What is the term for the smallest meaningful unit of words/grammar?

Prepare for Delta Module 1 Exam with questions designed to test your knowledge. Use flashcards, multiple choice questions with hints, and explanations to get ready for success!

Multiple Choice

What is the term for the smallest meaningful unit of words/grammar?

Explanation:
Morpheme is the smallest unit that carries meaning or grammatical function in a word. It can be a whole word like cat, or a bound piece like -s for plural or un- for negation. These pieces combine to form words and express meaning or grammar. Phoneme is about sound contrasts that can change meaning (like p vs b), not meaning itself. Allophone is a non-contrastive variation of a phoneme. A syllable groups sounds into a beat but doesn’t inherently carry meaning.

Morpheme is the smallest unit that carries meaning or grammatical function in a word. It can be a whole word like cat, or a bound piece like -s for plural or un- for negation. These pieces combine to form words and express meaning or grammar.

Phoneme is about sound contrasts that can change meaning (like p vs b), not meaning itself. Allophone is a non-contrastive variation of a phoneme. A syllable groups sounds into a beat but doesn’t inherently carry meaning.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy