Which term refers to a word formed by adding to a basic root word?

Which term refers to a word formed by adding to a basic root word?

• A. Affix
• B. Prefix
• C. Suffix
• D. Root word

Answer: (A)

When we talk about forming new words by attaching something to a base word, the general term for that added piece is an affix. An affix is a morpheme that attaches to a word to alter its meaning or its grammatical role, and it can appear at the front (a prefix) or at the end (a suffix) of the root. This matches the description because it emphasizes the act of adding to the root to create a new word. For example, adding un- to happy gives unhappy, and adding -ness to kind gives kindness. Prefixes and suffixes are specific kinds of affixes, while the root word is the base itself.

When we talk about forming new words by attaching something to a base word, the general term for that added piece is an affix. An affix is a morpheme that attaches to a word to alter its meaning or its grammatical role, and it can appear at the front (a prefix) or at the end (a suffix) of the root. This matches the description because it emphasizes the act of adding to the root to create a new word. For example, adding un- to happy gives unhappy, and adding -ness to kind gives kindness. Prefixes and suffixes are specific kinds of affixes, while the root word is the base itself.