Language is in perpetual motion. The vocabulary is constantly changing, some expressions and words are becoming a thing of the past, some are acquiring a different meaning, new lexical units, phrases, turnovers appear due to borrowings, word formation and expansion of groups of cognate words. How can one not get confused in all this diversity and understand the difference between single-root words from the form of a word? We will deal with this issue in order.
The lexical and grammatical meaning of the word
The lexical meaning is understood as the content of a word, comparability between a certain set of sounds and an object of reality. For example, when we say "shop," we mean "little shop." The main semantic load is borne by the root “store”, and the property of reduction is superimposed due to the suffix “-chik”. Examples of such combinations: orange, pitcher, suit.
In addition, the word has a grammatical meaning. So, the noun has such categories as case, number, gender, the verb - number, person. It is thanks to the grammatical meaning that one can determine what kind of relationship the words are in.
How to distinguish word forms from cognate words based on lexical and grammatical meanings?
The lexical meaning of each word from the group of similar roots includes the meaning of the root. For example: peppermint (taste) - the same as peppermint; cherry (color) - the same as cherry, etc.
The form of a word is inextricably linked with the concept of grammatical meaning. For example, a change in the noun by cases (doll, doll, doll, dolls, dolls, etc.); changing the verb in persons and numbers (I draw, draw, draw, draw, draw, etc.) Based on the examples, it can be noted that only the ending changes, while the stem remains unchanged. These are the various forms of one word. From the above, it becomes clear what distinguishes the same root word from the form of the word.
Word education
The Russian language is rich and diverse. Also, the methods of formation of new lexical units are vast and varied. Among them are:
- suffix;
- prefixal;
- non-affix;
- prefix-suffix;
- transition from one part of speech to another;
- addition.
Let's consider each of them in more detail.
Suffixing or suffixing means that a suffix is added to the original lexical unit. For example, kind - kind, fly - pilot, turn off - switch, brother - brotherhood, breakfast - breakfast, etc.
Prefixing or prefixing means that a prefix is added to the original lexical unit. For example, interesting - interesting, to go - to come, surprisingly - not surprisingly, to run - to run, etc.
The non-suffix method (or in other words zero suffix) means cutting off the ending or discarding both the suffix and the ending. For example: blue - blue, resting - rest, tearing - tearing, etc.
Speaking of the prefix-suffix method, they imply the appearance of new words by adding both a prefix and a suffix to the original lexical unit. For example, a river is a river, a ride is a rider, winter is winter-like, sleep is a good night's sleep, etc.
The transition from one part of speech to another is called substantiation. For example: teacher's, ice cream, canteen, military, hot, etc.
The last one to analyze the addition method. It consists in combining in one word two or combining only the basics through connecting vowels or without their participation. For example, radar, physical exercises, snowmobile, steam locomotive, brown-eyed, tragicomedy, light blue, southwest, etc.
Groups of root words
Thanks to the above word-building models, groups of cognate words arise. For all the same root lexical units , a single root is characteristic. When prefixes, suffixes are added to the same root, one-root words are obtained.
Let's look at an example. Take the root “-forest” and compose a series of words with the same root: forest, wooded, forest, forest, forest ranger, forest, forest, log carrier, lumberjack, forest park, forest, woodland, etc. Or another example, the root "-let-". With this root, you can also pick your own row. Namely: fly, fly, pilot, take-off, flight, raid, fly in, fly around, fly off, take-off, flying, etc. In the above examples, we observe the emergence of groups of cognate words.
Likewise lexical units can be not only different parts of speech. One-root can be the same parts of speech:
- cognates nouns: house, house, little house, house;
- cognate words adjectives: big, big, big;
- root words verbs: run, run, run, run, etc.
Examples of groups of root words with alternating roots
In Russian, there are roots with alternating letters. It can be either vowels or consonants. Let's look at examples.
The root "-lag -" / "- lies-": put, hostage, impose, taxation, position, cover, offer, etc.
The root "-ros -" / "- growth -" / "- growth -": grow, thickets, age, grow, plant, sprout, etc.
The root "-ter -" / "- tier-": wipe, wipe, wash, wiped, wipe, grater, etc.
The root "-steel -" / "- steel-": to lay, lay, bed, bedding, laid, etc.
Despite the alternation, all these words will be cognate.
Examples of differences between root words from word forms
So, what is the difference between root words from the form of the word? Let's look at specific examples to finally understand this issue.
Noun "campaign". The forms will be a change in cases and numbers (trekking, trekking, trekking, trekking, trekking, etc.). Those lexical units that have the same root “-hod-” (campaign, walk, approach, come in, come in, hopeless, entry, etc.) will be unicore.
Or another example: the verb "read." Forms: reads, reads, reads, reads, etc. One-root: reading, reading, reading, reading, reading, etc.
Let’s take as an example the name adjective “winter”. The forms will be winter, winter, winter, winter, winter, winter, winter, etc. The same-root, in turn, are: winter, winter, winter, winter, winter, etc.
The above examples clearly demonstrate how the root words differ from the word form.
comparison table
In the table below, we summarize and illustrate with examples how to distinguish the form of a word from a root word.
How do root words differ from the word formGang words | Word forms |
Merry - adj - | Funny adj. |
Fun - noun. | Merry - adj. |
Have fun - ch. | Fun - adj. |
Fun - called. | Funny - adj. |
Different lexical meanings | The same lexical meaning |
Differ in suffixes and prefixes | Differ only in endings |
Parts of speech are different | Always one part of speech |
Now you can easily answer the question of how the root words differ from the word form.