MEANING OF ANTONYMS: These are words exactly or nearly opposite in meaning to some other words. E.g. good-bad, big-small, temporary-permanent, friendly-hostile etc. These words are exactly opposite in meaning.

There are however some words that are nearly opposite in meaning to other words. E.g. cheerful-unhappy, tough-tender, false-genuine.

FORMATION OF ANTONYMS: Antonyms are formed in various ways;

A :Use of some prefixes like dis-, un-, in-, ir-, im-, il-, etc.E.g.

I, Dis-, believe-disbelieve, approve-disapprove, like-dislike, obey-disobey etc

Ii, Un-, familiar-unfamiliar, important-unimportant, certain-uncertain, happy-unhappy etc

Iii, adequate-inadequate, ability-inability, experienced-inexperienced, efficient-inefficient etc

Iv, Ir- regular-irregular, relevant-irrelevant, revocable-irrevocable, reparable-irreparable etc.

V, Im-, movable-immovable, mobile-immobile, modest-immodest, proper-improper etc

Vi, Il- , legal-illegal, logical-illogical, legitimate-illegitimate, literate-illiterate etc

B: Formation of antonyms that involves a complete change of prefix, e.g. interior-exterior, ascend-descend, import-export, etc

C: Formation of antonyms using entirely different words: Majority of antonyms in English fall under this group. E.g. love-hate, clean-dirty, peace-war, sterile-fertile, dry-wet, opaque-transparent, etc

D: Adjectives

with suffix like –less form their opposites dy changing the suffix to -ful, and –ish. E.g. selfless-selfish, harmless-harmful, careless-careful, fearless-fearful. Etc.  

ASSIGNMENT:A,   Make pairs of antonyms by matching a word from list `A’ with a word from list ‘B’

          A                                   B

1 majority                    answer

2 bold                     insufficient

3 convex                modern

4 negative            deteriorate

5 permanent      minority

6 question        temporary

7 shallow       concave

8 polite           timid

9 erected      increase

10 improve     rude

11 decrease    demolished

12 antiquated      positive

13 adequate         deep

B, Give antonyms of the following words by adding appropriate prefix to each: honour, resolute, audible, truthful, perfect, lawful, questionable.

Please do the assignment in an exercise book and submit on resumption.