general vocabulary
Opposites 1
2. ADJECTIVES
Replace the adjectives in bold with an opposite from the box. Some words in the box can be
used more than once.
tame • shallow • public • odd • artificial • mean • compulsory • lazy
tight • amateur • thick • live • strong • guilty • smooth • easy
sharp • dim • approximate • tough • present • permanent • stale
light • high • minor • cool • soft • hollow
1. real pearls 22. dead animals
2. a thin slice of bread 23. a dim light
3. an energetic student 24. a deep pool
4. a bland taste 25. a rough sea
5. a professional photographer 26. voluntary military service
6. a wild animal 27. exact figures
7. an innocent man 28. a private affair
8. a generous person 29. a tender steak
9. a serious book 30. a rough wine
10. a solid log of wood 31. a hard chair
11. an alcoholic drink 32. a loud voice
12. an intelligent student 33. a loose pair of trousers
13. a normal person 34. a blunt knife
14. an easy exam 35. recorded music
15. absent students 36. a clever manager
16. a weak cup of coffee 37. a difficult test
17. a heavy meal 38. a dark blue shirt
18. a temporary job 39. a fresh loaf of bread
19. a small income 40. a major injury
20. a low building 41. a frantic nurse
21. fresh air 42. a warm cellar
23
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (0 7475 6624 0)
general vocabulary
Opposites 2
A lot of adjectives can be made into their opposite form by the addition of a prefix (e.g.,
un,- in-, dis-, il-) to the beginning of the word. The most common prefix is un-. Adjectives
which end with -ful (thoughtful, useful, etc) are an exception: they are made into opposites
by replacing -ful with the suffix -less (thoughtless, useless, etc)
Note that some adjectives can be made into opposites by the addition of a prefix or by the
use of another word (e.g., correct = incorrect or wrong).
Task1. Decide which of the prefixes from the first box can be used to make opposites of the
adjectives in the second box.
dis- • il- • im- • in- • ir- • un-
acceptable • accurate • adequate • advantaged • agreeable
attractive • avoidable • believable • certain • comfortable
competent • complete • conscious • contented • convincing
correct • curable • even • fair • fashionable • honest
inclined • legal • limited • literate • logical • married
mature • moral • mortal • obedient • patient • perfect • personal
possible • proper • pure • qualified • rational • regular • relevant
replaceable • resistible • resolute • responsible • satisfied • welcome
Task 2.Complete these sentences by adding the most suitable adjective to the prefixes given.
1. Your behaviour was completely ir________! You're eighteen years old, not eight!
2. Life can be quite difficult for un________ mothers, or 'single parents' as they are usually called.
3. I'll help you in a minute. Don't be so im________!
4. She never learnt to read or write; she was completely il________.
5. I'm afraid you answer is in________. Try again.
6. He's a very dis________ man; bad-tempered, selfish, ,jealous and bigoted.
7. Flared trousers and a purple corduroy jacket? That's very un________, you know.
8. Using the 'broadband' system means that you get un________ Internet access at any time of the day
or night.
9. Dis________ children - those from poor families - have to work harder than others to succeed in life.
10. I did all the work and she got all the credit for it. That is so un________!
11. The people who run our national rail network are lazy and in_____; they're so bad at their job.
12. You paid £12 for a hamburger? That's un________! You must be joking!
13. After I was hit on the head, I must have been un________ for about ten minutes.
14. Your homework is in________. You've only answered half of the questions.
15. He's rather im________ for a sixteen-year-old. He behaves more like a child of ten.
16. You've broken my favourite cup. It's ir________! I'll never find another one.
24
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (0 7475 6624 0)
