In English grammar, a base is the form of a word to which prefixes and suffixes can be added to create new words. For example, instruct is the base for forming instruction, instructor, and reinstruct. Also called a root or stem.
Put another way, base forms are words that are not derived from or made up of other words. According to Ingo Plag, «The term ‘root’ is used when we want to explicitly refer to the indivisible central part of a complex word. In all other cases, where the status of a form as indivisible or not is not an issue, we can just speak of bases (or, if the base is a word, base words)» (Word-Formation in English, 2003).
Examples and Observations
«In most situations, the user of English has no problem at all recognizing prefixes, bases, and suffixes. For instance, in the sentence, ‘They repainted the old car,’ the complex word repainted obviously has three elements—a prefix, a base, and a suffix: re + paint + ed. The base paint is the word’s semantic core, the starting place for describing what the word is being used to mean in a given utterance. The prefix and suffix add semantic content to that core, the prefix re adding the content ‘again,’ and the suffix ed adding ‘in the past.'» (D. W. Cummings, American English Spelling. JHU Press, 1988)
Base Forms and Word Roots
«[The term base] refers to any part of a word seen as a unit to which an operation can be applied, as when one adds an affix to a root or stem. For example, in unhappy the base form is happy; if -ness is then added to unhappy, the whole of this item would be considered the base to which the new affix is attached. Some analysts, however, restrict the term ‘base’ to be equivalent to ‘root,’ the part of a word remaining when all affixes have been removed. In such an approach, happy would be the base form (the highest common factor) of all its derivations—
happiness, unhappy, unhappiness, etc. This meaning leads to a special use in prosodic morphology to define the portion of the output in correspondence with another portion of the form, especially the reduplicant.» (David Crystal, Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics, 6th ed. Blackwell, 2008)
Citation Forms
«For adjectives, e.g. bad, the base form is the so-called ‘absolute’ form (as against the comparative form worse, or the superlative form worst). For other word classes, e.g. adverb or preposition, where there are no grammatical variants, there is only one form that can be the headword.
«These base forms of words, the headwords of dictionary entries, may be termed the citation forms of lexemes. When we want to talk about the lexeme sing, then the form that we cite (i.e. ‘quote’) is the base form—as I have just done—and that is taken to include all the grammatical variants (sings, singing, sang, sung).» (Howard Jackson, Words and Their Meaning. Routledge, 2013)
Bases in Complex Words
«Another classic problem of morphology [is] the case of a complex word with a recognizable suffix or prefix, attached to a base that is not an existing word of the language. For example, among the -able words are words such as malleable and feasible. In both cases the suffix -able (spelled -ible in the second case because of a different historical origin for the suffix) has the regular meaning ‘be able,’ and in both cases the -ity form is possible (mealleability and feasibility). We have no reason to suspect that able/ible here is not the real suffix -able. Yet if it is, then malleable must be broken down as malle + able and feasible as feas + ible; but there are no existing words (free morphemes) in English such as malle or feas, or even malley or fease. We thus have to allow for the existence of a complex word whose base exists only in that complex word . . ..» (A. Akmajian, R. A. Demers, A. K. Farmer, R. M. Harnish, Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication. MIT, 2001)
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What’s the Difference Between Base and Bass?
Contents
- 1 What’s the Difference Between Base and Bass?
- 2 Using Base in a Sentence
- 3 Using Bass in a Sentence
- 4 Remembering Base vs. Bass
- 5 Outside Examples
- 6 Quiz: Bass vs. Base
- 7 Article Summary
Depending on the context, base and bass can be homophones, which means they sound exactly the same but have different spellings and pronunciations. Each word has more than one meaning, and one of the meanings of bass has a different pronunciation.
The primary definition of base as a noun means the bottom area of a thing which supports the upper area. It can also act as an adjective or verb with different meanings.
- The climbers met at the base of the mountain.
The main definition of bass as an adjective refers to the lowest pitch. It can also as a noun that means a type of instrument or a type of fish.
- My father has a bass voice, because his voice is so deep.
Now, let’s go over a few ways to use these words in English.
