Connecticut Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) Practice

Which of the following defines inflectional changes in grammar?

1. Changes that alter the meaning of a word

2. Changes that affect only the word's grammatical function

3. Changes in vocabulary usage

4. Changes related to phonetics

The correct answer is: Changes that affect only the word's grammatical function

Inflectional changes in grammar refer specifically to modifications made to a word that primarily affect its grammatical function within a sentence rather than its core meaning. This can include alterations to indicate tense, number, gender, mood, or case, helping to clarify how the word interacts with other words in a sentence. For example, adding "-s" to form plurals or "-ed" to indicate the past tense exemplifies inflectional changes. This concept is distinct from other options. Altering a word's meaning suggests a kind of change that would be more aligned with derivational changes rather than inflectional ones. Changes in vocabulary usage usually pertain to the way words fit into broader language contexts rather than specific grammatical modifications. Phonetic changes, on the other hand, involve alterations in pronunciation without necessarily affecting grammatical function. Understanding inflectional changes is crucial for grasping how words can be adapted to fit grammatical rules and structures in a language.