When are hearing students able to use English morphology correctly most of the time?

When are hearing students able to use English morphology correctly most of the time?

• A. Around 1-2 years
• B. Around 2-3 years
• C. Around 4-5 years
• D. Around 3-4 years

Answer: (D)

Mastering English morphology happens as children grow and begin to attach the usual endings and markers to words. For hearing children, that reliable use of common morphemes—like plural -s, past tense -ed, present progressive -ing, the third-person singular -s, and basic possessives—tends to be in place most of the time by about ages three to four. Before then, around ages two to three, these markers are used less consistently and children often make errors or overgeneralizations. After age four, accuracy continues to improve and becomes more robust across different contexts, but the point where you see the markers used correctly most of the time is around three to four years old.

Mastering English morphology happens as children grow and begin to attach the usual endings and markers to words. For hearing children, that reliable use of common morphemes—like plural -s, past tense -ed, present progressive -ing, the third-person singular -s, and basic possessives—tends to be in place most of the time by about ages three to four. Before then, around ages two to three, these markers are used less consistently and children often make errors or overgeneralizations. After age four, accuracy continues to improve and becomes more robust across different contexts, but the point where you see the markers used correctly most of the time is around three to four years old.