Using Base in a Sentence
When to use base: Base is a noun that rhymes with face. It means the foundation of something. This can be the physical bottom of a structure or the fundamental principle of a concept.
It can also refer to the four places baseball players run to or the bottom layer of something such as paint. It can also be a verb that means to found an opinion on.
For example,
- Find the length of the base of the triangle.
- You should read Plato’s work to understand the base of philosophy.
- I’m going to apply a base layer of nail polish, and then a secondary layer for extra color.
- He based his judgment on what the lawyers said.
There are a couple idioms that use base:
- to be off base: to be wrong
- You thought I was a professional football player? You’re way off base! I’ve never played any sports.
- to touch base: to make contact with someone
- Let’s touch base with the boss about this issue.
- to steal a base: when a baseball player runs from one base to another even though the hitter hasn’t yet hit the ball
- It is always exciting to see the athletes steal a base.
The word basis is more common than base for the founding principles of a concept.
Using Bass in a Sentence
When to use bass: Bass can be an adjective or a noun.
As an adjective, it means low pitched.
As a noun, it can refer to an instrument that looks somewhat like a guitar. For both of the previous meanings, the pronunciation rhymes with the word face.
It can also mean a type of fish. For this meaning, the pronunciation rhymes with class.
For example,
- I wanted to catch some trout but instead I caught only bass. (fish meaning)
- Kim Deal was the original bass player for the Pixies. (instrument meaning)
- He sings bass in the choir. (low pitch meaning)
When speaking of the fish, the plural form is usually bass, unless there is more than one species of bass, in which case it becomes basses.
Remembering Base vs. Bass
There is a helpful mnemonic device that uses the spelling of base and bass to help you remember which word to use and when.
Bass has a double s. A base voice is a deep voice, and deep also has a pair of double letters.
Although deep has two e’s and bass has two s’s, the fact that they each have repeating letters can help you remember that the word synonymous with deep is spelled with a pair of s’s.
Outside Examples
- President Nicolas Maduro vowed that a band of anti-government fighters who attacked a Venezuelan army base will get the “maximum penalty” as his administration roots out his enemies. –Chicago Tribune
- Nicky Delmonico became the first Sox player to reach base safely in the first 11 games of his career with a second-inning single. It was another nice moment for a career that’s off to a surprising start. –Chicago Sun Times
- An introduction to this new Band Perry was the primary mission of the show Wednesday night, Aug. 2, at the Pacific Ampitheatre, with the group adding thumping bass, 808s and other pop flourishes to hits such as “Better Dig Two” and “Chainsaw.” –OC Register
- In the first half of Gaga’s Vancouver show, drums, guitar and bass were drowning out the pop star’s vocals. Fortunately, the sound was fixed in time to hear her impressive high note on The Edge of Glory. –USA Today
Quiz: Bass vs. Base
Instructions: Fill in the blank with the correct word, either bass or base in the correct form.
- _____________ is one of the most popular type of fish to stock ponds and lakes.
- Many guitar players also know how to play the ________________.
- The ____________ of the building has some water damage.
See answers below.
Article Summary
Should I use base or bass? These words have similar spellings, and sometimes they even have the same pronunciation. However, there is no overlap between their definitions.
- Base most often refers to the foundation of something.
- Bass can mean low pitched, a type of musical instrument, or a species of fish.
Make sure to use the correct pronunciation and definition for all uses of these two words.
Answers
- Bass
- bass
- base
Teachers frequently debate this question: What’s the difference between a root, base word, and stem? The reason teachers are forced to debate this question is that their textbooks present a model that quickly falls apart in the real world.
If teachers are confused, their students will also be confused. By the end of this page, you won’t be confused. To end this confusion, we will look at two systems:
1. The Traditional Root and Base-Word System for Kids
2. A Modern System of Morphemes, Roots, Bases, and Stems from Linguistics
The Traditional Root and Base-Word System for Kids
Here is a problem-filled system that, unfortunately, some students still learn.
Students learn that ROOTS are Greek and Latin roots. Most of these roots cannot stand alone as words when we remove the prefixes and suffixes.
