Which term refers to a group of words that share the same root and can be inflected into different parts of speech?

Which term refers to a group of words that share the same root and can be inflected into different parts of speech?

• A. Word family
• B. Lexical set
• C. Compound adjective
• D. Endophoric reference

Answer: (A)

A word family is a group of words that share a common root and can be inflected or derived to function as different parts of speech. This captures how a single root can generate multiple related forms, like act, action, active, and actor, which are all linked by the same root act but serve as different parts of speech or grammatical roles. The idea is that the root carries the core meaning, and attachments or endings modify its grammatical category. Other terms don’t fit this relationship. A lexical set groups words by a semantic field rather than by a shared root. A compound adjective is a single adjective formed from two words. Endophoric reference pertains to referring inside the text, such as pronouns pointing to earlier nouns.

A word family is a group of words that share a common root and can be inflected or derived to function as different parts of speech. This captures how a single root can generate multiple related forms, like act, action, active, and actor, which are all linked by the same root act but serve as different parts of speech or grammatical roles. The idea is that the root carries the core meaning, and attachments or endings modify its grammatical category.

Other terms don’t fit this relationship. A lexical set groups words by a semantic field rather than by a shared root. A compound adjective is a single adjective formed from two words. Endophoric reference pertains to referring inside the text, such as pronouns pointing to earlier nouns.