* Endings are added to words. Endings are the suffixes that change a word's grammatical function. They are usually added to the end of a word.
* Prefixes are added to the beginning of words. Prefixes change the meaning of a word.
* Suffixes are added to the end of words. Suffixes change the word's grammatical function (like noun, adjective, verb) or its meaning.
* Roots are the basic building blocks of words. They are the core meaning of a word.
Here's a helpful analogy:
Think of building a house.
* The root is the foundation. It's the essential part that holds everything together.
* Prefixes are like additions to the front of the house. They might add a porch or a garage, changing how the house looks.
* Suffixes are like additions to the back of the house. They might add a sunroom or a deck, changing how the house is used.
* Endings are the finishing touches. They are the paint, the windows, the doors, that make the house complete.
Example:
Let's look at the word "unbreakable":
* Root: "break"
* Prefix: "un-" (meaning not)
* Suffix: "-able" (meaning capable of)
So, "unbreakable" means "not capable of being broken".
Key takeaway: Endings are added to the complete word after all the prefixes and suffixes have been added.