Q e.g., Word: justify Latin Root: jus (law)
Students also learn that BASE WORDS can stand alone as words when we remove all of the prefixes and suffixes. Students learn that if it cannot stand alone when we remove all of the prefixes and suffixes, then it is not a base word.
Q e.g., Word: kindness Base Word: kind
The problem comes later in the day when the teacher is teaching verb tenses.
Q Teacher: Look at these two verbs: responded and responding. What’s the base word?
Q Student #1: Respond.
Q Teacher: Correct!
Q Student #2: Isn’t re- a prefix? If re- is a prefix, then respond can’t be a base word. I suspect that spond is a Latin root. Is it?
Q Teacher: I’m not sure. Let me research this. Yes, the word respond has the prefix re- attached to the Latin root spond. The Latin root spond comes from sponder, which means to pledge.
Although the teacher was looking for the answer “respond,” Student #2’s answer was the correct answer according to this Traditional System. That’s how easily the Traditional System falls apart. And the problems get worse from here.
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Modern Linguistics
I looked at a few current student textbooks from major publishers, and most of them don’t mention the terms base or base word. They only use the term root in their basic word studies. I suspect that this is because modern linguistics has created a new meaning for the term base.
In case you are not aware, modern linguistics and modern grammar fix many of the broken models from centuries past—i.e., models and definitions that quickly fall apart when you question them. These days, most books on linguistics and morphology present a somewhat standardized model. In English Word-Formation (1983), Laurie Bauer explains this model succinctly and definitively. Let’s take a look.
English Word-Formation (1983) by Laurie Bauer
As you can see below, Bauer acknowledges the root/stem/base problem and then explains a model that removes the ambiguity.
The Problem: “‘Root’, ‘stem’ and ‘base’ are all terms used in the literature to designate that part of a word that remains when all affixes have been removed. Of more recent years, however, there has been some attempt to distinguish consistently between these three terms.”
Root: “A root is a form which is not further analysable, either in terms of derivational or inflectional morphology. It is that part of word-form that remains when all inflectional and derivational affixes have been removed… In the form ‘untouchables’ the root is ‘touch’.”
Stem: “A stem is of concern only when dealing with inflectional morphology. In the form ‘untouchables’ the stem is ‘untouchable’.” [In short, when you remove the inflectional suffixes, you have the stem.]
Base: “A base is any form to which affixes of any kind can be added. This means that any root or any stem can be termed a base… ‘touchable’ can act as a base for prefixation to give ‘untouchable’.”
This model holds up across the curriculum. This model is the foundation of what I teach my students.
My Perfect Model: Roots, Stems, and Bases
I always like to have a complete model in mind that holds up across the curriculum. This lets me find teaching moments and ensures that I can answer my students’ questions clearly and consistently. Although I may not teach my students the entire model, at least the concepts are straight in my mind.
For this reason, I created this “Perfect Model of Roots, Stems, and Bases.” To be clear, this model is an interpretation and fuller explanation of what you might find in a linguistics book. Let me explain it to you. It all begins with morphemes.
Keep in mind that teachers don’t need to teach their students this entire model. In fact, most teachers will want to keep their morphology lessons simple and focus on roots, prefixes, and suffixes. But all teachers will want to understand this entire model.
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Morphemes
The term morpheme unifies the concepts of roots, prefixes, and suffixes, and therefore, it is an extremely valuable word. In short, words are composed of parts called morphemes, and each morpheme contributes meaning to the word. Morphemes are the smallest unit of language that contains meaning. Roots, prefixes, and suffixes all have one thing in common—they are all single morphemes. In contrast, stems and bases can be composed of one or many morphemes.
Root / Root Morpheme
When I use the term root, I always mean the root morpheme. The root is always the main morpheme that carries the main meaning of a word. Since a morpheme is the smallest unit of language that contains meaning, we can’t divide or analyze the root morpheme any further. Although a root can be a stand-alone word, to avoid confusion, I never use the term “root word.” I use the term root, and I use the term root morpheme to reinforce what a root is.
