How many morphemes are in the word "prescription"?

How many morphemes are in the word "prescription"?

• A. 2
• B. 3
• C. 4
• D. 5

Answer: (B)

"Prescription" is composed of three distinct morphemes, which are the smallest units of meaning in a language. The word can be broken down as follows: the prefix "pre-", which means "before"; the root "script," derived from the Latin "scribere," meaning "to write"; and the suffix "-ion," which is used to indicate a process or result. The prefix "pre-" indicates the idea of something occurring beforehand, the root "script" relates to writing, and the suffix "-ion" transforms the verb into a noun to suggest the action or result of writing something beforehand. This morphological structure shows how the components combine to convey a specific meaning. Understanding morphemes helps in grasping how complex words are formed and how they convey rich meanings through their various parts.

"Prescription" is composed of three distinct morphemes, which are the smallest units of meaning in a language. The word can be broken down as follows: the prefix "pre-", which means "before"; the root "script," derived from the Latin "scribere," meaning "to write"; and the suffix "-ion," which is used to indicate a process or result.

The prefix "pre-" indicates the idea of something occurring beforehand, the root "script" relates to writing, and the suffix "-ion" transforms the verb into a noun to suggest the action or result of writing something beforehand. This morphological structure shows how the components combine to convey a specific meaning. Understanding morphemes helps in grasping how complex words are formed and how they convey rich meanings through their various parts.