Here's how it works:
* Root: The basic meaning of a word, often a single syllable, like "graph" (meaning "write").
* Combining vowel: A vowel added to the root to make it easier to pronounce when combining with other morphemes (meaningful units of language). Common combining vowels are "o" and "i".
* Stem: The root plus the combining vowel, like "graph + o" to form the stem "grapho".
Example:
* Root: "graph" (write)
* Combining vowel: "o"
* Stem: "grapho"
The stem "grapho" can then be combined with other morphemes to create new words like "biography" (bio + grapho) or "autograph" (auto + grapho).
Important Note: Not all roots require a combining vowel. For example, the root "tele" (distant) can be combined directly with other morphemes, like in "telephone".