* Morpheme: The smallest meaningful unit of language. It can be a word on its own (like "cat") or a part of a word that contributes meaning (like the "-ing" in "running").
* Root Word: The basic form of a word that carries its core meaning. It's usually a morpheme, but not all morphemes are root words.
Here's the difference:
* All root words are morphemes, but not all morphemes are root words.
* A root word can stand alone, while some morphemes only function as prefixes, suffixes, or inflections.
Examples:
* Root word: "run" (can stand alone as a word)
* Morpheme that's also a root word: "cat" (can stand alone as a word)
* Morpheme that's not a root word: "-ing" (needs to be attached to a root word to have meaning)
Think of it this way:
* Root words are the foundation. They are the core meanings.
* Morphemes are the building blocks. They can be root words, or they can be added on to modify the root word.