Morpheme: Root/Base and Stem I

I think it's important to understand the following terminologies:

i. Root/Base

ii. Stem

What is the root or base word? 

A root or base word is that part of the word that a prefix or suffix can be added to. 

In other words, a root or base word is a free morpheme. That word or part of the word that can stand on its own without the addition of a prefix or suffix can be said to be the root or base word. Let's provide some examples. 

i. boy

ii. man

iii. go

iv. provide
v. courage

In example (i), the noun boy can be said to be a root or base word because (other) suffixes can be added to it. For example: 

i. boys

boy (base/root) + s = boys

ii. men 

man (base/root) + s = men

Other examples in this category include feet (foot + s); teeth (tooth + s); mice (mouse + s). 

Formation of plural nouns

http://olabanjititles.blogspot.com/2019/03/nouns-formation-of-plural-nouns.html?m=1

iii. go

go (base/root) + es = goes

go (base/root) + ing = going

go (base/root) + ed = went 

go (base/root) + ed + ed = gone 

iv. provide 

provide (base/root) + s = provides

provide (base/root) + ing = providing

provide (base/root) + ed = provided

provide (base/root) + ion = provision

provide (base/root) + ion+ s = provisions

v. courage
en + courage (base/root) + ment = encouragement
dis + courage (base/root) + ment = discouragement 

I have seen instances where I have asked students to identify the root or base words of nouns, especially those formed from verbs, and they failed woefully. A quick example is provision. The assumption is that the root or base word is 'provis'. No! Like it's been said earlier, the root or base is provide. Let's consider some other examples: 

i. assumption 

ii. woefully 

iii. failed 

iv. example

v. instances 

I shall be using the examples above to answer the following questions: 

i. What is the root or base word in the examples listed above? 

ii. How many morphemes are in each of the examples stated above? 

i. assumption (2 morphemes)

assume (root/base) + ion

ii. woefully (3 morphemes)

woe (root/base) + ful + my

iii. failed (2 morphemes)

fail (root/base) + ed

iv. example (1 morpheme)

v. instances (2 morphemes)

instance (root/base) + s 

To be continued. 

I will suggest you read the post below: 

Word formation processes http://olabanjititles.blogspot.com/2019/03/word-formation-processes-affixation-how.html?m=1

Thank you for reading. 

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