California Teacher Credentialing Examination (CSET) Practice Test 2025 - Free CSET Practice Questions and Study Guide

Morphemes are defined as the smallest units of meaning in a language. This means that they can be individual words or components, such as prefixes, suffixes, or root words, that contribute specific meanings to larger constructs. For instance, in the word "unhappiness," "un-" is a morpheme that modifies the meaning of "happy," and "-ness" indicates a state or condition, making the entire word convey a particular concept.

The other options do not align with the definition of morphemes. For example, while some morphemes can convey abstract meanings, not all do, as many morphemes reflect concrete concepts or objects. Additionally, morphemes can consist of consonants as well as vowels; therefore, the assumption that they consist only of vowels is incorrect. Lastly, while prefixes and suffixes are types of morphemes, there are also standalone words and root forms that qualify as morphemes, so it is not accurate to say that they are always prefixes or suffixes. Therefore, identifying morphemes as the smallest units that convey meaning is a clear and accurate description.