Can anyone explain the difference between the Gametophyte and Sporophyte Stages?

Question

I have read this portion of the text over and over and do not understand the explanation given I cannot memorize it in the way it is given. Any kind of comparison/definition would be fantastic.

Answer 1

These stages are named after what they produce.

Gametophytes produce gametes for reproduction.
Sporophytes produce spores for reproduction.

You can reason out which generation is haploid and which is diploid because gametes join to make the zygote that grows into the sporophyte. Since two gametes joining makes a zygote, then the zygote is diploid. So the sporophyte that grows from the zygote must be diploid, too.

One generation follows another. The offspring of the gametophyte is the sporophyte. When the sporophyte reproduces its offspring are more gametophytes.

Answer 2

Well this is simple think of the gametophyte as either a male or female plant. The male gametophyte will spread sperm through different meathods and the female gametophyte will recieve the sperm. The fertilized "egg" will begin growing into the sporophyte. The sporophyte is what actually spreads the seeds for the next generation of plants.