California Teacher Credentialing Examination (CSET) 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

A holophrase is characterized as a single word that conveys a complete idea, making it a significant concept in the context of language acquisition. Children often use holophrases during their early language development when they have limited vocabulary but still want to express a more complex thought or need. For example, a child might say "milk" to indicate they want milk or "up" to mean they want to be lifted. This single word encapsulates their intent, demonstrating their ability to use language meaningfully, even as they are still in the early stages of learning more complex structures or vocabulary.

In context, other options focus on different aspects of language that do not align with the definition of a holophrase. Complex sentences and structured sentences pertain to more advanced language usage commonly found in adult communication or elaborate grammatical structures, which are not reflective of the early stages of a child's language development. Phrases with several morphemes also suggest a level of linguistic complexity that goes beyond the simplicity of a holophrase. Thus, the essence of what a holophrase represents is captured perfectly in the idea of a single word conveying a complete thought.