MORPHOLOGY: CORPORA



  1. What is the frequency in COCA of had shone?

  2. What is the frequency in COCA of had shined?

  3. What is the frequency on the web (Google) of had shone?

  4. What is the frequency on the web of had shined?

  5. What differences in meaning can you see by comparing the contexts in which the two appear?





  1. Think of one comparative adjective that sounds good ending in -er (e.g. sweeter), and also sounds good with more (e.g. more sweet). Find the Frequency of these words in COCA. Now think of one that sounds good with more but bad with -er (e.g. more realistic, realisticer??). What is the frequency of these words (if any) in COCA? Fill in the chart below and please use words besides sweet and realistic.



Words you chose

COCA Frequency

First word ending in -er



First word preceded by more



Second word ending in -er



Second word preceded by more




  1. How many cases of the adjective that sounds odd with -er do you find on the web?

  2. Find one adjective that only ends in -ic in COCA, one that only ends in -ical, and one that ends in both (e.g. economic/economical). Please don't use economic/economical. Make sure the words you find have a root that is a word also. For example, economic/economical are based on economy, but specific doesn't have a root *specif.


Word you chose

Freq. of the opposite form on the web

(-ical is the opposite of -ic)

Only ends in -ical



Only ends in -ic



Ends in both





  1. For the two words that only have one ending in COCA, how many examples can you find with the other ending on the Web? Fill in the above chart with the data you find.