Morphology Trees

Ling 101

Reviewing Morphology trees

1.

The root
a.
b.

What Morpheme adds the basic meaning to the word?

i. This is the first node in the tree- Everything is added to the root.
What Part of Speech is the Root?
i. Label it!

Reviewing Morphology trees

1.

The root

Example:
Unbelievably

Reviewing Morphology trees

1.

The root

Example:
Unbelievably

Reviewing Morphology trees

1.
2.

The root
The first Affix
a.

Look at the Morphemes on both sides of the Root

i.

b.
c.

Remember- Affixes are added systematically. In English, they must be added directly to
the word and a word must be the result!
Identify which Affix makes a word with the root
Connect it with the root and label the new Part of Speech

Reviewing Morphology trees

1.
2.

The root
The first Affix

Example
Unbelievable
Unbelieve?
Believable?

Reviewing Morphology trees

1.
2.

The root
The first Affix

Example:
Believable

Reviewing Morphology trees

1.
2.
3.

The root
The first Affix
Further Affixes
a.

Look at the Morphemes on both sides of the compound

i.

b.
c.

Remember- Affixes are added systematically. In English, they must be added directly to
the word and a word must be the result!
Identify which Affix makes a word with the compound
Connect it with the root and label the new Part of Speech

Reviewing Morphology trees

1.
2.
3.

The root
The first Affix
Further Affixes

Example
Unbelievably
Unbelievable?
Believably?

Reviewing Morphology trees

Unbelievable and Believably are both words!

Remember- Affixes only accept certain Input
When you run into two words, check which Part of Speech each word is
Check which morphemes you have left
Check which set of Compound and Affix can combine
All Affixes have to end up in the word

Reviewing Morphology trees

Un + Adverb=?

Un + very = unvery?
Un + quickly = unquickly?

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Adjective + ly = ?

Quick + ly = quickly
Happy + ly = happily

Reviewing Morphology trees

Believably, an Adverb, cannot combine with un

Believable cannot be the right answer, so it must be Unbelievable

Reviewing Morphology trees