Here's how root words work:
* They stand alone: The root word can often be used as a word on its own, even if it doesn't have prefixes or suffixes. For example, "act" can be used as a verb ("She acted quickly") or a noun ("The act was impressive").
* They have meaning: The root word conveys the core meaning of the whole word. For example, "spect" means "to look" in "inspect" and "retrospect."
* They are combined with prefixes and suffixes: Prefixes go *before* the root word and suffixes go *after* it. These add extra meaning to the word, often changing its part of speech (noun, verb, adjective).
Examples:
* "graph" (meaning "write"): autograph, biography, photograph
* "port" (meaning "carry"): export, import, transport
* "vis" (meaning "see"): visible, vision, supervise
Knowing root words can help you:
* Understand the meaning of new words: If you know the root word, you can often guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word with prefixes or suffixes.
* Expand your vocabulary: By learning root words, you can learn many related words with different prefixes and suffixes.
* Improve your reading comprehension: Recognizing root words can help you understand complex words and their meanings in context.
Let me know if you'd like me to explain anything further or give more examples!