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Suffix Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: Suffixes in Linguistics: Morphology, Function, and Phonology

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Suffixes in Linguistics: Morphology, Function, and Phonology Study Guide

Core Concepts and Classification of Suffixes

A suffix is an affix that is positioned before the stem of a word, modifying its meaning or function.

Answer: False

Explanation: A suffix is defined as an affix positioned *after* the stem of a word, not before it.

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Case endings and verb endings are common examples of suffixes that convey grammatical information such as tense, person, or number.

Answer: True

Explanation: Case endings and verb endings are indeed common examples of suffixes that provide grammatical information, including tense, person, and number.

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Suffixes primarily carry only one type of information: grammatical information, also known as derivational endings.

Answer: False

Explanation: Suffixes carry two primary types of information: grammatical (inflectional) and lexical (derivational). Derivational endings are not synonymous with grammatical information; they represent lexical information.

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Inflectional suffixes change a word's syntactic category, whereas derivational suffixes solely modify grammatical properties.

Answer: False

Explanation: This statement reverses the roles. Inflectional suffixes modify grammatical properties without changing the word's syntactic category, while derivational suffixes can change the syntactic category or maintain it while creating a new lexical item.

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Inflectional suffixes typically change the word class of a word, for instance, converting a verb into a noun.

Answer: False

Explanation: Inflectional suffixes do not change the word class of a word; they only modify its grammatical properties while keeping it within its existing syntactic category.

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In linguistics, where is a suffix typically positioned relative to the stem of a word?

Answer: After the stem

Explanation: By definition, a suffix is an affix positioned after the stem of a word.

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Which of the following are common examples of suffixes that convey grammatical information?

Answer: Case endings and verb endings

Explanation: Case endings and verb endings are common examples of suffixes that convey grammatical information such as tense, person, or number.

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What are the two main types of information that suffixes can carry?

Answer: Grammatical (inflectional) and lexical (derivational) information

Explanation: Suffixes can carry grammatical (inflectional) information and lexical (derivational) information.

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How do inflectional suffixes primarily affect a word?

Answer: They change grammatical properties while keeping the word within its existing syntactic category.

Explanation: Inflectional suffixes modify grammatical properties such as tense or number without altering the word's fundamental syntactic category.

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Do inflectional suffixes change the word class (part of speech) of a word?

Answer: No, they do not.

Explanation: Inflectional suffixes do not alter the word class of a word; they only modify its grammatical properties.

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Inflectional Suffixes: English and Cross-Linguistic Examples

The suffix '-s' in 'Girls' indicates possession, whereas in 'He makes,' it marks the plural form.

Answer: False

Explanation: In 'Girls,' the suffix '-s' indicates plurality, not possession. In 'He makes,' it marks the third person singular present tense, not the plural form.

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The suffix '-ed' in 'It closed' signifies the past tense, indicating a completed action.

Answer: True

Explanation: The suffix '-ed' in 'It closed' correctly indicates the past tense, denoting a completed action.

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The comparative degree in English adjectives is marked by the suffix '-est', as in 'It's brightest'.

Answer: False

Explanation: The comparative degree in English adjectives is marked by the suffix '-er' (e.g., 'brighter'), while '-est' marks the superlative degree (e.g., 'brightest').

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The suffix '-d' in 'faded' is an inflectional suffix that changes the word 'fade' from a verb to an adjective.

Answer: False

Explanation: The suffix '-d' in 'faded' is an inflectional suffix that indicates the past participle of the verb 'fade,' but it does not change 'fade' into an adjective; it remains a verb.

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Modern English verbs use '-s' for the third person singular simple present, '-ed' for past tense, and '-ing' for the present participle.

Answer: True

Explanation: Modern English verbs indeed utilize '-s' for the third person singular simple present, '-ed' for past tense and past participle, and '-ing' for the present participle and gerund.

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Modern English nouns primarily use '-es' to indicate plural number and '-ed' for possessive forms.

Answer: False

Explanation: Modern English nouns primarily use '-s' (or '-es' in some cases) for plural number and '-s' (or '-es') for possessive forms, not '-ed'.

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The suffixes '-er' and '-est' are used in Modern English to mark the comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives and adverbs, respectively.

Answer: True

Explanation: The suffixes '-er' and '-est' are correctly identified as markers for the comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives and adverbs in Modern English.

