Morphemes in “comparative”
“comparative” has 2 morphemes: compare + -ative.
compar
root
+
ative
suffix
Spelling changes when the parts join: the boxes show the letters as written; the morphemes themselves are compare + -ative.
Each morpheme explained
| Morpheme | Type | Free / bound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| compare (written compar) | free root | free | examine and note the similarities or differences of |
| -ative | derivational suffix | bound | tending to, having the nature of |
How the word is built
compare → comparative
Each step adds one affix to the word before it; the root “compare” is where the chain starts.
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Segmentation derived from MorphyNet (Batsuren, Bella & Giunchiglia, 2021; CC BY-SA 3.0, built from Wiktionary), with hand-written affix glosses and root meanings from WordNet. Reviewed for classroom use; tell us if you spot an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many morphemes are in "comparative"?
"comparative" has two morphemes: compare + -ative.
How do you break "comparative" into morphemes?
compare + -ative. The root is "compare"; -ative is a derivational suffix.
What is the root word of "comparative"?
The root of "comparative" is "compare", built up as compare → comparative.
Is this morphology tool free?
Yes. The Fixie morphological analyzer is free with no signup and runs in your browser.