In learning and communicating effectively in English, a key aspect is the use of synonyms and antonyms. Before fully diving into the subject, it is important to understand the meaning of these two terms:
Synonyms are different words which possess the same meaning.
Antonyms are words which are opposite in meaning.
One quick way to remember this is by memorizing:
S, the first letter of the word Synonyms, can stand for “Same”.
A, the first letter of the word “Antonyms”, can stand for “Against”.
Here's how you can memorize synonyms and antonyms easily:
- Look the word up in the dictionary and thesaurus: This is definitely one of the most common and important things to do. Most synonyms and antonyms are not evident after the first It is always advisable to consult your dictionary to get a full grasp of what the meaning is all about.
- Make then personal: Words that are personalized are usually retained in the brain for much longer. You can personalize words by using them in your everyday conversations, including them in a short story or poem you are writing and so on. In doing this, you are creating a memory of the words and also learning the more appropriate way in which to use them.
- Learn synonyms and antonyms under the same category: Trying to comprehend all the synonyms and antonyms the English language offers will definitely lead to no success. It is thus advisable to learn antonyms and synonyms under a particular One can learn, for instance, antonyms and synonyms relating to health and hospitals in general. Doing this gives you an ability to know how to use the words in the right context and retain a greater number of them in memory.
- Make a study plan: Learning antonyms and synonyms or even when learning new words in general, it is very important to have a clearly cut out study plan that allows for all forms of learning. You should make time for discovering new words and personalizing Try also to listen to an English related podcast, read English novels or be in the presence of people who speak better English than you.