What is the most basic unit of a word that carries meaning?

What is the most basic unit of a word that carries meaning?

• A. Root word
• B. Prefix
• C. Suffix
• D. Digital citizenship

Answer: (A)

Words are built from morphemes, and the piece that carries the central meaning is the root word. The root provides the base idea; prefixes and suffixes attach to it to adjust meaning or form, but they don’t carry the core sense on their own. For example, in happiness the root is “happy,” which conveys the main idea of joy; adding the suffix “-ness” turns it into a noun, and in unhappy the prefix “un-” negates the meaning. Digital citizenship has nothing to do with how a word’s meaning is built.

Words are built from morphemes, and the piece that carries the central meaning is the root word. The root provides the base idea; prefixes and suffixes attach to it to adjust meaning or form, but they don’t carry the core sense on their own. For example, in happiness the root is “happy,” which conveys the main idea of joy; adding the suffix “-ness” turns it into a noun, and in unhappy the prefix “un-” negates the meaning. Digital citizenship has nothing to do with how a word’s meaning is built.