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What grammatical information does the suffix '-s' convey in the English word 'Girls'?

Answer: Plurality

Explanation: In the word 'Girls,' the suffix '-s' indicates plurality, signifying more than one girl.

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In the English phrase 'He makes,' what does the suffix '-s' indicate?

Answer: Third person singular present tense

Explanation: The suffix '-s' in 'He makes' denotes the third person singular present tense, indicating the subject is a single entity other than the speaker or listener, performing an action in the present.

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What does the suffix '-ed' signify in the English phrase 'It closed'?

Answer: Past tense

Explanation: The suffix '-ed' in 'It closed' clearly signifies the past tense, indicating that the action of closing has already occurred.

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How is the comparative degree marked in English adjectives, according to the example 'It's brighter'?

Answer: By the suffix '-er'

Explanation: The comparative degree in English adjectives is marked by the suffix '-er,' as illustrated by 'brighter,' which indicates a higher degree of the quality.

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Which of the following is an inflectional suffix for verbs in Modern English, indicating the third person singular simple present?

Answer: -s

Explanation: In Modern English, the suffix '-s' is used for the third person singular simple present indicative active form of verbs (e.g., 'he walks').

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What are the primary inflectional suffixes used for nouns in Modern English?

Answer: -s and -en

Explanation: Modern English nouns primarily use '-s' for plural number and, in some irregular cases, '-en' for plural number.

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Which inflectional suffixes are applied to adjectives and adverbs in Modern English to mark comparative and superlative degrees?

Answer: -er and -est

Explanation: The suffixes '-er' and '-est' are used in Modern English to mark the comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives and adverbs, respectively.

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Derivational Suffixes: English Word Formation

Derivational suffixes are categorized into class-changing and class-maintaining derivation.

Answer: True

Explanation: Derivational suffixes are indeed categorized into class-changing and class-maintaining derivation, reflecting their impact on a word's part of speech.

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The English derivational suffix '-ly' exclusively changes adjectives into adverbs.

Answer: False

Explanation: While '-ly' commonly changes adjectives into adverbs, it can also change some nouns into adjectives (e.g., 'friendly' from 'friend'), so its function is not exclusive.

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The suffixes '-able' and '-ible' are typically used to change verbs into adjectives.

Answer: True

Explanation: The suffixes '-able' and '-ible' are commonly employed to transform verbs into adjectives, as exemplified by 'readable' and 'audible'.

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The suffixes '-ity' and '-ness' commonly change nouns into adjectives.

Answer: False

Explanation: The suffixes '-ity' and '-ness' typically change adjectives into nouns (e.g., 'purity' from 'pure,' 'kindness' from 'kind'), not nouns into adjectives.

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The suffixes '-fy' and '-ise' / '-ize' are generally used to convert nouns into verbs.

Answer: True

Explanation: The suffixes '-fy' and '-ise' / '-ize' are indeed generally used to convert nouns into verbs, as seen in examples like 'beautify' and 'modernize'.

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The suffix '-hood' is an example of a class-changing derivational suffix for nouns.

Answer: False

Explanation: The suffix '-hood' is an example of a class-maintaining derivational suffix for nouns (e.g., 'childhood' from 'child'), meaning it does not change the word's part of speech.

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The suffix '-wise' originates from a Latin word meaning 'knowledge'.

Answer: False

Explanation: The suffix '-wise' originates from the Old English word 'wīse,' meaning 'manner, way, condition, direction,' not from Latin meaning 'knowledge'.

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Derivational suffixes are divided into which two categories?

Answer: Class-changing and class-maintaining

Explanation: Derivational suffixes are categorized into class-changing derivation, which alters the word's part of speech, and class-maintaining derivation, which keeps it the same.

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Which English derivational suffix commonly changes adjectives into adverbs and some nouns into adjectives?

Answer: -ly

Explanation: The suffix '-ly' is known for changing adjectives into adverbs (e.g., 'quickly') and also some nouns into adjectives (e.g., 'friendly').

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Which of the following suffixes typically convert nouns into adjectives?

Answer: -al, -ic, -ful, -less

Explanation: Suffixes such as '-al,' '-ic,' '-ful,' and '-less' are commonly used to convert nouns into adjectives.

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Which English derivational suffixes are used to change verbs into adjectives?

