BUILDING VOCABULARY

continued from No. 1/2007

How to Learn New Words

Strategies for Building Vocabulary

UNIT 2: ANTONYMS

Betty’s room is messy.

Betty’s room is tidy.

Learn About Antonyms

You have already learned that some words, called synonyms, have the same meanings. Now you are ready to learn about words with opposite meanings.
Words that have opposite meanings are called antonyms. The words messy and tidy are antonyms because they have opposite meanings. What is the meaning of tidy? Whenever you learn a new word, try to think of an antonym for that word.

Activity 1

A. Below are some pairs of antonyms, and their meanings too. Study the words and their meanings. Then follow the directions after the meanings.

1. empty – with nothing in it full – holding as much as possible
2. merry – full of fun sad – unhappy
3. poor – having very little money wealthy – having a lot of money
4. warm – slightly hot cool – slightly cold

B. Now finish each sentence with a word from A.

1. The ______________ old clown laughed and danced in the show.
2. Ginny felt ________________ in her heavy winter coat.
3. Barry kept pouring out lemonade until the pitcher was __________.
4. Marty felt ___________ because her best friend was sick.
5. The ______________ king lived in a big castle.
6. Joy poured herself a _________ glass of milk.
7. The ______________ air blew through the open window.
8. Robin Hood gave money to _________________ people.

Answers: 1. merry; 2. warm; 3. empty; 4. sad; 5. wealthy; 6. full; 7. cool; 8. poor

Learn More Antonyms

Look at the antonym pairs in my Word Box and their meanings. It’s up to you to figure out the meanings of the other words. Think you can do it? Let’s try. Just remember that antonyms have opposite meanings.

Activity 2

Underline the meaning of the boldfaced word in each sentence.

1. If crooked means bent or twisted, then straight means ______________ not full; not curved; funny
2. If strong means powerful, then weak means a time of day; being late; without strength
3. If wide means far apart, then narrow means close together; a short nap; unhappy
4. If pretty means nice to look at, then ugly means not tall; not beautiful; not covered
5. If start means to begin, then complete means to drive; to finish; to fly

Answers: 1. not curved; 2. without strength; 3. close together; 4. not beautiful; 5. to finish

Activity 3

Now practice spelling each new word. Write all the words in the Word Box in the puzzle. The words go across and down. The letter clues will help you.

Which word from the Word Box is missing in the puzzle? Write that word here. ________________

Answer: weak

Activity 4

Antonym Crossword Puzzle

Look at the words in the Word Box below. They are antonyms for words you have learned.
Now read the word meanings beside the crossword puzzle. Choose an antonym from the Word Box for each word. Then write that antonym in the puzzle. Be sure to follow the numbers across and down. The letters in the puzzle will help you.

Answers:

Across: 3. merry; 4. warm; 5. wealthy; 9. straight

Down: 1. narrow; 2. start; 6. empty; 7. ugly; 8. strong

Now finish each sentence below with a word from the puzzle.

1. The _____ lady paid lots of money for a new plane.
2. Old King Cole was a _________ old soul.
3. I like to take long walks when the weather is _____.
4. The Scouts hiked across the ________ footbridge.
5. Bart’s piggy bank was ___________.

Compiled by Erin Bouma

to be continued