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KS3 · Grammar

Y8.6 Antonyms and Nuance

Calculators not allowed · about 50 minutes

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. For each word below, choose its antonym from the options given.

(a)generous(1)

A) kind
B) selfish
C) wealthy
D) cheerful

(b)transparent(1)

A) opaque
B) clear
C) fragile
D) colourful

(c)permanent(1)

A) temporary
B) stable
C) fixed
D) lasting

(d)genuine(1)

A) fake
B) honest
C) rare
D) valuable

(e)abundant(1)

A) plentiful
B) scarce
C) large
D) common

(f)essential(1)

A) optional
B) important
C) required
D) basic

Which pair of words is a genuine pair of antonyms, rather than a pair of synonyms or two unrelated words?

A) start / begin
B) huge / gigantic
C) ancient / modern
D) quick / rapid

Some antonym pairs are gradable: there are shades of meaning in between the two extremes (e.g. hot / cold, with warm and cool in between). Others are non-gradable, or absolute: there is no in-between state (e.g. dead / alive - nothing can be a little bit dead). Tick whether each pair below is gradable or non-gradable.

(a)large / small(1)

A) Gradable
B) Non-gradable

(b)true / false(1)

A) Gradable
B) Non-gradable

(c)happy / sad(1)

A) Gradable
B) Non-gradable

(d)married / single(1)

A) Gradable
B) Non-gradable

(e)fast / slow(1)

A) Gradable
B) Non-gradable

Which pair of antonyms is non-gradable (there is no shade of meaning in between the two extremes)?

A) big / small
B) perfect / imperfect
C) warm / cool
D) young / old

Read this sentence: 'The ancient castle stood beside the modern glass tower, and the narrow cobbled lane opened onto a wide, sunlit plaza.' Identify the two antonym pairs used, and state whether each pair is gradable or non-gradable.

(a)State the first antonym pair.(1)

(b)Is this pair gradable or non-gradable?(1)

(c)State the second antonym pair.(1)

(d)Is this pair gradable or non-gradable?(1)

For each antonym pair below, identify the word class (part of speech) that both words share.

(a)fortunate / unfortunate(1)

(b)arrive / depart(1)

(c)friend / enemy(1)

Many antonyms are formed by adding a negative prefix to a word. Add the correct negative prefix from the word bank to each word below to form its antonym. Each prefix is used exactly once.

un-	in-	im-	il-
ir-	dis-	non-	mis-

(a)happy(1)

(b)correct(1)

(c)possible(1)

(d)legal(1)

(e)responsible(1)

(f)honest(1)

(g)fiction(1)

(h)understand(1)

Which word correctly uses a negative prefix to form the antonym of 'possible'?

A) unpossible
B) inpossible
C) impossible
D) dispossible

Each sentence below needs the antonym or near-antonym that best matches its context and tone. Choose the best word from the options given.

(a)The chef's failed dessert was, frankly, ___ (the opposite of delicious).(1)

A) unpleasant
B) disgusting
C) not very nice

(b)Unlike his boisterous brother, Tom was remarkably ___ (the opposite of loud and outgoing).(1)

A) silent
B) reserved
C) mute

(c)The politician's speech felt ___ (the opposite of genuine) - full of empty promises.(1)

A) untrue
B) insincere
C) wrong

(d)After the marathon, the runner felt ___ (the opposite of energetic) and could barely stand.(1)

A) unfit
B) exhausted
C) weak

The words 'curious' and 'nosy' can both function as opposites of 'indifferent' or 'incurious', but they create very different impressions of a person. Explain the difference in connotation between describing someone as curious and describing them as nosy.

(2)

The words 'slim' and 'skinny' can both function as antonyms of 'plump', but they create very different impressions of a person. Explain the difference in connotation between describing someone as slim and describing them as skinny.

(2)

Complete the table below. Each row shows a base word, a neutral or positive near-antonym, and a word with a much stronger negative connotation. Fill in each missing word.

Base word	Neutral / positive word	Word with stronger negative connotation
confident	assured	___ (a)
careful	cautious	___ (b)
thin	slim	___ (c)
___ (d)	chatty	gossipy
proud	___ (e)	boastful

(a)Row 1: stronger negative word for 'confident / assured'.(1)

(b)Row 2: stronger negative word for 'careful / cautious'.(1)

(c)Row 3: stronger negative word for 'thin / slim'.(1)

(d)Row 4: base word for 'chatty / gossipy'.(1)

(e)Row 5: neutral/positive word for 'proud / boastful'.(1)

Rewrite this sentence, replacing 'unhelpful' with a more precise antonym of 'helpful' so that the manager sounds harshly critical rather than just mildly negative: 'The manager was unhelpful when we asked for extra time.'

(2)

Which sentence uses the most precisely nuanced antonym for 'polite' to describe someone who is aggressively disrespectful, rather than just plainly rude?

A) The customer was impolite.
B) The customer was blunt.
C) The customer was rude.
D) The customer was insolent.

