Final answer:
A bound morpheme is used to indicate grammatical functions such as making a word plural or singular, past tense, comparative, or possessive, like adding '-s' for plurals or '-ed' for past tense verbs. It is essential for understanding the precise meaning and structure within English language usage.
Step-by-step explanation:
A bound morpheme is a type of morpheme that cannot stand alone and must be attached to other morphemes to convey meaning. Bound morphemes are used to indicate various grammatical functions of words such as singular or plural form, tense, comparison, and possessiveness. For instance, the suffix '-s' or '-es' can be added to a noun to indicate that it is plural, as in 'cats' or 'dishes.' Similarly, the suffix '-ed' is often used to mark the past tense of a verb, as in 'walked.'
In the realm of comparisons, the suffixes '-er' and '-est' are added to form comparative and superlative degrees, like in 'smaller' or 'smallest.' To depict possession, an apostrophe followed by an 's' (or sometimes just an apostrophe for plural nouns ending in 's') is used, such as 'the cat’s toy' or 'the players' locker room.' These grammatical markers are essential in conveying precise meaning and structure within the English language.
The function of words in a sentence can change, though their form remains constant. For example, 'Jose's' in the phrase 'Jose’s mother' is functioning as an adjective modifying ‘mother’ even though its form is that of a proper noun. Understanding how both form and function work allows for better comprehension and use of the English language.