Which statement best describes a free morpheme?

Which statement best describes a free morpheme?

• A. It can exist on its own
• B. It must attach to another morpheme
• C. It is always a prefix
• D. It is always a suffix

Answer: (A)

A free morpheme is a unit of meaning that can stand alone as a word. It carries meaning by itself and doesn’t need to attach to another morpheme to convey a complete idea. For example, words like “book” or “dog” can function fully on their own, even though they can also appear as parts of larger compounds. Bound morphemes, such as prefixes and suffixes like “un-” or “-ed,” cannot stand alone and must attach to a root or another morpheme to contribute meaning. So the statement that a free morpheme can exist on its own is the best description.