The word 'table' contains one morpheme.
What is a Morpheme?
In linguistics, a morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning or grammatical function in a language. Unlike syllables, which are units of sound, morphemes are concerned with meaning. A single word can consist of one morpheme (like 'cat' or 'run') or multiple morphemes (like 'un-break-able').
The Morphemic Structure of 'Table'
The word "table" functions as a single, complete unit of meaning. Although it can be divided into two syllables, "ta" and "ble," neither of these parts carries an independent or distinct meaning on its own. For instance, "ta" does not signify a particular concept, nor does "ble."
Therefore, because "table" represents a singular, indivisible unit of meaning, it is classified as one morpheme. It is a root word that cannot be further broken down into smaller, meaningful components.
For contrast, consider words that contain multiple morphemes:
- Un-happy: Here, 'un-' is a prefix morpheme meaning "not," and 'happy' is a root morpheme. This word has two morphemes.
- Play-ing: 'Play' is a root morpheme, and '-ing' is a suffix morpheme indicating a continuous action. This word also has two morphemes.
Summary Table
To clarify the morpheme count for 'table':
| Word | Number of Morphemes |
|---|---|
| table | 1 |
