This document defines antonyms and provides examples. It begins by stating that antonyms are words with opposite meanings. There are three types of antonyms: gradable antonyms which have levels like beautiful and ugly, complementary antonyms which are absolute opposites like alive and dead, and converse antonyms which are pairs like above and below. Examples of hot and cold, fast and slow are given. Two exercises with words and their antonyms are provided for practice.
5. The antonyms are divided into 3
categories of:
•Gradable Antonyms
•Complementary Antonyms
•Converse or Relational Antonyms
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DELL YOUTH LEARNING
6. Types of Antonyms
(1) Gradable Antonyms
"Gradable antonyms include pairs like the following:
beautiful - ugly
expensive - cheap
fast - slow
hot - cold
increase – decrease
(2) Complementary Antonyms
"Complementary antonyms are another subtype of antonymy:
if you are one, you cannot be the other; these are 'absolute' opposites.
That is, if you are dead, you cannot also be alive.
(3) Converse or Relational Antonyms
The pairs above - below, before - after, precede - follow,
buy - sell, and lend- borrow exemplify this category.
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DELL YOUTH LEARNING
9. Exercise 1
1. He is tall.
Short
Big
Huge
Hungry
2. It is hot outside.
Warm
Breezy
Cold
Stormy
3. This seems like a good hotel.
Brilliant
Great
9
Bad
Dirty
DELL YOUTH LEARNING
10. Answer
1. He is tall.
Short
Big
Huge
Hungry
2. It is hot outside.
Warm
Breezy
Cold
Stormy
3. This seems like a good hotel.
Brilliant
Great
10
Bad
Dirty
DELL YOUTH LEARNING
11. Exercise 2
1. We are going to talk with our ENEMIES
Lost
Friends
Neighbors.
Rivals.
2. Mr. Brown always makes EASY tests
Soft
Strong
Hard
Weak
3. OPEN the door, please!
Close
Free
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Huge
Soak
DELL YOUTH LEARNING
12. Answer
1. We are going to talk with our ENEMIES
Lost
Friends
Neighbors.
Rivals.
2. Mr. Brown always makes EASY tests
Soft
Strong
Hard
Weak
3. OPEN the door, please!
Close
Free
12
Huge
Soak
DELL YOUTH LEARNING