WORD

is smallest
segment that
can stand by
itself

Types of words

(Based on how they are formed from their

constituent morpheme)
Simple

word
Complex word
Compound word
Compound-complex
word

Simple Word
consists

of a single word (a free

morpheme)
e.g. cat, home, elephant
can consist of a base only or a
base + inflectional suffix.
e.g. cats, homes

Complex Word
made up of free morpheme and a bound
morpheme, either
Bound stem/base + Derivational Suffix
e.g. placate, rupture, legible
Prefix + Bound stem/base
e.g. circumvent, corrupt, uncouth
Free stem/morpheme + Derivational
Suffix
e.g. singer, manly, easy, conductor, manliness
Prefix + free stem
e.g. untie, uneasy, subatomic

Compound Word
made up of two free morphemes used
together to form single lexical unit,
either
Two simple words (FM+FM)
e.g. blackboard, hot house, drug store
Three simple words (FM+FM+FM)
e.g. son-in-law, in spite of
Complex word +FM or FM +Complex Word
e.g. postage-stamp, tax-collector
Compound +Complex word
e.g. lookout tower, football player

Compound-Complex Word
Compound

word + Derivational

Suffix
e.g. dry-cleaner, moon shiner
Prefix + Compound Word
e.g. ex-housewife, super salesman