Here's why:
* Morphemes are the smallest meaningful units of language. They can be individual words, or parts of words that contribute to the overall meaning.
* Morphemes can be added to words to modify them or create new ones. For example, adding the suffix "-ing" to the verb "walk" creates the present participle "walking." Adding the prefix "un-" to the adjective "happy" creates the opposite meaning, "unhappy."
Here are some examples of how morphemes can modify words:
* Prefixes: "un-", "re-", "pre-", "dis-"
* Suffixes: "-ing", "-ed", "-er", "-est", "-ly", "-ness"
* Inflections: "-s" (plural), "-es" (third person singular), "-ed" (past tense)
Let me know if you'd like more examples or want to explore specific types of morphemes!