[Grammar] may therefore be defined as its composition

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suprunp

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A morphological form may be simple (consisting of a stem only, as in the case of play) or complex (consisting of more than one morpheme, like playful). The morphological form of a word may therefore be defined as its composition in terms of morphemes, ie stems and affixes.
(A comprehensive grammar of the English language)

What does 'its' refer to?

Thanks.
 

5jj

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BobK

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A morphological form may be simple (consisting of a stem only, as in the case of play) or complex (consisting of more than one morpheme, like playful). The morphological form of a word may therefore be defined as its composition in terms of morphemes, ie stems and affixes.
(A comprehensive grammar of the English language)

What does 'its' refer to?

Thanks.
The word. I'm not sure what else it could refer to... :-? 'Form' is the only other candidate, but a form can't be composed.

b
 

suprunp

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The word. I'm not sure what else it could refer to... :-? 'Form' is the only other candidate, but a form can't be composed.

b

A morphological form may be simple (consisting of a stem only [...]).

I can't quite explain it, but it is supposedly this part that got me confused as to the actual meaning of the following sentence.
 

BobK

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I can't quite explain it, but it is supposedly this part that got me confused as to the actual meaning of the following sentence.

I see. My 'can't' didn't fit in with the rest of your context. Sorry.:oops:

b
 
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