Vocabulary, Synonyms and Antonyms

A good vocabulary helps to communicate effectively and appropriately. Vocabulary can only be built through reading. One effective way for vocabulary building is to look at synonyms and antonyms of words. However, caution in required in substituting a synonym for a word. Broadly speaking, the word and its synonym in the any given context have to be the same part of speech. Be careful about the use of words, especially words which are often confused. E.g. see and look are synonyms but cannot be used as substitutes in a given context: Correct: If you shut your eyes you cannot see. Incorrect: If you shut your eyes you cannot look. Correct: Look up at the ceiling. Incorrect: See up at the ceiling. Synonym: a word or a phrase that means the same or nearly the same as another. They can be nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs as long as they are both the same part of speech. Synonyms need not be single words, e.g. war and armed conflict are synonyms. A word can have more than one synonym depending on which meaning you use for the word. E.g. Expire could have the synonym no longer fresh or stale if used to refer to milk that is past its sale date; it can also have the synonym dead if it is used to refer to someone who has died/passed away. Antonyms: words which have opposite meanings. A word can have more than one antonym, depending in what sense it is being used, e.g. short can have the antonym tall when referring to a persons height; and the antonym long when referring to the length of something. Antonyms are made by adding the prefixes such as: 1. un e.g. unable, unlikely, unfortunately, untimely 2. non - nonentity, nonexistent, nonconformist 3. in intolerant, indiscreet, infamous 4. dis - disinterested, disinfectant, dismantle, disband 5. im impatient, impossible, impalpable, impious Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb, verb + preposition, verb+ adverb + preposition. It can have a literal meaning that is easy to understand because the meaning is clear from the words that are used in the phrasal verb itself. It can also have an idiomatic meaning which cannot easily be understood by looking at the words themselves. . E.g. 'give up' is a phrasal verb that means 'stop doing' something, which is very different from 'give'. Examples: run into, ran away, gang up, gear up, back up, back off, see through, see about, send off, settle down, settle for, show through, show up, tag along, take on, talk into, talk out of, talk back, tone down, touch up, top off, turn up, etc. Phrasal verbs with verb + adverb are called particle verbs. 1

Phrasal verbs with verb + preposition are called prepositional verbs. Prepositional verbs with two prepositions are possible: e.g. We talked to the minister about the crisis. There are four basic types of phrasal verbs: 1. : Verb + particle e.g. look out! (=take care); We set off on our journey (=started) 2. Phrasal verb with an object either after the particle or between the verb and particle. Verb + particle + object e.g. Ill throw away the rubbish. Take off your shoes. Verb + object + particle e.g. Ill throw the rubbish away. Take your shoes off.

Note: when object is a pronoun, e.g. them, it can only go before the particle, not after it. e.g. Ill throw it away (NOT: Ill throw away it.) Take them off (NOT: Take off them.) 3. Phrasal verb with object, but verb and particle inseparable. Verb + particle + object e.g. She takes after her mother. (Not: She takes her mother after.) Looking after a baby is hard work. (NOT: Looking a baby after is hard work.) 4. Phrasal verbs with three parts: verb+ particle+ preposition. In this case, the verb cannot be separated form the other parts. Verb + particle + preposition + object e.g. Im looking forward to the weekend. You go now, Ill catch up with you later. You shouldnt go back on your promises.

Phrasal verbs can be: 1. Intransitive (cannot be followed by an object) e.g. He suddenly showed up. show up cannot take an object. 2. Transitive (followed by object) e.g. I made up the story. "story" is the object of "make up"

Examples phrasal verbs intransitive get up meaning direct object I don't like to get up. 2

rise from bed

phrasal verbs transitive phrasal verbs

break down put off turn down

cease to function postpone refuse

He was late because his car broke down. We will have to put off They turned down the meeting. my offer.

Separable Phrasal Verbs: When phrasal verbs are transitive (that is, they have a
direct object), we can usually separate the two parts. For example, "turn down" is a separable phrasal verb. We can say: "turn down my offer" or "turn my offer down" transitive phrasal verbs are They They turned turned my offer down down. my offer.

separable

However, if the direct object is a pronoun, we must separate the phrasal verb and insert the pronoun between the two parts. Look at this example with the separable phrasal verb "switch on": direct object pronouns must go between the two parts of transitive phrasal verbs John John John John switched switched switched switched the radio it on on. on. on it. This is not possible. the radio. These are all possible.

