Great question! Here’s a quick breakdown of the difference between root words and prefixes:

🔤 Root Word

A root word is the core part of a word that carries the main meaning.

• It can often stand alone (like help, write, act) or might need affixes (prefixes or suffixes) to form a full word (like scrib, ject, port).
  
  

• Think of it as the foundation of a word.
  
  

Examples:

• act → actor, react, transact
  
  

• port (meaning "to carry") → import, export, report
  
  

➕ Prefix

A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word (often to a root) to change its meaning.

• A prefix can’t stand alone — it needs to be attached to something.
  
  

Examples:

• un- (meaning “not”) → unhappy
  
  

• re- (meaning “again”) → redo, rewrite
  
  

• pre- (meaning “before”) → preview
  
  

In a word like "unbelievable":

• Prefix: un- (not)
  
  

• Root: believe (the main idea)
  
  

• Suffix: -able (can be done)
  👉 Together: Not able to be believed
  
  

Let me know if you want a chart or worksheet on this — I’ve got plenty!