Question

How are root words and base words different?(1 point) responses 1.root words can stand alone as words. 2.only prefixes can be added on to base words. 3. base words can stand alone as words. 4.affixes can be added on to root words.

Answer 1

Root words and base words both can stand alone as words, but a root is the core part that holds the most basic meaning, while a base word can already have other affixes. Affixes can be attached to both roots and bases to form new words.

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference between root words and base words lies in their ability to stand alone and the types of affixes that can be added to them. Option 1 and Option 3 in your list are correct; root words can stand alone as words, and base words can also stand alone as words. However, affixes such as prefixes and suffixes can be added to both root and base words. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but technically, a root is the core part of the word that holds the most basic meaning. A base word is the form of the word to which affixes can be added. It could be a root word, or it could already have other affixes attached to it. For example, 'scribe' and 'script' are free bases that can exist on their own and to which affixes can be attached, such as in 'subscription' or 'describe'. Bound bases like 'ceive' and 'cept', on the other hand, cannot stand alone and must be part of a larger word like 'receive' or 'concept'.

Answer 2

A root word is the primary form of a word while a base word is a word that can stand on its own.

Step-by-step explanation:

What's a Base Word?

A base word is a word that can stand on its own. It conveys full meaning on its own and doesn’t need a prefix or suffix to carry its connotation.

Happy is a base word and not a root word because it means what it is. Add the prefix un- and it completely changes its meaning into an entirely different word, which is unhappy.

What Is a Root Word?

Root words in the English language hail from Latin or Greek words. The root word, or word root, from these ancient languages, cannot stand alone. It does not have a prefix at the front of the word or a suffix attached to the end. It is the main lexical unit of a word family and can’t be broken down into words that can stand on their own with meaning.