LESSON:

Synonyms and Antonyms OBJECTIVES: By the end of the lesson, the students will be able to: define synonyms and antonyms; differentiate the different types of antonyms; construct meaningful sentences using the knowledge gained from the lesson, and; practice honesty and discipline in the different activities within the lesson.

Imagine for a moment how dull the world would be if there were only one word to voice a particular thought. If every person, place, or object could only be expressed with the same word over and over again then reading, writing, and speaking would be extremely boring. Luckily, we have synonyms and antonyms to add spice and flavor to our communication skills.

What are SYNONYMS?

Synonyms are words that have the same or very similar meaning. All words can have a synonym. Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and prepositions can have a synonym as long as both words are the same part of speech. Examples of Synonyms: ADJECTIVES: beautiful, lovely, gorgeous, stunning, striking NOUNS: House, home, dwelling, residence, abode, quarters VERBS: jump, bound, leap, hop, skip PREPOSITIONS: in, inside, within

However, when you do replace a word with its synonym, you have to pay close attention to the context so that the synonym will convey the same meaning. EXAMPLE: My drivers license has expired. o You couldnt replace the word expired with the word die even though the two are synonyms. It wouldnt make sense. A drivers license cant die. Keep in mind that not every synonym of the word you want to replace will be a good choice.

What are ANTONYMS?

Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Often words will have more than one antonym, but as with synonyms it depends on the context. For instance, the word warm could have the antonym cool or chilly. In order to choose the correct antonym, you have to look at all the meanings and how the word is used.

Types of Antonyms
Antonyms fall within the three categories: graded antonyms, relational antonyms, and complementary antonyms.

Graded Antonyms Graded antonyms are word pairs that have variations between the two opposites. For example, big and little are antonyms; but there are a lot of changes before you get to the opposite meaning. BIG, HUGE, bulky, full-size, slight, petite, little OTHER EXAMPLES ARE: healthy sick smart stupid best worst clever foolish early late happy sad

Relational Antonyms
Relational antonyms are pairs that have a relationship. Each word wouldnt exist without the other. EXAMPLES INCLUDE: Open close Husband wife Front back Hello goodbye

Complimentary Antonyms
Complimentary antonyms are word pairs that have no degree of meaning. There are only two opposite possibilities. EXAMPLES: dead- alive true false male- female daughter son on off

When using antonyms always keep in mind the context of the word and then choose the best word that means the opposite. As with synonyms, showing variations in meaning through the use of the correct antonyms will add spark and interest to your writing. If you havent already, get to know your Thesaurus. It could be your new best friend!

ACTIVITIES:
ACTIVITY 1: FIX THE STORY INSTRUCTIONS: Read the paragraph thoroughly. Fix the story by replacing each bolded word with an antonym that makes more sense in the story.

ACTIVITY 2: CHANGE IT UP! INSTRUCTIONS: Read the paragraph thoroughly. The numbered words in bold print are over-used words. Think of a synonym you could use to replace each tired word to add interest.