Answer: -able, -ible

Explanation: The derivational suffixes '-able' and '-ible' are typically used to transform verbs into adjectives, as in 'readable' or 'audible'.

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Which set of English derivational suffixes commonly transforms verbs into nouns?

Answer: -ant, -tion, -ment

Explanation: Suffixes such as '-ant,' '-tion,' and '-ment' are frequently used to transform verbs into nouns.

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Which English derivational suffixes typically change adjectives into nouns?

Answer: -ity, -ness

Explanation: The derivational suffixes '-ity' and '-ness' are commonly used to convert adjectives into nouns, such as 'purity' from 'pure' or 'kindness' from 'kind'.

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Which English derivational suffixes are generally used to convert nouns into verbs?

Answer: -fy, -ise / -ize

Explanation: The suffixes '-fy' and '-ise' / '-ize' are generally employed to convert nouns into verbs, as exemplified by 'beautify' or 'modernize'.

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Which of the following is an example of a class-maintaining derivational suffix for nouns?

Answer: -hood

Explanation: The suffix '-hood' is an example of a class-maintaining derivational suffix for nouns, as it forms new nouns from existing nouns (e.g., 'childhood' from 'child').

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From what language and meaning does the English derivational suffix '-wise' originate?

Answer: Old English, meaning 'manner, way, condition, direction'

Explanation: The suffix '-wise' derives from the Old English word 'wīse,' which conveyed meanings related to 'manner, way, condition, or direction'.

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Suffixes in Specific Languages: Grammatical Functions

In French, the suffix '-x' can mark the plural form of an adjective, as seen in 'De beaux jours'.

Answer: True

Explanation: The suffix '-x' is indeed used in French to mark the plural form of certain adjectives, as demonstrated by 'De beaux jours'.

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The suffix '-a' marks the feminine form of an adjective in French, as illustrated in 'Elle est passablement bella'.

Answer: False

Explanation: In French, the suffix '-e' marks the feminine form of an adjective, as shown in 'Elle est passablement jolie,' not '-a'.

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In German, the nominative case for 'mein Computer' is unmarked, while the genitive case uses '-es' and '-s' suffixes for 'meines Computers'.

Answer: True

Explanation: The nominative case for 'mein Computer' in German is unmarked, and the genitive case is formed with '-es' and '-s' suffixes, resulting in 'meines Computers'.

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In Russian, the accusative case for 'мой компьютер' (my computer) is always marked by a specific suffix.

Answer: False

Explanation: In the specific instance of 'мой компьютер,' the accusative case is unmarked by a suffix, indicating that it is not always marked.

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In the Russian phrase 'за-туш-и-ть свечу,' the word 'за-туш-и-ть' contains an '-и-' suffix and a '-ть' ending, forming the infinitive verb form.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Russian word 'за-туш-и-ть' indeed combines an '-и-' suffix and a '-ть' ending to form the infinitive verb, as described.

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The Barngarla language uses the suffix '-rri' to indicate the dual number for 'emu'.

Answer: False

Explanation: In Barngarla, the suffix '-rri' indicates the plural number for 'emu' ('wárraidyarri'), while '-lbili' is used for the dual number ('wárraidyalbili').

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Which suffix is used in French to mark the plural form of an adjective, as exemplified by 'De beaux jours'?

Answer: -x

Explanation: In French, the suffix '-x' is used to mark the plural form of certain adjectives, as demonstrated in 'De beaux jours'.

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In French, which suffix marks the feminine form of an adjective, as shown in 'Elle est passablement jolie'?

Answer: -e

Explanation: The suffix '-e' marks the feminine form of an adjective in French, as exemplified by 'jolie' from 'joli'.

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For the German word 'Computer,' which suffixes are used to indicate the genitive case for 'my computer' ('meines Computers')?

Answer: -es and -s

Explanation: In German, the genitive case for 'Computer' is formed by adding the suffixes '-es' and '-s' to create 'meines Computers'.

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In the Barngarla language, which suffix is used to indicate 'two emus' (dual number)?

Answer: -lbili

Explanation: The Barngarla language uses the suffix '-lbili' to denote the dual number, as in 'wárraidyalbili' for 'two emus'.

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Phonological Effects of Suffixation

A suffix can often change the stress pattern of a multi-syllable word in English, altering its pronunciation.

Answer: True

Explanation: Suffixes frequently alter the stress or accent pattern of multi-syllable English words, thereby modifying their pronunciation.

