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Derivational Morphology for Dummies

noun


What does Derivational Morphology really mean?

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Hey there! So, "derivational morphology" might sound like a big, intimidating word, but it's actually not that complicated once you break it down. Let's take a closer look, okay?

First off, let's talk about "morphology." The word "morphology" basically refers to the study of the structure of words and how they are formed. It's like exploring the building blocks of language and how they come together to create different words.

Now, when we add "derivational" to "morphology," it becomes "derivational morphology." This is when we're looking at how new words are formed by adding prefixes, suffixes, and other word parts to a base word. It's like putting together different puzzle pieces to create a brand-new picture.

For example, let's take the word "happy." We can use derivational morphology to create new words like "unhappy" or "happiness" by adding prefixes and suffixes to the base word.

So, in simple terms, derivational morphology is all about understanding how words are formed by adding or changing their parts to create new meanings. It's like being a language detective, figuring out how different words are connected and where they come from.

I hope that makes sense! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Learning new things about language can be a lot of fun, don't you think?

Revised and Fact checked by Mia Harris on 2023-11-15 06:13:05

Derivational Morphology In a sentece

Learn how to use Derivational Morphology inside a sentece

  • When we add the suffix -ly to the adjective quick, it becomes quickly. This is an example of derivational morphology, where we change the word's meaning or function by adding a prefix or suffix.
  • If we add the prefix un- to the word happy, it becomes unhappy. This is another example of derivational morphology, where we change the word's meaning by adding a prefix.
  • Changing the word happy into happiness by adding the suffix -ness is an example of derivational morphology, where we create a new word by adding a suffix.
  • The word employ can be changed to employment by adding the suffix -ment, showing derivational morphology where the word's function and meaning are altered.
  • If we add the prefix dis- to the word agree, it becomes disagree. This is another example of derivational morphology, where we change the word's meaning by adding a prefix.

Derivational Morphology Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.