Final answer:
Option (a) true, Inflectional suffixes like -ed and -s are generally taught before derivational suffixes such as -ful and -less because they deal with basic grammatical functions, while derivational suffixes involve more complex changes in meaning and word class.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether students should learn inflectional suffixes like -ed and -s before derivational suffixes such as -ful and -less does have a recommended approach. Educators often suggest that inflectional suffixes should be introduced first, as they are more straightforward and relate to the grammatical form of words, including verb tenses and pluralization.
For example, the suffix -ed signifies the past tense or completed action in verbs. It can be pronounced in different ways, such as [d], [id], or [t], depending on the verb it's attached to. The suffix -s indicates plurality or present tense third person singular in nouns and verbs, respectively.
On the other hand, derivational suffixes like -ful, -less, -ly, and -y change the meaning of a word to form a new word with a slightly different concept or category, such as creating adjectives or adverbs from nouns. As these involve a deeper understanding of word formation and vocabulary, they tend to be taught after inflectional suffixes. By learning inflectional suffixes first, students can gain fundamental morphological skills that prepare them for the more complex task of understanding and using derivational suffixes.