Final answer:
The three basic shapes of microbes are round, spiral, and rod-shaped: cocci, spirilli/spirilla, and bacilli.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three basic shapes of microbes are round, spiral, and rod-shaped.
Round microbes are called cocci, examples include bacteria like Streptococcus and Staphylococcus.
Spiral microbes are called spirilli or spirilla, such as the bacterium Spirochaete.
Lastly, rod-shaped microbes are called bacilli, examples include bacteria like Escherichia coli and Bacillus anthracis.