“Bound morphemes” are primarily root morphemes that cannot stand alone. To determine if a root is bound, strip the root of all of its affixes. If the root is standalone, it is usually immediately obvious (ex. fire, run, help). If you are not sure, you might have a bound morpheme. A dictionary, however, is the best way to be certain whether your root may stand alone or not.
Please note that Latin root words often seem like they might be stand alone or free. One may loosely associate the root "gress" with motion (for example egress or retrogress). Do not let such half meanings confuse you. Check a dictionary where you will see that this word does not stand alone in English.
Example Stripping a Word to its Root:
The resulting root is dexter; a dictionary reveals that this is not an English word. Therefore dexter is a bound morpheme.
Example of a Non-bound Root:
”Bound morphemes” are also morphemes that can occur only when attached to root morphemes. Affixes are bound morphemes. Common English bound morphemes include: -ing, -ed, -er, and pre-. Morphemes that are not bound morphemes are free morphemes.
Please note that Latin root words often seem like they might be stand alone or free. One may loosely associate the root "gress" with motion (for example egress or retrogress). Do not let such half meanings confuse you. Check a dictionary where you will see that this word does not stand alone in English.
Example Stripping a Word to its Root:
ambidexterity -> (am)(bi) dexter (ity).The resulting root is dexter; a dictionary reveals that this is not an English word. Therefore dexter is a bound morpheme.
Example of a Non-bound Root:
antidote -> (anti) dote.The root here is dote; which means to show affection, a dictionary will confirm that it is its own word. Therefore dote is a free morpheme. ”Bound morphemes” are also morphemes that can occur only when attached to root morphemes. Affixes are bound morphemes. Common English bound morphemes include: -ing, -ed, -er, and pre-. Morphemes that are not bound morphemes are free morphemes.