We have two types of root morphemes:
1. Dependent (bound) Roots: These roots cannot stand alone as words. These roots are usually Greek and Latin roots. Here are a few examples:
-
- liberty root: liber (free)
- interrupt root: rupt (break)
- similar root: sim (like)
2. Independent (free) Roots: These roots are stand-alone words. Practically speaking, these roots are almost always single-syllable words. You know the ones. It seems to me that most multi-syllable words can be further divided and further analyzed. With a little research, one finds that an ancient prefix or suffix has merged with a root. In short, most multi-syllable words are not root morphemes.
Here is what they thought 150 years ago. Although modern linguistics does not agree with these statements, it’s still food for thought. My point is that most of the independent roots that we deal with inside of the classroom are single-syllable words.
Q “All languages are formed from roots of one syllable.” – New Englander Magazine (1862)
Q “All words of all languages can be reduced to one-syllable roots.” – New Jerusalem Magazine (1853)
Here are a few examples:
-
- replaced root: place
- mindfulness root: mind
- carefully root: care
The Terms: Dependent Root and Independent Root
Modern linguistics use the term bound (for dependent) and free (for independent) to classify morphemes. Since teachers spend so much time teaching students about dependent clauses and independent clauses, I transfer this knowledge and terminology over to morphemes. Put simply: independent morphemes CAN stand alone; dependent morphemes CAN’T stand alone.
Q PREFIXES and SUFFIXES are almost always dependent morphemes—i.e., they can’t stand alone as words.
Q ROOTS are either dependent or independent morphemes.
Now, we will examine words that contain one root and words that contain two roots. As you examine these words, pay special attention to the dependent root and independent root aspect.
One Root: Many words have just one root. That one root may be a Dependent Root or an Independent Root. Remember, the root carries the main meaning of the word.
Q Word: justify Dependent Root: jus
Q Word: kindness Independent Root: kind
Two Roots: Some words have two roots. The roots may be Dependent Roots or Independent Roots. With two roots, each root contributes near equal meaning to the word.
Two Dependent Roots
Q Word: geography Dependent Root: geo (earth) Root: graph (write)
Q Word: carnivore Dependent Root: carn (flesh) Dependent Root: vor (swallow)
Q Word: cardiovascular Dependent Root: cardi (heart) Dependent Root: vas (vessel)
Two Independent Roots
Q Word: bathroom Independent Root: bath Independent Root: room
Q Word: downfall Independent Root: down Independent Root: fall
Q Word: popcorn Independent Root: pop Independent Root: corn
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Stem
I use the term stem just as Bauer does. To find the stem, simply remove the inflectional suffixes. It’s that simple.
When to Use the Term Stem: The term stem is quite unnecessary in many classrooms, as all stems are bases. For this reason, teachers can always use the term base instead of stem. However, the concept of stems is helpful in teaching students about inflectional suffixes. Inflectional suffixes are different from derivational affixes (derivational prefixes and derivational suffixes).
Q Word: reddest Stem: red
Q Word: girls’ Stem: girl
Q Word: boats Stem: boat
Q Word: preapproved Stem: preapprove
Q Word: justifying Stem: justify
Q Word: responded Stem: respond
Q Word: unjustifiable Stem: no stem
Q Word: kindness Stem: no stem
Base / Base Word
Bauer says, “A base is any form to which affixes of any kind can be added. This means that any root or any stem can be termed a base.”
In the table below, I use two labels to show how base and root relate to each other. Sometimes a base is a root (marked Q Base/Root), and sometimes it is not a root (marked Q Base).
To be clear, we can add a prefix or suffix to every base even if it already has a prefix or suffix. Furthermore, if we can add a prefix or suffix to something, we can call it a base.
Word: reread Q Base/Root: read
Word: unhelpful Q Base: helpful Q Base/Root: help
Word: justifying Q Base: justify Q Base/Root: jus
Word: unreliable Q Base: reliable Q Base/Root: rely
Word: preponderance Q Base: ponderance (uncommon) Q Base/Root: ponder
Word: responded Q Base: respond Q Base/Root: spond
Word: preapproved Q Base: preapprove Q Base: approve Q Base: approved Q Base: proved Q Base/Root: prove
Base vs. Base Word: To keep things simple, teachers should probably strike the term “base word” from their vocabulary. However, if the base is a complete word that can stand alone, teachers may choose to (or through force of habit) refer to it as a base word. If the base can’t stand alone, be sure not to call it a base word.
