AN antonym is a word which has an opposite meaning to another word eg hot-cold, sharp-blunt, articulate-inarticulate. The opposite of any word may resemble it in form or it may have an entirely different form eg polite-impolite, rich-poor. Words whose antonyms are similar to them are prefixed by one or more letters to get the antonym, eg, happy-unhappy, honest-dishonest. These prefixes include in-, im-, il-, ir-, un-and dis-. They all mean ‘not’ or ‘the opposite of. Antonyms help you form concepts and ideas in distinct contrast and in direct opposition to given ideas, qualities, descriptions, action or even different ways of doing things. Thus, nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs have opposites. Antonyms are one of the various distinctions in meaning and include a range of nuances of meaning through negation and opposition. This week enlarge your repertoire of antonyms.

I Rewrite the following sentences changing the italicised words into antonyms

1. The car moved up the straight and narrow path.

2. The bell rang loudly in the big hall.

3. What is your favourite hot drink?

4. The metal contracted when the temperature fell.

II Pair each noun phrase in column A with its opposite in column B.

Column A

1. a trivial affair

2. a casual glance

3. a brisk promenade

4. a solemn observation

5. a chilly reception

6. a fluent talker

7. an arid waste

8. an impetuous remark

9. a substantial amount

10. a temporary set-up

Column B

a) a fertile area

b) a halting conversationalist

c) a calculated comment

d) a permanent arrangement

e) a negligible quantity

f) a leisurely dawdle

g) a flippant remark

h) a prolonged scrutiny

i) a cordial welcome

j) a serious matter

III Use any of the following prefixes in-, im-, il-, ir-, un- and dis- to make antonyms of the given words

Note: in-becomes im-before words starting with ‘b’ and ‘p’

in-becomes il- before words starting with ‘l’.

in-becomes ir- before words starting with ‘r’.

1. legal 2 mobile 3 appear 4 passive 5 courteous 6 expected 7 auspicious 8 grateful 9 excusable 10 logical 11 loyal 12 relevance 13 balance 14 possible 15 credible 16 moderately

Answer key

I 1. crooked, wide

2. softly, small

3. cold

4. expanded, rose

II 1-j 2-h 3-f 4-g 5-i 6-b 7-a 8-c 9-e 10-d

III 1. illegal 2. immobile 3. disappear 4. impassive 5. discourteous 6. unexpected 7. inauspicious 8. ungrateful 9. inexcusable 10. illogical 11. disloyal 12. irrelevance 13. imbalance 14. impossible 15. incredible 16. immoderately.