Connecticut Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) Practice

Which of the following is an example of a morpheme?

1. Chair

2. Seventeen

3. Both Chair and Seventeen

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Both Chair and Seventeen

A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in a language. It can be a single word or part of a word that conveys meaning. In the case of "chair," it represents a complete concept without being divisible into smaller meaningful parts, making it a free morpheme. On the other hand, "seventeen" combines two morphemes: "seven" and the addition of "teen," which together form a unique numerically labeled entity. Since both "chair" and "seventeen" function as distinct units of meaning in the language, they collectively serve as examples of morphemes. Recognizing both options as morphemes demonstrates an understanding of how language is structured and the significance of both whole words and compounds in conveying meaning.