Each sentence below uses an antonym or negative word that does not fit its context or register. Identify the problem and suggest a better word.

(a)The five-star restaurant's dessert was not nice.(1)

(b)The soldier's actions were described as very brave, but really he was un-brave.(1)

(c)Despite the tragic news, she felt very unsad.(1)

Identify and correct the error in this sentence: 'The plan was very unlegal, so the council rejected it.'

(2)

Below is a paragraph from a theatre review with several vague or wrongly formed word choices. Rewrite it, replacing each underlined-style issue with a more precise, correctly formed antonym or word choice, so the review shows real control of nuance.

'The critics said the play's ending was very not good and left the audience feeling flat. One reviewer called the acting inconvincing, while another said the set design was unenergy and lifeless. The director disagreed, insisting the show was the total opposite of borING and that ticket sales had been very not bad.'

(6)

Write your own sentence for each situation below, choosing a precise antonym that matches the connotation described.

(a)Describe an extremely mean, tight-fisted person - the harshest, most negative opposite of 'generous'.(1)

(b)Describe someone speaking in a very blunt way - the neutral opposite of 'diplomatic', without sounding rude.(1)

(c)Describe severe, extreme weather - a dramatic opposite of 'mild'.(1)

(d)Describe a decision that was extremely foolish - a strongly critical opposite of 'wise'.(1)

Choose one sentence you wrote in Question 18. Identify the antonym or near-antonym you used, and explain how your word choice created a specific nuance or impression, rather than simply writing 'not generous', 'not diplomatic', 'not mild' or 'not wise'.

(2)

Write two short paragraphs (approximately 40-50 words each) describing the SAME cafe: once making it sound wonderful, and once making it sound terrible. Change only your word choices, using precise antonyms and near-antonyms rather than simply adding 'not' or 'very' (for example: spacious / cramped, welcoming / hostile, fragrant / fetid). Underline at least four antonym pairs used across your two paragraphs.

(10)

Mark scheme · Y8.6 Antonyms and Nuance

Question 1

(a) B1 B
(a) Answer: B
(b) B1 A
(b) Answer: A
(c) B1 A
(c) Answer: A
(d) B1 A
(d) Answer: A
(e) B1 B
(e) Answer: B
(f) B1 A
(f) Answer: A

Question 2

B1 C
Answer: C

Question 3

(a) B1 A
(a) Answer: A
(b) B1 B
(b) Answer: B
(c) B1 A
(c) Answer: A
(d) B1 B
(d) Answer: B
(e) B1 A
(e) Answer: A

Question 4

B1 B
Answer: B

Question 5

(a) B1 ancient / modern, cao
(a) Answer: ancient / modern
(b) B1 gradable, since a building can be fairly old, quite modern or somewhere in between (oe)
(b) Answer: gradable
(c) B1 narrow / wide, cao
(c) Answer: narrow / wide
(d) B1 gradable, since a space can be fairly narrow, quite wide or somewhere in between (oe)
(d) Answer: gradable

Question 6

(a) B1 adjective, cao
(a) Answer: adjective
(b) B1 verb, cao
(b) Answer: verb
(c) B1 noun, cao
(c) Answer: noun

Question 7

(a) B1 unhappy, cao
(a) Answer: unhappy
(b) B1 incorrect, cao
(b) Answer: incorrect
(c) B1 impossible, cao
(c) Answer: impossible
(d) B1 illegal, cao
(d) Answer: illegal
(e) B1 irresponsible, cao
(e) Answer: irresponsible
(f) B1 dishonest, cao
(f) Answer: dishonest
(g) B1 non-fiction, cao
(g) Answer: non-fiction
(h) B1 misunderstand, cao
(h) Answer: misunderstand

Question 8

B1 C
Answer: C

Question 9

(a) B1 B
(a) Answer: B
(b) B1 B
(b) Answer: B
(c) B1 B
(c) Answer: B
(d) B1 B
(d) Answer: B

Question 10

B1 identifies that 'curious' has a positive connotation, suggesting an admirable, open-minded interest in things
B1 identifies that 'nosy' has a negative connotation, suggesting an unwelcome, intrusive interest in other people's business (oe)
Answer: 'Curious' has a positive connotation, suggesting an admirable, open-minded interest in the world, while 'nosy' has a negative connotation, suggesting an intrusive, unwelcome interest in other people's private business.

Question 11

B1 identifies that 'slim' has a positive or flattering connotation, suggesting an attractively slender build
B1 identifies that 'skinny' has a negative connotation, suggesting an unhealthily or unattractively thin build (oe)
Answer: 'Slim' has a positive, flattering connotation, suggesting an attractively slender build, whereas 'skinny' has a negative connotation, suggesting a build that is unhealthily or unattractively thin.

