Here's a simplified explanation:
* All primates share a common ancestor. This ancestor lived millions of years ago, and over time, different groups of primates evolved into the various species we see today, including monkeys, apes, and humans.
* Monkeys are not the ancestors of humans. While we share a common ancestor, humans evolved from a different branch of the primate family tree than monkeys did.
Think of it like this: Imagine a family tree with a grandparent at the top. Over time, the grandparent's children and grandchildren branch off into different families. Monkeys and humans are like cousins on this family tree, sharing a common ancestor but taking different paths of evolution.