inflectional suffix "-s" to "dog" to indicate plural number. Other forms are irregular or non-plural forms.
Break down the word "international" into its constituent morphemes.
interstate + national
inter + nat + ion + al
inter + nation + al
int + er + national
"International" consists of the prefix "inter-" (between), the root "nation," and the derivational suffix "-al." This structure shows clear morphemic boundaries.
Which word contains both derivational and inflectional morphemes?
nationalities
happiness
walked
cups
"Nationalities" has the derivational suffixes "-al" and "-ity" forming a noun, plus the inflectional plural suffix "-s." That combination meets both functions.
Select the correct adjective meaning "capable of being broken."
breakible
brokenable
breakable
breakability
The word is formed by root "break" plus the derivational suffix "-able." Orthographic rules retain the final "k," yielding "breakable."
Identify the free morpheme in the word "unbelievably".
-ly
-ably
un-
believe
"Believe" is a free morpheme because it can stand alone as a word. The other elements are bound affixes.
Which pair illustrates zero derivation (conversion) in English?
modern → modernize
pale → paled
bottle (n) → to bottle (v)
quick → quickly
"Bottle" converts from noun to verb without any added affix, demonstrating zero derivation. Other pairs involve overt affixation.
In the word "reusable," which morphemes are present?
re + useable
reus + able
re + usa + ble
re + use + able
"Reusable" is formed from the prefix "re-" (again), the root "use," and the suffix "-able." This yields an adjective meaning usable again.
Which word contains a bound root?
happy
transport
quickly
kindness
In "transport," the element "port" is a bound root meaning "carry," unable to stand alone. The others have free roots plus affixes.
Derive a noun to mean "the act of teaching again" from the root "teach."
teachingagain
reteaching
re-teachment
teachness
"Re-" (again) + "teach" + "-ing" forms the gerund noun "reteaching," meaning teaching once more. Other formations are nonstandard.
Which process creates an antonym in English?
run → running
cat → cats
happy → happiness
happy → unhappy
The prefix "un-" is a derivational affix that attaches to adjectives to form their antonyms. The other examples do not create opposites.
What type of morpheme is "-ity" in "purity"?
Inflectional suffix
Derivational suffix
Free morpheme
Prefix
"-ity" derives a noun from an adjective, which is a derivational function. It changes the word class and meaning.
After which sound environment does the English plural morpheme surface as /ɪz/?
Stop sounds
Vowel sounds
Sibilant sounds
Nasal sounds
The plural suffix surfaces as /ɪz/ after sibilant consonants (/s, z, ʃ, tʃ, dʒ/) to facilitate pronunciation. Other environments use /s/ or /z/.
Which derivational affix is considered most productive in contemporary English?
-ness
-ity
over-
-ment
The suffix "-ness" is highly productive, forming nouns from adjectives in a wide range of cases. Other affixes are less freely applied.
How many derivational morphemes does the word "antidisestablishmentarianism" contain?
5
3
6
4
The derivational morphemes are anti-, dis-, -ment, -arian, and -ism, totaling five. Each changes meaning or class within the word.
Which of the following is an example of infixation in informal English?
breakable
fan-bloody-tastic
untouchable
unbelievable
"Fan-bloody-tastic" inserts "bloody" inside the base, exemplifying infixation. The others use prefixes or suffixes only.
What type of morpheme is the clitic "'s" in "It's raining"?
Clitic
Free morpheme
Inflectional suffix
Derivational suffix
The "'s" in "It's" is a clitic representing the verb "is," attaching to the preceding word. It behaves like an independent word phonologically.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse root words and affixes in English
  2. Identify derivational and inflectional morphemes
  3. Apply morphological rules to form new words
  4. Evaluate word structure in complex vocabulary
  5. Demonstrate understanding of morpheme functions
  6. Master the classification of English morphemes

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand Morphemes - Morphemes are the tiniest units of meaning in any language, like building blocks for words. In "unhappiness," you can spot three morphemes: "un-" (a prefix that flips the meaning), "happy" (the root), and "-ness" (a suffix that turns an adjective into a noun). Playing detective with morphemes helps you break down big words into bite-sized pieces! Morpheme - Wikipedia
  2. Differentiate Free vs. Bound Morphemes - Free morphemes can stand alone as full words (think "book" or "sing"), while bound morphemes hitch a ride on other words (like "-s" in "books" or "re-" in "redo"). Spotting this difference gives you a secret superpower for word analysis. With practice, you'll instantly know which parts can dance solo and which need a partner! Morpheme Classification - Wikipedia
  3. Recognize Affixes - Affixes are like word accessories: prefixes attach at the start (e.g., "un-" in "unhappy") and suffixes clip on at the end (e.g., "-ness" in "happiness"). They tweak the meaning or part of speech of the root word. Collecting affixes expands your vocabulary collection with flair! Morphological Derivation - Wikipedia
  4. Distinguish Derivational vs. Inflectional Morphemes - Derivational morphemes change a word's meaning or its part of speech (like "happy" → "happiness"), while inflectional morphemes tweak grammar (tense, number, degree) without altering the core meaning (like "book" → "books"). It's the difference between transforming a word and simply dressing it up for grammar class! Derivation and Inflection - Wikipedia
  5. Learn Allomorphs - Allomorphs are variant pronunciations of the same morpheme: the plural "-s" sounds like /s/ in "cats," /z/ in "dogs," and /ɪz/ in "buses," yet they all mean "more than one." Recognizing allomorphs fine-tunes your ear and writing skills. It's like spotting costume changes for the same actor! Allomorphs - Wikipedia
  6. Explore Compounding - Compounding fuses two or more free morphemes into a shiny new word, such as "notebook" (note + book) or "sunflower" (sun + flower). This trick lets you invent vivid terms on the fly. Your imagination is the limit when you start compounding! Compound Words - Wikipedia
  7. Understand Infixation - Infixation is the rare art of slipping a morpheme into the middle of a word. English doesn't do it much, but in Tagalog "kain" (eat) becomes "kumain" (ate) by infixing "um." Discovering infixes shows you just how creative languages can get! Morphology - More than Words
  8. Recognize Zero Morphemes - A zero morpheme is invisible but powerful: it marks a grammatical change with no extra sound or letters. For instance, the plural of "sheep" stays "sheep," yet English grammar knows it's plural! It's the ghost of morphology, quietly working behind the scenes. Zero Morpheme - Wikipedia
  9. Study Morphological Trees - Morphological trees are diagrams that break words down into their morpheme roots and branches. They help you visualize how affixes and roots connect, making complex words less scary. Drawing these trees turns abstract concepts into clear, leafy trails! Morphology - Linguistics Resources
  10. Practice Identifying Morphemes - The best way to master morphology is hands-on practice: break "unbelievable" into "un-" (not), "believe" (trust), and "-able" (capable of). This skills-builds supercharge your vocabulary, reading comprehension, and even spelling. Grab any giant word and get dissecting! Morphology - English Linguistics
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