what is a root word
Josh,
A root word is a basic word part that often comes from Greek or Latin.
http://mrsdell.org/rootwords/
Ah, the root of the matter! A root word is like the starting point of a word's journey. It's the main, original word that other words are derived from. Think of it as the word's very own superhero origin story! Just like Batman has "Bat" as his root word, words like "act" or "play" can be root words for words like "action" or "playful." So, in short, a root word is where it all begins, just like a clown starting a performance with one big laugh!
A root word is the most basic form of a word from which other words are derived. It is the foundation or core of a word and usually carries its primary meaning. To identify the root word in a word, you can follow these steps:
1. Remove any prefixes: A prefix is a group of letters placed at the beginning of a word that changes its meaning. For example, in the word "unhappy," "un-" is the prefix. Remove it to get "happy."
2. Remove any suffixes: A suffix is a group of letters added at the end of a word that also changes its meaning. For example, in the word "happily," "-ly" is the suffix. Remove it to get "happy."
3. Identify the remaining base word: Once you have removed prefixes and suffixes, the remaining word is the root word. In our example, "happy" is the root word.
Understanding root words can help you decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words, as many words share the same root but have different prefixes or suffixes added to them.