Morphemes

Question

Hi! I have some questions about morphemes.

I have for example a word 'writer' where the end -er is a bound derivational suffix. How about a word 'tiger', do I separate the -er again?

Same question with e.g. 'incomplete' where in- is a bound derivational prefix, is it so in 'intuitive' too?

What I'm trying to figure out is that am I supposed to separate the affixes wherever I can see them or only when they carry a certain meaning.

Thanks!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

I have for example a word 'writer' where the end -er is a bound derivational suffix. How about a word 'tiger', do I separate the -er again?-- No; it is not an affix. O.E. tigras (pl.), also in part from O.Fr. tigre (c.1150), both from L. tigris "tiger," from Gk. tigris.

Same question with e.g. 'incomplete' where in- is a bound derivational prefix, is it so in 'intuitive' too?-- 1640s, from M.L. intuitivus, from intuitus, pp. of intueri "look at, consider," from in- "at, on" + tueri "to look at, watch over". So it depends on your teacher. The word came as a single piece from Latin, though in Latin the in- is a prefix.

What I'm trying to figure out is that am I supposed to separate the affixes wherever I can see them or only when they carry a certain meaning.-- Meaning is irrelevant; it is a matter of whether it is an affix or not an affix.

Avangi · Answer

Hi, mansikka. I notice this is your first post. Welcome to English Forums, and thank you for joining us.
I'm glad MrM responded to your question. It's not a topic we often see on the Forums.

Best wishes, - A.

Mansikka1989 · Answer

Thanks for your explanation Mister Micawber, now I'm much wiser.

And thanks Avangi, I've been reading the converstations but only now I joined, this seems to be a great place. I like to work with morphemes but my teacher didn't spend too much time explaning them so I thought I'd share the problem here

Morphemes

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