Which of the following words includes both a root word and an inflectional suffix?

Which of the following words includes both a root word and an inflectional suffix?

• A. Hopping.
• B. Happy.
• C. Talked.
• D. Friendship.

Answer: (A)

The word "hopping" includes both a root word and an inflectional suffix. The root word here is "hop," which is the base form of the verb meaning to jump. The inflectional suffix "-ing" indicates that the action is currently happening or ongoing, transforming the verb into its present participle form. This combination highlights the ability of inflectional suffixes to modify the grammatical tense or aspect of a verb without changing its fundamental meaning. The other choices do not meet the criteria of containing both a root word and an inflectional suffix. "Happy" is simply an adjective with no suffix. "Talked" includes a root word "talk" along with the inflectional suffix "-ed," which indicates past tense, but it is not the choice provided. "Friendship" contains a root word "friend" and the derivational suffix "-ship," which denotes a state or condition but does not serve an inflectional grammatical purpose. Thus, "hopping" is the only option that fulfills both components of the question.

The word "hopping" includes both a root word and an inflectional suffix. The root word here is "hop," which is the base form of the verb meaning to jump. The inflectional suffix "-ing" indicates that the action is currently happening or ongoing, transforming the verb into its present participle form. This combination highlights the ability of inflectional suffixes to modify the grammatical tense or aspect of a verb without changing its fundamental meaning.

The other choices do not meet the criteria of containing both a root word and an inflectional suffix. "Happy" is simply an adjective with no suffix. "Talked" includes a root word "talk" along with the inflectional suffix "-ed," which indicates past tense, but it is not the choice provided. "Friendship" contains a root word "friend" and the derivational suffix "-ship," which denotes a state or condition but does not serve an inflectional grammatical purpose. Thus, "hopping" is the only option that fulfills both components of the question.