word roots
summary
the exploration of word roots in gre preparation reveals that while roots can be helpful in understanding some vocabulary, they are not a universally reliable method for learning new words or their meanings.
- word roots can be misleading in the context of the gre, as many words appear with roots that are either unique or don't follow expected patterns.
- examples like 'maladroit,' 'magnanimous,' and 'erudite' show how roots can sometimes aid in understanding, but words like 'histrionic' and 'desultory' demonstrate the limitations of this approach.
- suffixes, unlike roots, are more consistent in changing only the part of speech of a word without altering its core meaning, making them a more reliable aspect of word formation to study.
- the gre often includes words that look similar but have different meanings, highlighting the importance of not relying solely on apparent roots or prefixes to deduce meanings.
- creating flashcards for confusing word pairs and focusing on suffixes can be more effective strategies for expanding vocabulary and understanding word meanings for the gre.
chapters
00:04
the misleading nature of word roots
01:50
examples where roots fail
06:08
the consistency and utility of suffixes
09:51
strategies for handling confusing words
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