Okay, let's imagine you're playing with toy cars in the dirt. The ground where the cars are driving is called the subgrade. It's like the foundation or base of the driveway or road you may see outside.
The subgrade is really important because it needs to be strong and stable so that the cars can drive on it without sinking or wobbling around. If the subgrade isn't good, it can cause problems for the cars later on, like potholes or cracks in the road.
That's why real roads and driveways have a special layer of material (sometimes called subbase) put down on top of the subgrade to make it even stronger and more stable. This helps keep the cars and other vehicles safe when they're driving on top of it.