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ANTONYMS/OPPOSITES EXERCISE (ESL) 1

✓ Useful for Cambridge FCE/CAE

Choose the correct antonym for each of the words below. Choose from the following: wet, clean, expensive, hard, sick, sharp, slow, quiet, warm, closed

1. The antonym of open is .✓

2. The antonym of dirty is .✓

3. The antonym of cheap is .✓

4. The antonym of loud is .✓

5. The antonym of dull is .✓

6. The antonym of healthy is .✓

7. The antonym of dry is .✓

8. The antonym of cool is .✓

9. The antonym of easy is .✓

10. The antonym of fast is .✓

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TOP TIP?

There are simple systems you can use to learn antonyms, and some work better than just memorizing random pairs:

1. Learn common antonym patterns
Many antonyms are formed by adding prefixes. Once you learn the prefixes, you can guess lots of opposites.
Common prefixes:
• un- → happy → unhappy
• in- / im- / il- / ir- → visible → invisible, polite → impolite
• dis- → agree → disagree
• non- → fiction → nonfiction
Tip: If a word sounds formal or academic, its antonym is often made with a prefix.

2. Learn words in concept pairs
Instead of single words, learn ideas that naturally go together.
Examples:
• hot ↔ cold
• early ↔ late
• success ↔ failure
• increase ↔ decrease
Your brain remembers contrasts better than isolated facts.

3. Use scales, not just pairs
Some words aren't exact opposites-they're on a spectrum.
Example:
• freezing → cold → cool → warm → hot → boiling
This helps you:
• understand meaning more deeply
• choose better words in writing

4. Group antonyms by topic
Learn opposites in categories.
Emotions:
• happy ↔ sad
• confident ↔ insecure
Size:
• huge ↔ tiny
• wide ↔ narrow
Time:
• ancient ↔ modern
• temporary ↔ permanent

5. Actively test yourself Passive reading doesn't work as well.
Try:
• Flashcards (word on one side, antonym on the other)
• Cover one word and say the opposite out loud
• Write sentences using both words

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