Phrasal verbs have literal and an idiomatic meaning:

Verb and Adverb (run + around)

to run around (something) - to run in a circle around something The dog ran around the fire hydrant. to run around (somewhere) - to go to various places to do something I spent the day running around town.
Verb and a Preposition (run + into)

to run into (someone or something) - to hit or crash into someone or something The car ran into the truck on the busy street. to run into (someone) - to meet someone by chance I ran into my friend in a restaurant yesterday.

Verb and Adverb and Preposition (run + along/around + with)

to run along with (someone or something) - to run beside or at the same pace as someone or something : The dog ran along with the bicycle. to run around with (someone) - to be friends and do things with someone or with a group: The boy is running around with a bad group of people. Idiom: An idiom is a group of words in current usage having a meaning that is not deducible from those of the individual words. For example, to rain cats and dogs - which means to rain very heavily - is an idiom; and over the moon - which means extremely happy- is another idiom. It is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made. A group of words in a fixed order that have a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word understood on its own. An idiom is a combination of words that has a meaning that is different from the meanings of the individual words themselves. It can have a literal meaning in one situation and a different idiomatic meaning in another situation. It is a phrase which does not always follow the normal rules of meaning and grammar. e.g. To sit on the fence can literally mean that one is sitting on a fence. I sat on the fence and watched the game. However, the idiomatic meaning of to sit on the fence is that one is not making a clear choice regarding some issue. The politician sat on the fence and would not give his opinion about the tax issue. Structure of Idioms Most idioms are unique and fixed in their grammatical structure. The expression to sit on the fence cannot become to sit on a fence or to sit on the fences. However, there are many changes that can be made to an idiom. Some of these changes result in a change in the grammatical structure that would generally be considered to be wrong. To be broken literally means that something is broken. The lamp is broken so I cannot easily read my book. To be broke is grammatically incorrect but it has the idiomatic meaning of to have no money. I am broke and I cannot go to a movie tonight. Difference between idiom and phrasal verb: a phrasal verb can be adjusted to make a grammatically correct sentence; in idioms, order of words is not changed and often the order of words of idioms will generally be considered grammatically incorrect. There can also be changes in nouns, pronouns or in the verb tenses. 4

I sat on the fence and did not give my opinion. Many people are sitting on the fence and do not want to give their opinion. Adjectives and adverbs can also be added to an idiomatic phrase. The politician has been sitting squarely in the middle of the fence since the election.

Exercise: Choose the correct synonyms and provide an antonym for the following words: 1. Abandon
a) too much b) discard c) hunt d) pursue antonym: 4. Feeble: a) weak b) workable c) vigorous d) robust antonym: 7. Fiasco: a) confusion b) lucky stroke c) debacle d) festival antonym: 10. Admiration: a) respect b) regards c) flattery d) love antonym: 13. Adulterate: a) to bake partially b) immorality c) reverse d) contaminate antonym: 16. Adversary: a) coming back 2. Accomplice: a) colleague b) friend c) partner in crime d) enemy 5. Parameter: a) long distance b)limit c) measuring device d)far away 8. Accumulate a) wealth b)complete c)build up d) gain 11. Applaud: a) clap b)chat c)welcome d) happy 14. Apprehend: a)imagine b) arrest c) fear d) share 17. Knack: a)skill 3. Acquaintance: a) associate b)similarity c) intelligent d)connection 6. Enhance: a)increase b) multiply c) doubt d) grasp 9. Acute: a) small b) severe c) inform d) deep 12. Jaunt: a) spree b) spare c) inferior d) difficult 15. Accommodate: a) welcome b) oblige c) escort d) to give up a job 18. Unprecedented: a) mismatched 5

b) opponent c) subordinate d) age fellow antonym: 19. Adverse: a) not right b) reverse c) hardship d) opposite antonym: 22. Bemuse: a) teasing b) entertaining c) defuse d) confuse antonym: 25. Ambitious: a) aspiring b) contestant c) blind d) energetic antonym: 28. Bias: a) confused b) enemy c) prejudiced d) against antonym: 31. Annihilation: a) total destruction b) to build c) regenerate d) instruction antonym: 34. Fiction: a) fabrication b) reality c) sordid d) volatile antonym:

b)kill c)knock down d)ugly 20. Authentic: a) genuine b) real c) true d) imaginary 24. Bustle: a) activity b) extreme c) bargain d) suppress 26. Calamity: a) ease b) cold weather c)disaster d) insult 29. Disparity: a) partly b)inequality c) harmony d) wideness 32. Complement: a) accompany b) praiseworthy c) respect d) free 35. Inquest: a) talk b) nab c) enquiry d) catch

b) unparalleled c) modern d) stylish 21. Eradicate: a) eliminate b) to forget c) to forgive d) validation 24. Fantasy: a) dream b) fantastic c) far away d) excellent 27. Expunge: a) clean b) clear c) go down d) wipe out 30. Fanatic: a) religious minded b) political activist c) intelligent d) extremist 33. Herald: a) dangerous b) rich c) messenger d) weekly 36. Vocation: a) career b) truth c) holiday d) hallow

