In the word 'closely', which morpheme is bound?

In the word 'closely', which morpheme is bound?

• A. -ly
• B. -ed
• C. closely
• D. close

Answer: (A)

Morphemes are the smallest meaning units in a word, and they can be free (stand on their own) or bound (attach to other morphemes). In the word closely, the base is close, which can stand alone, so it’s a free morpheme. The part that attaches to the base is -ly, a suffix that turns an adjective into an adverb. Because -ly cannot stand alone as a word, it is a bound morpheme. The -ed option isn’t part of this word, and the whole base close is free, not the bound piece. So the bound morpheme is the suffix -ly.

Morphemes are the smallest meaning units in a word, and they can be free (stand on their own) or bound (attach to other morphemes). In the word closely, the base is close, which can stand alone, so it’s a free morpheme. The part that attaches to the base is -ly, a suffix that turns an adjective into an adverb. Because -ly cannot stand alone as a word, it is a bound morpheme. The -ed option isn’t part of this word, and the whole base close is free, not the bound piece. So the bound morpheme is the suffix -ly.