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The primary stress in 'photography' remains on the same syllable as in 'photograph'.

Answer: False

Explanation: The suffix '-y' in 'photography' causes the primary stress to shift from the first syllable of 'photograph' to the antepenultimate syllable ('-to-').

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When a suffix alters the stress pattern, the vowel sounds of unaccented syllables typically become more distinct and emphasized.

Answer: False

Explanation: When a suffix shifts stress, the vowel sounds of unaccented syllables typically change to a schwa (a neutral, unstressed vowel sound), becoming less distinct and less emphasized.

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The altered pronunciation caused by suffixes is primarily a challenge for native English speakers, not non-native speakers.

Answer: False

Explanation: The altered pronunciation due to suffixes is particularly challenging for dyslexics and non-native speakers learning English, not primarily for native speakers.

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How can a suffix affect the pronunciation of a multi-syllable word in English?

Answer: It often changes the stress or accent pattern.

Explanation: Suffixes frequently cause a shift in the stress or accent pattern of multi-syllable English words, thereby altering their pronunciation.

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In the example 'photograph' vs. 'photography,' what does the suffix '-y' cause?

Answer: The primary stress to move from the first syllable to the antepenultimate syllable.

Explanation: The suffix '-y' in 'photography' shifts the primary stress from the initial syllable of 'photograph' to the antepenultimate syllable.

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When a suffix alters the stress pattern in English, what often happens to the vowel sounds of unaccented syllables?

Answer: They change to a schwa (neutral, unstressed vowel sound).

Explanation: When a suffix causes a stress shift, the vowel sounds in unaccented syllables frequently reduce to a schwa, a neutral and unstressed vowel sound.

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Who might find the altered pronunciation caused by suffixes particularly challenging?

Answer: Dyslexics and non-native speakers learning English.

Explanation: The altered pronunciation resulting from suffixes poses a particular challenge for dyslexics due to its impact on phonemic awareness, and for non-native English speakers.

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Advanced Suffix Terminology and Distinctions

In the study of Semitic languages, suffixes are sometimes called affirmatives due to their ability to alter the form of the words they are attached to.

Answer: True

Explanation: The source confirms that in Semitic languages, suffixes are occasionally referred to as affirmatives because of their capacity to modify word forms.

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Indo-European studies make no specific distinction between suffixes and endings, treating them as interchangeable terms.

Answer: False

Explanation: In Indo-European studies, a specific distinction is made between suffixes and endings, particularly in the analysis of Proto-Indo-European roots.

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A suffixoid is a word-initial segment that acts as a free morpheme, capable of standing alone.

Answer: False

Explanation: A suffixoid is a word-final segment, not word-initial, and it is intermediate between a free and a bound morpheme, not a free morpheme itself.

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A 'postfix' in Russian morphology is a type of suffix placed before the adjectival ending.

Answer: False

Explanation: In Russian morphology, a postfix is a type of suffix placed *after* the adjectival ending, not before it.

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An inflectional suffix is also known as a desinence, which refers to a word ending that indicates grammatical function.

Answer: True

Explanation: An inflectional suffix is indeed also termed a desinence, signifying a word ending that conveys grammatical function.

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What alternative term is sometimes used for suffixes in the study of Semitic languages?

Answer: Affirmatives

Explanation: In Semitic languages, suffixes are sometimes referred to as affirmatives due to their role in altering word forms.

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In Indo-European studies, what specific distinction is made regarding word parts?

Answer: A distinction between suffixes and endings.

Explanation: Indo-European studies specifically distinguish between suffixes and endings, particularly in the analysis of Proto-Indo-European roots.

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Which of the following best describes a suffixoid (or semi-suffix)?

Answer: A word-final segment intermediate between a free and bound morpheme.

Explanation: A suffixoid is characterized as a word-final segment that exists in an intermediate state between a free morpheme and a bound morpheme.

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In Russian, what is the term for a type of suffix that is placed *after* the adjectival ending, as seen in 'выдающийся' ('outstanding')?

Answer: Postfix

Explanation: In Russian morphology, a postfix is a suffix positioned after the adjectival ending, as exemplified by '-ся' in 'выдающийся'.

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What is another term for an inflectional suffix?

Answer: Desinence

Explanation: An inflectional suffix is also known as a desinence, which refers to a word ending that indicates grammatical function.

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