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English Semantic Exercises

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8 views

English Semantic Exercises

Uploaded by

phuong linh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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English: antonyms I

There are three kinds of antonymy: complementary or binary, in which the negative of one
word is synonymous with the other word; gradable or polar, in which one word indicates one
extreme and the other word indicates the opposite extreme; and relational, in which the words
display oppositional symmetry in their meaning (e.g., if X is a parent of Y, then Y is a child
of X). Indicate which type of antonymy is illustrated by the following pairs of words.

1. alive/dead
2. present/absent
3. awake/asleep
4. male/female
5. tall/short
6. poor/rich
7. young/old
8. kill/die
9. give/receive
10. fertile/sterile
11. happy/sad
12. fast/slow
13. borrow/lend
14. employer/employee
15. give/get

English: antonyms II

Give the antonyms of the following words. What is the morphological structure used?

1. likely
2. moral
3. literate
4. charge
5. please
6. discreet
7. real
8. abuse
9. able
10. symmetrical
11. regard
12. fault
13. reformation
14. logical
15. congruent
16. behave
17. tolerant
18. loyal
19. placed
20. claim
21. conformist
22. possible
23. indicated
24. led

English: semantic features

For each of the numbered groups of words given below indicate what semantic feature or
features they have in common. Discuss the differences and similarities between the a. and b.
subgroups.

1. a. actress/sister/widow/niece
b. actor/brother/widower/nephew
2. a. bracelet/ring/broach/tiara/earring
b. flounce/lace/bow/tassel/ribbon
3. a. rose/carnation/lily/poppy/lilac
b. maple/birch/oak/elm/cedar/pine
4. a. Ontario/Manitoba/Alberta/Saskatchewan/Nova Scotia
b. Oregon/Texas/Virginia/Nebraska/ Alabama
5. a. magazine/book/journal/dictionary/encyclopedia
b. pencil/typewriter/pen/crayon/chalk/computer
6. a. eye/ear/nose/hand/mouth
b. lungs/brain/liver/stomach/kidneys
7. a. smart/stupid/genius/imbecile/intelligent
b. sad/happy/joyous/furious/upset/depressed
8. a. white/black/red/green/yellow
b. lilac/avocado/charcoal/ash/golden
9. a. go/walk/run/trot/march
b. strike/beat/attack/pierce/threaten
10. a. canoe/ship/kayak/sailboat/surfboard
b. bus/car/streetcar/train/bicycle

English: animal metaphors

Interpret the properties of people modelled on the properties of animals in


the following similes and other metaphoric expressions. What is the
structure of a simile? Think of other cases of animal/human comparison
and explain their structure.

1. She is as gentle as a lamb.


2. She behaves like a cat chasing her tail.
3. He felt like a pregnant fox in a forest fire.
4. He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
5. What a birdbrain!
6. She fastened onto him like a leech.
7. They wriggled like worms in hot ashes.
8. She is as graceful as a gazalle.
9. She is as close-mouthed as a clam.
10. He is an eagle-eyed birdwatcher.
11. Don is like a bull in a china shop.
12. You think you’re pretty foxy, don’t you?
13. I feel like a fish out of water.
14. After the fight, Margaret flopped around like a beached whale.
15. Her husband is a rat.
16. My aunt is a mousy little woman.
17. Professor Smith turned an owlish gaze upon the student.

English: literal and non-literal meanings

The following sentences illustrate literal and non-literal meanings of the


same phrases. Paraphrase each sentence to indicate the difference in
meanings.

1. The blue jay is sitting on the fence.


2. This politician is sitting on the fence.
3. The pigs and sows live in a pig-sty.
4. The Kalikak family lives in a pig-sty.
5. I heard the water dripping.
6. Finally, I heard from James.
7. The soldiers raided the enemy trenches.
8. The boys raided the ice box.
9. The doctor pulled out the splinter.
10. The politician pulled out his bid for re-election.
11. The tornado had its head in the clouds.
12. My sister had her head in the clouds

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