INTRODUCTION

The Relevance of the Theme

The theme 'Primitive and Derived' is key to understanding how words are formed and evolve in the Portuguese language. Understanding this construction helps in expanding vocabulary, spelling, and the ability to decipher new words.

Contextualization

In the vast garden of the Portuguese language, words do not sprout out of nowhere - they have roots, trunks, and sometimes grow branches. Some are like seeds, which we call primitives. Others, born from these seeds, are the derived ones. This theme fits into morphology, which is the study of word forms, and appears right after we learn about the different types of words. By the fifth year, we already know nouns, adjectives, and verbs, and now we will see how they can transform and create new words.

THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT

Components

• Primitive Words: They are like the seeds of our word garden. They do not come from other words and are the origin of new words.

  • Relevance: Understanding primitive words helps recognize the root of other more complex words.
  • Characteristics: Simple and independent, not formed by prefixes or suffixes.

• Derived Words: They are like the branches that grow from primitive seeds. They arise when we add bits we call prefixes or suffixes to a primitive word.

  • Relevance: Knowing how to identify derived words expands vocabulary and improves understanding of word meanings.
  • Characteristics: Formed from a primitive word, modified by additions.

Key Terms

• Prefix: A small piece we put at the beginning of a word to change its meaning. For example, 'in' in 'unhappy'.

  • Origin: Comes from the Latin 'praefixus', meaning 'fixed before'.

• Suffix: A small piece we put at the end of a word to change its meaning or its grammatical class. For example, 'zinho' in 'little house'.

  • Origin: Comes from the Latin 'suffixus', meaning 'fixed below or after'.

• Root: It is the part of the word that carries the basic meaning, which remains when we remove prefixes and suffixes.

  • Origin: From the Latin 'radicalis', meaning 'related to the root'.

Examples and Cases

• Pedra (primitive) → Pedreira (derived):

  • Theory: 'Pedra' is a primitive word. By adding the suffix '-eira', the word 'pedreira' is created, indicating the place related to stone.

• Sol (primitive) → Solar (derived):

  • Theory: 'Sol' is a primitive word. By adding the suffix '-ar', we get 'solar', an adjective related to the sun.

• Feliz (primitive) → Infeliz (derived):

  • Theory: 'Feliz' is a primitive word. By adding the prefix 'in-', 'infeliz' is formed, which is the opposite of happy.

• Flor (primitive) → Florista (derived):

  • Theory: 'Flor' is the primitive word. By adding the suffix '-ista', we have 'florista', which is the person who works with flowers.

DETAILED SUMMARY

Key Points

• Word Construction: Language is a puzzle where we put words together by combining pieces like prefixes, suffixes, and roots.

• Primitive Words: They are the base, the beginning of the process. Remember that primitives are like seeds that can grow and become more complex.

• Derived Words: We recognize a derived word when it has something more than the primitive word. It's as if the seed had grown and gained a branch.

• Prefixes and Suffixes: Small blocks we add to primitive words. Prefixes change at the beginning, and suffixes at the end. They are like magical tools that change meanings and create new words!

• Root: The most important part of the word, the strong trunk that holds everything. Even with prefixes and suffixes, the root maintains the basic meaning of the word.

Conclusions

• Primitive words are like roots that give rise to other words.

• Derived words are built from primitives, with the addition of prefixes or suffixes that alter their meaning or function.

• The root is the heart of words, maintaining their essential meaning, even when new parts are added.

• The ability to identify and understand word formation helps unravel meanings and enhances the understanding and use of the Portuguese language.

Exercises

1. Creating Derived Words: Choose a primitive word and create a list of 5 derived words by adding different prefixes and suffixes.

   Example: Primitive: Terra Derived: Terreno, Terráqueo, Subterrâneo, Terracota, Aterrar

2. Discovering Primitive Words: Provide a list of derived words and ask to identify the primitive word.

   Example: Derived: Felicidade, Infeliz, Felizardo Primitive: Feliz

3. Prefixes and Suffixes: Provide several derived words and ask to mark where the prefixes and suffixes are and write what they mean.

   Example: Derived: Deslealdade Prefix: Des- (means negation) Suffix: -dade (used to form abstract nouns from adjectives)