Question

A free morpheme that is used as as function word

ex- "and" (conjunction) or "in" (preposition) "them" (pronoun)

because, when, on, near, but, the, it, etc.

Answer 1

Free morphemes can function as words on their own and include function words like conjunctions ('and'), prepositions ('in'), and pronouns ('them'), which are crucial for expressing grammatical relationships and structuring sentences in both syntax and semantics.

Step-by-step explanation:

Free Morphemes as Function Words

A free morpheme is the smallest linguistic unit that can convey meaning and can stand alone as a word. Examples of free morphemes used as function words include conjunctions like "and," prepositions such as "in," and pronouns like "them." Unlike bound morphemes, they do not need to be attached to other morphemes to express meaning. Function words are essential in conveying grammatical relationships within sentences, helping to provide structure and meaning. In contrast, content words are used to convey specific information and include nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. It's important to remember that the function and form of words can shift depending on their use in a sentence. For example, 'eating' can function as a verb or as a noun, as in "Eating an apple a day can keep the doctor away," where it functions nominally.

Understanding the role of function words is important in mastering a language's syntax and semantics. Syntax refers to the arrangement of words in a sentence to make grammatical sense, while semantics deals with the meaning of words and how they combine to form meanings in sentences.

Conjunctions like "and" are used to connect clauses or words, while prepositions such as "in" indicate relationships between different parts of a sentence. Pronouns like "them" substitute for nouns and can change form to indicate number, case, or gender. These linguistic tools help form coherent sentences and articulate relations between different sentence elements.

Answer 2

Free morphemes are standalone linguistic units that can convey meaning. They often serve as function words such as pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, and articles. While their form is static, the function they serve can change from sentence to sentence, playing an important role in sentence structure and meaning.

Step-by-step explanation:

A free morpheme is the smallest unit of language that can stand alone and convey meaning.

Unlike bound morphemes, which cannot stand independently and must be attached to other morphemes, free morphemes are complete words. Many free morphemes function as function words, playing crucial roles in the syntax of a sentence rather than conveying concrete images or ideas. Examples of function words include pronouns (them), prepositions (in), conjunctions (and), and articles (the).

These do not denote objects or actions but are used to construct sentences, indicating relationships between other words or framing the grammatical structure.

Recognizing the function of a word in a sentence is vital, as the form of a word doesn't always determine its role. For instance, while eating is usually a verb, it functions nominally in 'Eating an apple a day can keep the doctor away.' Similarly, pronouns can sometimes function adjectivally, as in 'That car is mine,' where that modifies the noun car.

Because language is a complex system of semantics and syntax, understanding how words like function words fit within this system is essential. Function words are often overlooked but are critical to sentence structure and meaning.