Inflectional vs.

derivational
and morphemes.
In English language, there are four main criteria which are used to make a
distinction between
derivational
and
inflectional
morphemes.
They
are: productivity, order, ability to change category and relation to grammatical
category and syntax.
1. Productivity
Inflectional suffixes attach to roots/stems in a very predictable way and they can be
added to almost all words in a particular grammatical category. For example, count
noun chosen by chance, almost always allows an inflected plural. On the contrary, an
arbitrarily chosen derivational affix applies only to a restricted class of bases. In
order to prove this, I have found twenty-seven examples of inflected plural nouns on
only one page and only one derivate adjective which has derivational adjective
suffix less on the same page. Inflected plural nouns are: years, pounds, preferences,
folks, valedictories, discourses, musings, listeners, aromas, pillows, biscuits, sleeves,
tables, dreams, sleepers, windows, timbers, canticles, tides, breakers, islands,
workers, brothers, nets, mariners, eyes, and efforts. (Conroy, 2005:295) The only
derivate word that I have found on the same page is an adjective helpless. (Conroy,
2005:295) Despite the fact that derivational adjective suffix less is quite common in
English language, it typically occurs with only some members of a class of
morphemes. For examle, we cannot say happyless or beatyless. Inflectional
morphemes are very productive and they typically occur with all members of a class
of morphemes (for example, the plural morpheme s occurs with almost all nouns). On
the other hand, derivational morphemes are usually not very productive and they
typically occur with only some members of a class morpheme.
2. Order
Derivational morphemes occur before any inflectional suffixes are added. They have
to be added to the base before any inflectional affixes reminds -(Conroy, 2005:324)
But, inflectional affixes are attached to the base after any derivational affixes. In
other words, they occur at margins of words, after any derivational morphemes
reminds- (Conroy, 2005:324)
3. Category change
Inflectional affixes do not change the category of the base to which they attach boyboys noun - (Conroy, 2005:294) However, derivational affixes can change the
category of the base to which they attach hope (noun) hopeless (adjective) (Conroy, 2005:166). Nevertheless, derivational affixes do not necessarily change the

base to which they are added place (verb) replace (verb). (Conroy, 2005:25) I
have
to
point
out
that
inflectional ing is
different
from
derivational ing. Inflectional ing is added to verb to form progressive tenses: I
was thinking about time the other day. (Conroy, 2005: 323) Derivational ing is
attached to verbs to form adjectives: There was a disturbing apposition to the
American lives we were leading. (Conroy, 2005:547) Besides, there is the difference
between inflectional ed and derivational ed. Inflectional ed is attached to verbs to
form past tenses: In Colleton I had entered into the teacher`s life of sustained
regularity. (Conroy, 2005: 549) On the other hand, derivational ed is added to verbs
to form adjectives: He was surprised and embarrassed by the fuss. (Conroy, 2005:476)
4. Relation to grammatical categories and syntax
Inflectional affixes are categories that are relevant to stating the syntactic rules of
the language. Because of that, they are obligatory to the rest of the sentence in
which they occur in a way that derivational affixes are not.
She thinks you`re going to lose your shirt again. (Conroy, 2005:302)
say: She think you`re going to lose your shirt again.

We can never

Suan said you were displeased when you found out that I was coaching him. (Conroy,
2005:506) Susan said you were pleased when you found out that I was coaching him.Although the meaning is changed, the sentence is grammatically correct.
Besides these four major differences, there are other differences as well:
1. The dictionary usually lists derivative lexemes, but not inflected words.
Inflected words are rule-regulated and that`s why regularly inflected forms are
usually not listed in dictionaries. Derivatioanal affixes can change both the
syntactic category and the meaning and because of that, they appear in
dictionaries with derivational morphemes.
2. Derivational morphemes may be prefixes and suffixes, but inflectional
morphemes are all suffixes in English. English inflectional suffixes are always
final in the morpheme groups to which they belong.
3. Derivational morphemes typically indicate semantic relations within a word,
while inflectional morphemes typically indicate syntactic or semantic relations
between different words or sentences.

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