What Does Base Word Mean

Are Base Words and Root Words the Aforementioned?

The English language is made up of many closely related words. In fact, information technology'due south possible to build new words from existing words by adding affixes to the beginning and/or end of a base of operations give-and-take or root. Base of operations words and roots are slightly different. Exploring the significant of a base give-and-take vs. root discussion will help you understand what these are and how to utilize them, which will aid you improve your vocabulary skills.

Are Base Words and Root Words the Same?

Basic Parts of a Discussion

Many words in the English language have been borrowed from other languages. The origins are unremarkably Latin or Greek. A word can have three parts to it: a root, a prefix and a suffix. A prefix or suffix is a meaningful braze that doesn't function equally a discussion on its ain but can exist attached to a base word or root.

Prefixes (like pre-, anti- or de-) go at the showtime of a base of operations or root word.
Suffixes (like -tion, -ness and -ment) go at the end of a base of operations or root word.

It's the middle part of a word that holds the near meaning, still. This may be a root or a base give-and-take.

The Divergence Between Base Words and Root Words

People sometimes use the terms root word and base word as if they mean the same thing, but they are different. Discover the similarities and differences.

Root Words

Root words come from Latin or Greek. They aren't usually words that tin can stand alone in English. They are also referred to as a "give-and-take root." When you hear these referred to as "roots," this is a mod take on root words and indicated the function of the discussion can't be further broken down. For instance, aud is a Latin discussion root that means to hear or to listen.

Aud doesn't mean anything on its ain in English language — that is, you tin can't utilize it as a stand-alone discussion.
It is the root of common English words like auditorium, audio, audience , and audition , all of which have to practice with hearing someone or something.

Understanding root words will help you learn more than words in English language quickly. As you begin to understand the Greek and Latin roots of common words, you'll notice them in more places, and this will give you lot a clue to the meaning of an unfamiliar discussion. Knowing the meaning of a discussion's root makes it easier to figure out what the English words that use it mean.

Base of operations Words

Base of operations words, on the other paw, are always words that can stand alone in English. These words take meaning on their own, but they can also have prefixes and suffixes added to them to brand new words. For example, wheel is a full word in English language, merely information technology tin function as the base of other words when affixes are added. Modernistic linguists suggest that a base is any form you can add affixes to.

Cycle is the base word, or the simplest form of the discussion without any prefixes or suffixes added.
Prefixes tin can be added to brand words like bicycle, tricycle and motorcycle.
Suffixes tin exist added to make words like cyclist, cyclical or cyclers.

Knowing base words will assistance yous understand new words as well as how prefixes and suffixes can change a word'due south meaning. Keep in mind, though, that virtually English words take Greek or Latin roots. The discussion cycle, for example, is actually based on the root cyc (which means circle).

Base Discussion vs. Root Word Confusion

When dealing with root and base words, the fact that most English language base of operations words really have a Greek or Latin root tin crusade things to go a bit catchy. For instance, similar cycle, the word civil meets the definition of a base give-and-take. It is a standalone English word that tin can stand up on its own. Nonetheless, it does also have a Latin root.

Civil equally a Base of operations Discussion

Ceremonious is a base word that describes someone courteous, the rights of ordinary citizens or legal proceedings based on legal matters that are not criminal in nature. This English discussion tin stand lonely, and it can also exist expanded to create words like civilization, civility and civilian.

Civil as a Root Discussion

Though civil tin can stand solitary as a base word in English, it comes from the Latin root civ (from the Latin word civis), which relates to citizens. Yous tin can't utilise civ on its ain in English, merely it's still role of the base discussion civil.

And so, civ is the root of civil, which then serves as a base word forming other words.
Civ is too a root for other words that are not connected to the base word civil, including the discussion civics.

Bottom Line Breakup

To brand sense of what this means, consider the breakdowns of words related to civil (base of operations discussion) and civ (root).

ceremonious: The root of civil is civ. Civil is a base word.
civilization, civility and civilian: The root of these words is civ. They likewise accept a base give-and-take, which is civil.
civics: The root of civics is civ. This word does not accept a base discussion.

A Further Complication: Identical Roots and Bases

Occasionally, a base word in English is the aforementioned as a Latin root. For example, act is a standalone word in English, making it a base of operations discussion. Still, act is also a Latin root that comes from the Latin word actum. Prefixes and suffixes can be added onto human activity in order to brand English language words similar activity , reaction and actual. In this case, the root word and base word are the same (act) for each of these terms.

diagram word reaction prefix, root/base, suffix

The Importance of Base of operations Words and Root Words

Base words and root words are not the same, fifty-fifty if in a few cases a discussion tin be labeled equally both. Review some examples of root and base words to aggrandize your cognition. Then, practise with roots, bases, prefixes and suffixes. When yous come across how all the pieces of a give-and-take piece of work together, you lot'll have a greater appreciation for English and how its vast vocabulary came to be.