Here's a breakdown:
* Root: The most basic form of a word that carries its core meaning.
* Stem: The root plus any affixes (prefixes and suffixes) that are directly attached to it.
Example:
* Word: "unbelievable"
* Root: "believe" (meaning "to hold something as true")
* Stem: "believ"
* Prefix: "un" (meaning "not")
* Suffix: "-able" (meaning "capable of")
The stem "believ" in this case combines with the prefix and suffix to form the word "unbelievable".
Here's why understanding stems is helpful:
* Word building: You can create new words by adding prefixes and suffixes to a stem.
* Understanding meaning: Knowing the stem of a word can help you understand its meaning, even if you don't know the specific prefix or suffix.
* Identifying related words: Stems help you identify words that share the same basic meaning.
Important Note: Some sources use the terms "stem" and "root" interchangeably. While they often overlap, a stem can have affixes attached, while a root is the most basic form without any added parts.