Synonyms and Antonyms - Language Notes
Synonyms are different words that carry the same meaning, while antonyms are words that convey opposite meanings. An example of a set of synonyms are joyful and happy, while an example of a set of antonyms are happy and sad. The link between these two concepts is vocabulary. In order to be successful at working through exercises on synonyms and antonyms, one can:
Context Clues:
This is where the student picks out particular words, or phrases, that can point to the meaning of the word that is underlined. If one were trying to find the synonym of the underlined word in the example below, the two context clues would be successful and examination.
The candidate would then question whether or not passing an examination is a positive or negative thing. It is not far fetched to form the conclusion that generally, passing an exam would be perceived as a positive experience. Based on this conclusion, one would then try to identify the words with positive connotations. In this case, the only choice would be (b) happy.
This same thought process could be used to identify the antonym of this example as well. The student would simply choose the exact opposite of happy, which, by process of elimination, can only be (a) sad.
eg. Gloria was overjoyed that she was successful in her examinations.
(a) sad (b)happy (c) impatient (d) alarmed
Process of Elimination:
This is where the student literally strikes out the options that could not possibly be the answer to the underlined word, based on the previous process of identifying context clues. For example, if the above example asked the candidate to identify the antonym of overjoyed, then he/she would immediately cross out (b) happy, because it means the same as overjoyed.
(c) Impatient and (d) alarmed would come next because they are not related in meaning to the underlined word. Therefore, useless words were discarded, leaving the answer that makes sense, which is (a) sad.
While these tricks of the trade are very useful when completing exercises with synonyms and antonyms, one has to, at least, be slightly familiar with the words in order to utilize them. In fact, it is recommended that the student builds their vocabulary, during the two years of the CSEC syllabus, in order to use these two processes to the greatest advantage. This can be achieved by:
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
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- Utilize context clues to assist with finding the answer
- Use process of elimination
Context Clues:
This is where the student picks out particular words, or phrases, that can point to the meaning of the word that is underlined. If one were trying to find the synonym of the underlined word in the example below, the two context clues would be successful and examination.
The candidate would then question whether or not passing an examination is a positive or negative thing. It is not far fetched to form the conclusion that generally, passing an exam would be perceived as a positive experience. Based on this conclusion, one would then try to identify the words with positive connotations. In this case, the only choice would be (b) happy.
This same thought process could be used to identify the antonym of this example as well. The student would simply choose the exact opposite of happy, which, by process of elimination, can only be (a) sad.
eg. Gloria was overjoyed that she was successful in her examinations.
(a) sad (b)happy (c) impatient (d) alarmed
Process of Elimination:
This is where the student literally strikes out the options that could not possibly be the answer to the underlined word, based on the previous process of identifying context clues. For example, if the above example asked the candidate to identify the antonym of overjoyed, then he/she would immediately cross out (b) happy, because it means the same as overjoyed.
(c) Impatient and (d) alarmed would come next because they are not related in meaning to the underlined word. Therefore, useless words were discarded, leaving the answer that makes sense, which is (a) sad.
While these tricks of the trade are very useful when completing exercises with synonyms and antonyms, one has to, at least, be slightly familiar with the words in order to utilize them. In fact, it is recommended that the student builds their vocabulary, during the two years of the CSEC syllabus, in order to use these two processes to the greatest advantage. This can be achieved by:
- Reading extensively, or at least habitually.
- Use a dictionary while practicing synonyms and antonyms.
- Join 'Word Master' in order to streamline the process of learning new words.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
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