Here's a breakdown of what a root word is and how it works:
* Core Meaning: The root word conveys the primary meaning of the word. For example, the root word "graph" means "write".
* Building Blocks: Prefixes (at the beginning of a word) and suffixes (at the end of a word) are added to the root word to modify its meaning or change its grammatical function.
* Understanding Word Families: Knowing root words helps you understand word families, as many words share the same root word but have different meanings based on the added prefixes and suffixes. For example, "graph," "telegraph," "autograph," and "epigraph" all share the root word "graph" and are related to writing.
Examples:
* Root word "port" - "carry"
* Import: to bring something in from another country
* Export: to send something out of a country
* Portable: able to be carried easily
* Root word "spect" - "look"
* Inspect: to look at something carefully
* Prospect: a potential or likely future event
* Retrospect: to look back on the past
Understanding root words is a powerful tool for improving vocabulary and comprehension. By breaking down words into their core meanings, you can decipher new words and remember them more easily.