In which situation is a combining vowel never used?
between a prefix and word root
between two word roots
between a word root and the suffix when the suffix begins with a consonant
all of the above
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is: Between a word root and the suffix when the suffix begins with a consonant.
Explanation:
In medical terminology, a combining vowel (often the letter “o”) is typically used to connect word parts to make the term easier to pronounce. The use of a combining vowel, however, depends on the type of connection being made between word parts (prefixes, word roots, or suffixes).
- Between a prefix and a word root:
A combining vowel is not used between a prefix and a word root. A prefix is a word part that comes at the beginning of a word and does not require a combining vowel to connect it to the root. For example, in the term “subcutaneous,” the prefix “sub-” is attached directly to the root word “cutaneous” without any combining vowel. - Between two word roots:
A combining vowel is often used between two word roots. This helps the term to flow more smoothly when pronounced. For example, in the term “gastritis,” which combines the roots “gastr-” (meaning stomach) and “-itis” (meaning inflammation), the combining vowel “o” is used to form “gastro-” so that the two roots can connect. This is common when joining two roots, especially when both are consonant-ending roots. - Between a word root and the suffix when the suffix begins with a consonant:
A combining vowel is never used between a word root and a suffix when the suffix begins with a consonant. This is because the root and suffix can connect directly without difficulty. For example, in the word “cardiology” (where “cardi-” is the root meaning heart and “-ology” is the suffix meaning study), there is no need for a combining vowel since the suffix starts with a consonant.
Summary:
The combining vowel is primarily used to ensure smoother pronunciation and easier connection between word parts, but it is unnecessary when the connection involves a prefix and a root or when a root directly connects to a consonant-starting suffix.