When to Use the Term Base: The term base is somewhat of a generic term for when we are not interested in or concerned with the root morpheme. As an example, we may choose to use the term base when we are ADDING prefixes and suffixes. When we are adding prefixes and suffixes, we often are unconcerned with finding or discussing the root morpheme. (Remember, we often add prefixes and suffixes to words that already contain prefixes and suffixes.) We may also choose to use the term base when removing a single, specific prefix or suffix, as the word may still contain other prefixes or suffixes.
Putting It All Together
Here is a table to help get you started in your word analysis studies related to root, stem, and base.
| Example Word | Stem | Root: Dependent | Root: Independent | Base |
| 1. undeniable | deny ** | deny; deniable | ||
| 2. reinvented | reinvent | ven/vent | ven/vent; invent; reinvent | |
| 3. deforestation | forest *** | forest; forestation | ||
| 4. interacted | interact | act * | act; interact | |
| 5. demographics | demographic | demo | graph * | demo; graph; demographic |
| 6. responding | respond | spond | spond; respond | |
| 7. preserving | preserve | serv | serv; preserve | |
| 8. hopefully | hope | hope; hopeful |
The Asterisks: The asterisks may be the most important part of this table. They help illustrate that every word has a unique history that often makes analysis and classification complicated and debatable.
* act and graph are also Latin roots
** deny is from Latin denegare = de (away) + negare (to refuse; to say no); since deny technically
has a Latin prefix (de-), you may choose to classify the word differently.
*** forest is from Latin foris meaning outdoors, and unlike the word deny, cannot be analyzed as
having a prefix or suffix attached.
Use the word base in a sentence. The sentences below are ordered by length from shorter and easier to longer and more complex. They use base in a sentence, providing visitors a sentence for base.
- Red of heat, are none so base! (10)
- Base ingratitude! (8)
- O base human nature! (10)
- And I hated that base man. (10)
- And I hated that base man. (22)
- Lennan touched the base of the clay. (8)
- Otherwise we should be base verily. (10)
- They vindicated him against the base aspersion. (4)
- How base, too, was the army of banded hypocrites! (10)
- Ah, and then would he dare hint, as base men will? (10)
- The word is a base sound taken from a tattered reader. (12)
- But Anna von Lenkenstein is not base like that Italian. (10)
- A church at its base looked out upon an irregular square. (9)
- The base and the chimney tinkled in his trembling hands. (12)
- In addition to these is another base plug and floor plug. (17)
- As a base for this wax, a thin coat of varnish is excellent. (17)
- For why was he thus base and spotted to the darling of his love? (10)
- Were people so base as to be guilty of hideous plots in this house? (10)
- He got no nearer to the base of it for all his vigorous outstepping. (10)
- He was ashamed to seem unworthy in her eyes, to harbor base thoughts. (13)
- He shall know that I am not the base person he has conceived me to be. (10)
- The base of his work is the whole breadth and depth of humanity itself. (9)
- No result followed, while Blink wriggled on her base and licked her lips. (8)
- Many porch columns rot at their base and permit the settling of the roof. (17)
- Outside strings ought to be ⅝ inch thick where finishing on a ⅝-inch base. (17)
- The only explanation is that she was a little off her base towards the last. (9)
- Its marble base dropped-off; its pillars tottered; its pediment swayed to one side. (9)
- This was Cape Diamond, at whose base there crouched the Indian village of Stadacona. (19)
- And to feel base, yet born for better, is enough to make one grasp at anything cloudy. (10)
- All structures built upon a narrow space Must fall, from having not your hosts for base. (10)
- The base of such a retaining wall should be at least as wide as ⁴/₁₀ the height of wall. (17)
- The sun, too high to slant, was burnishing its base, till it glowed of a deep sherry colour. (8)
- Now that the battle had been won, prudence required that he withdraw to his base of operations. (1)
- He was just urging his hearers, in a loud voice, to abandon the base avarice which gathers pence. (5)
- Forth, this Laxley, I said, should go, because they were resolved to ruin you, and make you base. (10)
- It turned to its left, at a right angle, moving along the base of the hills, parallel to our line. (7)
- Each one of these panels has been spread upon a different base or made with different proportions. (17)
