{"id":3397,"date":"2019-11-05T20:53:46","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T03:53:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/?p=3397"},"modified":"2024-07-21T11:00:27","modified_gmt":"2024-07-21T18:00:27","slug":"difference-between-roots-base-word-and-stems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/difference-between-roots-base-word-and-stems\/","title":{"rendered":"The Real Difference Between Roots, Base Words, and Stems"},"content":{"rendered":"

Teachers frequently debate this question: What\u2019s the difference between a root, base word, and stem? The reason teachers are forced to debate this question is that their textbooks present a model that quickly falls apart in the real world.<\/p>\n

If teachers are confused, their students will also be confused. By the end of this page, you won\u2019t be confused. To end this confusion, we will look at two systems:<\/p>\n

1.<\/span> The Traditional Root and Base-Word System for Kids
\n2.<\/span> A Modern System of Morphemes, Roots, Bases, and Stems from Linguistics<\/p>\n

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The Traditional Root and Base-Word System for Kids<\/span><\/h3>\n

Here is a problem-filled system that, unfortunately, some students still learn.<\/p>\n

Students learn that ROOTS<\/span> are Greek and Latin roots. Most of these roots cannot stand alone as words when we remove the prefixes and suffixes.<\/p>\n

Q <\/span><\/strong>e.g., Word:<\/span> justify\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Latin Root<\/span>: jus (law)<\/p>\n

Students also learn that BASE WORDS<\/span> can stand alone as words when we remove all of the prefixes and suffixes. Students learn that if it cannot stand alone when we remove all of the prefixes and suffixes, then it is not a base word.<\/p>\n

Q <\/span><\/strong>e.g., Word:<\/span> kindness\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Base Word:<\/span> kind<\/p>\n

The problem comes later in the day when the teacher is teaching verb tenses.<\/p>\n

Q <\/span><\/strong>Teacher:<\/span> Look at these two verbs: r<\/em>es<\/em>ponded<\/em><\/strong> and responding<\/em><\/strong>. What\u2019s the base word?<\/p>\n

Q <\/span><\/strong>Student #1:<\/span> Respond<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Q <\/span><\/strong>Teacher:<\/span> Correct!<\/p>\n

Q <\/span><\/strong>Student #2:<\/span> Isn\u2019t re-<\/em><\/strong> a prefix? If re-<\/em><\/strong> is a prefix, then respond<\/strong><\/em> can\u2019t be a base word. I suspect that spond<\/strong><\/em> is a Latin root. Is it?<\/p>\n

Q <\/span><\/strong>Teacher:<\/span> I\u2019m not sure. Let me research this. Yes, the word respond<\/strong><\/em> has the prefix re-<\/strong><\/em> attached to the Latin root spond<\/strong><\/em>. The Latin root spond<\/strong><\/em> comes from sponder<\/strong><\/em>, which means to pledge<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Although the teacher was looking for the answer \u201crespond,\u201d Student #2\u2019s answer was the correct answer according to this Traditional System. That\u2019s how easily the Traditional System falls apart. And the problems get worse from here.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Modern Linguistics<\/h3>\n

I looked at a few current student textbooks from major publishers, and most of them don\u2019t mention the terms base<\/em> or base word<\/em>. They only<\/em> use the term root<\/em> in their basic word studies. I suspect that this is because modern linguistics has created a new meaning for the term base<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In case you are not aware, modern linguistics and modern grammar fix many of the broken models from centuries past\u2014i.e., models and definitions that quickly fall apart when you question them. These days, most books on linguistics and morphology present a somewhat standardized model. In English Word-Formation<\/em> (1983), Laurie Bauer explains this model succinctly and definitively. Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n

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English Word-Formation (1983) by Laurie Bauer<\/span><\/h3>\n

As you can see below, Bauer acknowledges the root\/stem\/base problem and then explains a model that removes the ambiguity.<\/p>\n

The Problem:<\/span> \u201c\u2018Root\u2019, \u2018stem\u2019 and \u2018base\u2019 are all terms used in the literature to designate that part of a word that remains when all affixes have been removed. Of more recent years, however, there has been some attempt to distinguish consistently between these three terms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Root:<\/span> \u201cA root is a form which is not further analysable, either in terms of derivational or inflectional morphology. It is that part of word-form that remains when all inflectional and derivational affixes have been removed… In the form \u2018untouchables\u2019 the root is \u2018touch\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stem:<\/span> \u201cA stem is of concern only when dealing with inflectional morphology. In the form \u2018untouchables\u2019 the stem is \u2018untouchable\u2019.\u201d [In short, when you remove the inflectional suffixes, you have the stem.]<\/p>\n

Base:<\/span> \u201cA base is any form to which affixes of any kind can be added. This means that any root or any stem can be termed a base\u2026 \u2018touchable\u2019 can act as a base for prefixation to give \u2018untouchable\u2019.\u201d<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

This model holds up across the curriculum. This model is the foundation of what I teach my students.<\/p>\n

My Perfect Model: Roots, Stems, and Bases<\/h3>\n

I always like to have a complete model in mind that holds up across the curriculum. This lets me find teaching moments and ensures that I can answer my students\u2019 questions clearly and consistently. Although I may not teach my students the entire model, at least the concepts are straight in my mind.<\/p>\n

For this reason, I created this \u201cPerfect Model of Roots, Stems, and Bases.\u201d To be clear, this model is an interpretation and fuller explanation of what you might find in a linguistics book. Let me explain it to you. It all begins with morphemes<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that teachers don\u2019t need to teach their students this entire model. In fact, most teachers will want to keep their morphology lessons simple and focus on roots, prefixes, and suffixes. But all teachers will want to understand this entire model.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Morphemes<\/h3>\n

The term morpheme<\/em> unifies the concepts of roots<\/em>, prefixes<\/em>, and suffixes<\/em>, and therefore, it is an extremely valuable word. In short, words are composed of parts called morphemes<\/em>, and each morpheme contributes meaning to the word. Morphemes are the smallest unit of language that contains meaning. Roots<\/em>, prefixes<\/em>, and suffixes<\/em> all have one thing in common\u2014they are all single morphemes. In contrast, stems<\/em> and bases<\/em> can be composed of one or many morphemes.<\/p>\n

Root \/ Root Morpheme<\/h3>\n

When I use the term root<\/em>, I always mean the root morpheme<\/em>. The root is always the main morpheme that carries the main meaning of a word. Since a morpheme is the smallest unit of language that contains meaning, we can\u2019t divide or analyze the root morpheme any further. Although a root can be a stand-alone word, to avoid confusion, I never use the term \u201croot word.\u201d I use the term root<\/em>, and I use the term root morpheme<\/em> to reinforce what a root is.<\/p>\n

We have two types of root morphemes:<\/h3>\n

1. Dependent (bound) Roots:<\/span> These roots cannot stand alone as words. These roots are usually Greek and Latin roots. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n