Question 12

(a) B1 arrogant, oe (e.g. conceited, big-headed)
(a) Answer: arrogant
(b) B1 paranoid, oe (e.g. obsessive, overcautious)
(b) Answer: paranoid
(c) B1 skinny, oe (e.g. scrawny)
(c) Answer: skinny
(d) B1 talkative, oe
(d) Answer: talkative
(e) B1 confident, oe (e.g. self-assured)
(e) Answer: confident

Question 13

B1 replaces 'unhelpful' with a more precise, harshly negative antonym/near-antonym, e.g. obstructive, dismissive, uncooperative (oe)
B1 resulting sentence is grammatically complete and correctly punctuated, cao
Answer: The manager was obstructive when we asked for extra time.

Question 14

B1 D
Answer: D

Question 15

(a) B1 identifies that 'not nice' is too vague and informal for a restaurant review, and replaces it with a precise antonym such as disappointing/underwhelming/mediocre (oe)
(a) Answer: disappointing
(b) B1 identifies that 'un-brave' is not a standard English word, and replaces it with the correct antonym 'cowardly' (oe)
(b) Answer: cowardly
(c) B1 identifies that 'unsad' is not a standard English word, and replaces it with a suitable word such as indifferent/unmoved/unaffected (oe)
(c) Answer: unmoved

Question 16

B1 identifies that 'unlegal' is not a real negative prefix form; 'legal' takes the prefix il-, not un-
B1 correct rewrite: The plan was illegal, so the council rejected it, cao
Answer: The plan was illegal, so the council rejected it.

Question 17

Level 0 (0): No accurate corrections made; vague phrases and invented words remain uncorrected, or new errors are introduced.
Level 1 (1-2): One or two vague phrases or invented words replaced with more precise antonyms, with limited overall accuracy.
Level 2 (3-4): Most vague phrases and invented words replaced with reasonably precise antonyms, with generally secure spelling and capitalisation.
Level 3 (5-6): All vague phrases and invented words replaced with precise, well-chosen antonyms that show a clear sense of nuance and register throughout.
Indicative content:
- 'very not good' replaced with a single precise antonym, e.g. disappointing/poor, avoiding the vague double negative
- 'inconvincing' corrected to the standard prefix form 'unconvincing'
- 'unenergy' (an invalid word formation) replaced with a precise adjective, e.g. lifeless/flat
- the random mid-word capital in 'borING' corrected, and the vague phrase 'total opposite of boring' replaced with a precise antonym, e.g. captivating/riveting
- 'very not bad' replaced with a single precise antonym, e.g. strong/healthy, avoiding the vague double negative
- overall rewrite is fluent, uses precisely chosen antonyms throughout, and maintains a consistent, appropriately critical review register

Question 18

(a) B1 accept any grammatically correct sentence using a strongly negative antonym/near-antonym of 'generous', e.g. miserly, tight-fisted, stingy (oe)
(a) Answer: Our landlord was so miserly that he refused to replace even a single broken light bulb.
(b) B1 accept any grammatically correct sentence using a neutral, not harshly negative, antonym of 'diplomatic', e.g. blunt, direct, outspoken (oe)
(b) Answer: Her feedback was blunt, but everyone appreciated knowing exactly where they stood.
(c) B1 accept any grammatically correct sentence using a vivid antonym/near-antonym of 'mild', e.g. brutal, ferocious, bitter (oe)
(c) Answer: A bitter wind tore across the fields, stripping the last leaves from the trees.
(d) B1 accept any grammatically correct sentence using a strongly negative antonym/near-antonym of 'wise', e.g. reckless, foolhardy, senseless (oe)
(d) Answer: Investing his entire savings in a single, untested scheme was a reckless decision.

Question 19

B1 identifies the specific word chosen and the base word it opposes
B1 explains the particular shade of meaning or impression the chosen word creates, beyond a simple negation (oe)
Answer: I used 'miserly' rather than simply 'not generous' because it suggests a deliberate, unpleasant meanness with money, creating a much stronger, more critical impression of the landlord's character than a vague negation would.

Question 20

AO5: Content and organisation (AO5)
- Level 1 (1-2): Simple description of the cafe; little sense of two genuinely contrasting versions or clear organisation.
- Level 2 (3-4): Some relevant, engaging description of the cafe in both versions; ideas are mostly sequenced clearly, with a reasonable sense of contrast.
- Level 3 (5-6): Clear, engaging and convincing description of the cafe in both versions, with a genuinely striking contrast between them; well organised throughout.
AO6: Technical accuracy (precision and range of antonym choices) (AO6)
- Level 1 (1): Limited accuracy; fewer than four antonym pairs are used, or the contrast relies mainly on adding 'not' or 'very' rather than precise word choice.
- Level 2 (2-3): At least four antonym pairs are used, mostly precisely and accurately, with occasional reliance on vague intensifiers.
- Level 3 (4): At least four different, precisely chosen antonym pairs are used, clearly marked and consistently accurate, creating a controlled, effective contrast throughout.

Antonyms and Nuance - Worksheets, Questions and Revision