- Wood base blocks for columns should be perforated with holes to permit the seepage of water under them. (17)
- It is very important to properly flash the base of the projecting portion of the soil-line above the roof. (17)
- The filling in of the hollow space at the base of every interior stud partition is likewise necessary (Fig. (17)
- Some carriages stood before the door, and within, around the base of a pillar, sat a circle of idle call-boys. (9)
- It was indeed as if some magic had clothed that huge rock, base and steepy flank and crest, with a silver city. (9)
- The gaunt, lofty house seemed to be drawing itself away disdainfully from this frivolous addition at its base. (13)
- This has twenty-eight strings, and the sounding board, in which there are four holes, is very large at the base. (3)
- It was bitter enough that one could be brought to utter the thing, even if her ideas were so base as to suspect it. (10)
- The tin does not entirely protect the base metal, so that it is necessary to paint both sides before it is applied. (17)
- Panic, with a desolate scream, arraigned the parliamentary Opposition for having inflated her to serve base party purposes. (10)
- For the maxim of the healthy man is: up, and have it out in exercise when sleep is for foisting base coin of dreams upon you! (10)
- And I think, too, that a form of hospitality like this by which I am invited to be analysed at leisure, is both mean and base. (10)
- She was wrong to base her whole reply upon the little sentence of reproach, but self-justification was necessary to her spirit. (10)
- For some time my mind could not take in the full extent of the base treachery I had met with, and I sat speechless and stupified. (6)
- Even if she could have conspired with the earl to hoodwink his wife, her strong sense told her it would be fruitless, besides base. (10)
- In critical writing, what is the base of interest, the indispensable foundation in comparison with which all else is superstructure? (16)
- It is honor, justice, culture, that make liberty invaluable, else worse than worthless if it mean only freedom to be base and brutal. (14)
- March went with the young people across the meadow behind the Posthof and up into the forest, which began at the base of the mountain. (9)
- You may have noticed the urchins at their game: a bit of tile, and a variety of compartments to pass it through to the base, hopping. (10)
- Richard, I am convinced you will never be happy, whatever base pleasures you may be led into, if he should withhold his love from you. (10)
- There should be a shut-off at the entrance of the supply-line to the house, at the base of all vertical risers, and under each fixture. (17)
- But are they still for their old ravenous feasts, Earth gives the edifice they build no base: They spring another flood of fangs and claws. (10)
- He thought of his buried wife, and the noble in the base of that poor soul; needing constantly a present helper, for the nobler to conquer. (10)
- No sounder principle on which a man can base his life, whose father-in-law has a very considerable income, and a partiality for his grandchildren. (8)
- In actual fact, occasional instances of gross and unscrupulous financial control of newspapers for selfish or base ends must be admitted to exist. (16)
Also see sentences for: abandoned, abject, atrocious, basis, bottom, contemptible, debased.
Glad you visited this page with a sentence for base. Now that you’ve seen how to use base in a sentence hope you might explore the rest of this educational reference site Sentencefor.com to see many other example sentences which provide word usage information.
More Sentence Examples
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Definition of Base
the bottom section that sustains a bigger item or thing
Examples of Base in a sentence
Below the Statue of Liberty on its base is an inscription welcoming and calling for any immigrants who want to make the United States their home.
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While standing at the base of the Washington Monument, the little boy looked high into the sky to see the top of the structure.
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Once the Egyptian slaves built the base of the pyramid, it would take years of hard work to build each level of the structure.
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If a bone in the base of the skull should break, it will cause the rest of the head to bob around due to lack of support.
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Usually a base is erected at the bottom of an obelisk since the narrow tall monument needs support.
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