Which statement best describes how L2 learners acquire morphemes?

Which statement best describes how L2 learners acquire morphemes?

• A. They never acquire morphemes.
• B. They acquire morphemes in a developmental sequence (may differ from L1).
• C. Only with explicit instruction.
• D. They always acquire morphemes before phonemes.

Answer: (B)

Morpheme learning in L2 learners tends to follow a gradual, order-based path rather than occurring all at once. Learners typically acquire certain grammatical morphemes in a relatively predictable sequence, often influenced by how noticeable or frequent the forms are in the input and how useful they are for communication. Importantly, this sequence isn’t the same for every learner or exactly the same as how first-language acquisition unfolds, because L1 transfer, learner experience, and the particular language pair shape what forms are mastered first. So, the best description is that morphemes are acquired in a developmental sequence that may differ from L1. Other options overstate or misstate the process: morphemes are learned by many learners, not never; explicit instruction helps but is not the only path to acquisition; and morphemes are not universally acquired before phonemes—their development can happen in parallel or in different orders depending on the learner and context.

Morpheme learning in L2 learners tends to follow a gradual, order-based path rather than occurring all at once. Learners typically acquire certain grammatical morphemes in a relatively predictable sequence, often influenced by how noticeable or frequent the forms are in the input and how useful they are for communication. Importantly, this sequence isn’t the same for every learner or exactly the same as how first-language acquisition unfolds, because L1 transfer, learner experience, and the particular language pair shape what forms are mastered first. So, the best description is that morphemes are acquired in a developmental sequence that may differ from L1.

Other options overstate or misstate the process: morphemes are learned by many learners, not never; explicit instruction helps but is not the only path to acquisition; and morphemes are not universally acquired before phonemes—their development can happen in parallel or in different orders depending on the learner and context.