Important Rules: Antonyms | English Language & Comprehension for SSC CGL PDF Download

Introduction

Rule 1 – Answer Choices

Pay attention to answer choices with positive and negative charges. Nearly any given word can be linked to either a negative or positive charge.

Try to discern whether each word in the following list has a –

1. positive (+)
2. negative (-), or 
3. neutral (=) charge.

Choose the best synonym/antonym based on its charge.

Rule 2 – Types of Antonyms

Antonyms have been categorized into two parts, for a better understanding of the students.

Types of Antonyms:

• Gradable Antonyms: they offer a middle ground to all the words and act on a graded spectrum i.e. within a range.
  • let’s take a word fat. Now it’s antonyms can be thin, skinny, slender, slight, slim, (Here you can see there’s a range of words from very thin to not too thin.)
  • old – new, young, youthful, current, fresh, modern, green. (here old was either age or time, hence all antonyms fall into a broader range)
• Complementary Antonyms: these are the ones that stand in complete contrast to each other.
  
  • push and pull
  • In and out
  • Up and down
  • right and left
• Relational Antonyms: Also known as relational antonyms, the relation of these antonyms are universally opposite.
  • black and white
  • husband and wife
  • pen and paper

Rule 3 – Root Word, Prefix and Suffix

Responding to a question without understanding its meaning can pose a challenge. Nevertheless, if you possess knowledge of the root words and prefixes or suffixes, the task becomes more manageable.

Root Words:

The fundamental or primary word capable of generating various words while maintaining a related meaning is referred to as a root word.

For example:

• Form – meaning Shape
  • reform – rebuilding the shape
  • deform – breakdown a shape
  • Formless – something that has no shape.

Prefix:

Words that are placed before the root word to change its meaning.

• Positive prefix – pre, pro, re, super, en, co etc.
• Negative Prefix – de, ir, im, mal, un, non, a, in etc.

For example:

• able – unable
• sane – insane
• respect – disrespect
• Operate – cooperate
• code – decode
• symmetrical – asymmetrical
• sure – ensure
  

Suffix:

Words that are placed after the root word to change its meaning.

• Some of the suffix are: less, ful, ment, ion, ive, dom, ism, ness, ship etc.

For example:

• Free – freedom
• Friend – Friendship
• attain – attainment
• happy – happiness
• harm – harmful
• harm – harmless

Examples

Q1: Find the opposite of:
Pricey
(a) Lavish
(b) Valuable
(c) High
(d) Economical

Ans: (d)
Here both words that are pricey or expensive and it’s opposite that is economic, follow a continuous spectrum.
And since lavish, valuable and high are synonymous to the given wor(d)
Hence option D is the correct one

Q2: Find the antonym of:
Correct
(a) Wrong
(b) Right
(c) True
(d) Appropriate
Ans: (a)
The word opposite of correct will be incorrect or wrong. And it’s a complementary antonym representing two opposite possibilities as either an act can be wrong or right, true or false.
Hence option A is the correct one.

Q3: Find the antonym of:
Present
(a) Absent
(b) Available
(c) Existent
(d) Coeval
Ans: (a)
The opposite of present is absent. And since all the other options hold a similar meaning to the given wor(d) Therefore option A is the correct one.

Q4: Find the antonym of:
Doctor
(a) Physician
(b) Expert
(c) Patient
(d) Scientist
Ans: (c)
The opposite of a doctor will be a patient. Hence option C is the correct one since all the other options fall in the same category of the given wor(d)

Q5: Find the antonym of:
Predator
(a) Prey
(b) Hunter
(c) Killer
(d) Attacker
Ans: (a)
Predator means hunter, hence its opposite will be prey or a victim.
Therefore option A is the correct one.