What is the primary focus of morphology?

The primary focus of morphology is the study of morphemes, which are the smallest units of meaning within a language. This includes both roots and affixes (prefixes and suffixes) that modify or add to the meaning of words. Understanding morphology is crucial for analyzing how words are formed and how their meanings can change with the addition of different morphemes. This understanding contributes to vocabulary development and language comprehension, especially for English language learners who may benefit from recognizing the structure and meaning of English words.

The other options focus on different aspects of language. The study of words in context pertains more to semantics or pragmatics rather than morphology. The study of sounds in language is the domain of phonetics and phonology, where the sound system of a language is examined. The study of sentence construction relates to syntax, which involves the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences. Thus, the emphasis on morphemes distinctly identifies morphology from these other linguistic areas.