37. Fluster: a) soothe b) encourage c) confuse d) pacify antonym: 40. Monotonous: a) main b) shining c) dull d) varied antonym: 43. Formidable: a) task b) insignificant c) grand d) alarming antonym: 46. Jeer: a) joy b) taunt c) small d) petty antonym: 49. Indispensable: a) crucial b) dangerous c) distribute d) exasperated antonym:

38. Overt: a) explicit b)open c) hidden d) costly 41. Notorious: a) disreputable b) famous c) renowned d) jolly 44. Upbraid: a) promise b) scold c) nourish d) upward 47. Tentative: a) sure b) definite c) progressive d) indefinite 50. Stimulate: a) arise b) depress c) dampen d) reduce

39. Zenith: a) central point b) peak c) nadir d) full moon 42. Voracious: a) greedy b) straight forward c) energetic d) powerful 45. Incriminate: a) duplicate b) implicate c) get free d) capitulate 48. Sumptuous: a) spacious b) meagre c) small d)luxurious

Phrasal Verb Example: Teacher Rachel asked me about the way that the youth and the older people speak here in Brazil. Well, as in Great Britain, youths use slang to communicate with each other. And when they meet up with a stranger, an adult, an elderly person, a teacher or anyone higher up than them, they speak formally. This adds up to two different ways of talking: formal and informal. However, there is an interesting thing going on here: older people are starting to sound younger! In other words, people who are getting on in age are using more and more slang as a way of being down with the kids*. Brazilian TV shows are full of young people, and the way they speak has a knock on effect on the way adult listeners express themselves. Maybe, in the near future, the way adults and young people use formal language wont divide up the two age groups; everyone will only use formal language in formal situations. Teacher Rachel asked me about the way that the youth and the older people speak here in Brazil. Well, as in Great Britain, youths use slang to communicate to each other. And when they meet someone unknown, an adult, an elderly, or someone as a teacher or any authority, they speak formally. And this is the way that we can separate the ways of expression of people here: formal or informal. However, there is an interesting phenomena occurring here: the older people are becoming youth. In other words, the adults and elderly people are using more and more slang to become closer to the youths. And, as Brazilian TV has plenty of young people (and TV has to talk the language of its public), it influences the way the adults express their selves. Maybe in a near future the formal language will be used just in formal occasions, and not as a way to separate groups with different ages.

Exercise: Phrasal Verbs: 1. Identify the placement of verb, particle and object in the following sentences. 1. I talked my mother into letting me borrow the car. 2. I ran into an old friend yesterday. 3.They are looking into the problem. 4. She looked the phone number up. 5. I looked up the number in the phone book. 6. I looked it up in the phone book. 7. Cheer up! 2. Complete the sentences using the correct form of phrasal verbs. Use each phrasal verb only once. break out, break down, get up, switch on, ring up, turn down 1. I have to speak to Mr. Mason. Id better_________________ up. 2. Do you like ___________________ early in the mornings? 3. Could you _____________________ the light? 4. The lift has _______________________ and isnt working at the moment. 5. A fire ________________ in the offices of ABC cinema last night. 8

6. That music s rather loud. Can you ________________ it? 3. Replace the underlined words with the correct form of phrasal verbs. Come into, run into, come up with, look back on, go into, 1. Weve examined the problem very carefully. __________________________________________________________ 2. Jane inherited a great deal of money when her grandmother died. ___________________________________________________________ 3. I met an old friend by chance in town yesterday afternoon. ___________________________________________________________ 4. When you remember the past, its easy to see the mistakes youve made. ____________________________________________________________ 5. We must try to find a solution to the problem. _____________________________________________________________

Relevant links: http://www.englishpage.com/prepositions/phrasaldictionary.html http://www.englishclub.com/ref/Phrasal_Verbs/index.htm http://www.idiomsite.com/ http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/g.html Saadat Ali Shah. Exploring the World of English. Chapters 1-6.