Chapter 2 : WORDS

1. Definition
2. Classification
2.1. Simple words
2.2. Complex words
2.3. Compound words
WORDS

DEFINITION
“The smallest of the linguistic unit which can
occur on its own in speech or writing”.

EX: boy, girl. university

CLASSIFICATION
Words can be classified into three main classes:
simple, complex, and compound words.
 CLASSIFICATION

2.1. Simple words consist of a single free

morpheme.
Example: fan, table

2.2. Complex words contain two bound

morphemes or a bound and a free morpheme.
Example: tele vise tele phone
B B B F
bookishness
2.3. Compound words contain two or more free
forms
Example: blackboard, school-girl
COMPOUND WORDS AND GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURES

Compound words can be distinguished from

grammatical structures (noun phrases) in
three ways:
Compound words Grammatical structures
(noun phrase)
can not be inserted can be interted
a sweetheart a sweet, kind heart
cannot participate in a
grammatical structure
NOT: IT IS A VERY It’s a very hard ball.
BASEBALL
Stress patterns: FIRST Stress patterns: SECOND
ELEMENT ELEMENT
‘bluebird blue ‘bird
‘swimming teacher swimming ‘teacher
• 1. Definition
• 2. Classification
• 2.1. Simple words
• 2.2. Complex words
• 2.3. Compound words