VCE English Language Metalanguage Practice Test

The correct answer is that a bound morpheme is characterized by its inability to stand alone. Bound morphemes are linguistic units, such as prefixes or suffixes, that cannot function independently as words. They must attach to other morphemes in order to convey meaning. For example, the suffix "-ing" in "running" cannot exist as a separate word, as it relies on the base "run" to provide context and meaning.

In contrast, free morphemes can stand alone as words and convey meaning independently. Examples include words like "book" or "cat." Lexical items refer to any single word or phrase that has meaning in a language, including both free and bound morphemes. Phonemes are the smallest units of sound in a language that can distinguish meaning but are not related to a word's ability to exist independently. Thus, the nature of bound morphemes is what clearly distinguishes them from the other options provided.