Synonymy
Please note: there are two pages of activities for this lesson.
Activity 1
Start by explaining the meaning of the term synonym. For an example, ask learners to think of some synonyms for the word 'argument'.
In the next slide, show the two possible examples. Ask learners if these two words have the exact same meaning or if there are any subtle differences. Try asking learners in what situations they would/would not use each word.
Show the differences between the two words in the next slide, and check if your learners agree.
Activity 2
Next, learners will have a go at matching some synonym pairs together. Ask them to copy down the words in the drag-and-drop activity and match the pairs individually before checking on the board as a whole class.
Make sure to pair the words in order (1-2), otherwise the activity will mark you as incorrect. Drag and drop the cards together to connect, and double click to unpair them.
Next, you will examine how these synonyms are used in different contexts. Read through the first slide and disuss any questions with your learners.
In the next slide, you will look back at three pairs of words from the previous activity. Ask learners to discuss the questions in pairs or small groups before feedingback as a whole class. The next slide provides some answers: check if your learners agree.
Activity 3
Next, learners will look at more examples of synonyms. Show them the list of eight words. For each word they must think of a synonym and discuss which is more everday and which is used in a particular context. Put the learners into pairs or small groups to discuss.
In the next slide, reveal some possible solutions. Discuss as a whole class which words are more everday and which are only used in particular contexts.
Next, give the instrucitons for the organising activity. Learners need to copy down the table and organise the words into the most appropriate category. Check answers as a whole class on the board.
USA: Elevator, Zucchini
Child: Bunny, Choo choo
Literary: Looking glass, Steed
Medical: Stomach, Spine
Everyday: Courgette, Mirror, Train, Lift, Horse, Rabbit, Backbone, Belly
Activity 4
Ask them to look back at the lesson and choose five pairs of synonyms. For each pairs, learners write two sentences, using the word in the appropriate context. Then, learners check with a partner and evaluate how well they have used the words. Ask learners to write some pairs on the board to share with the whole class.
Activity 5
Next, move on to the following page of activities. The last lesson focussed on nouns, but other words, like adjectives, can also be synonyms.
Use the questions to refresh your learners' memories and prepare them for this lesson on adjectives.
Once you've discussed those question as a whole class, move on to the next slide. Ask learners to read the two sentences and to identiify the pair of adjective synonyms (old/elderly).
Feedback as a whole class, and then disucss the questions. Just like with nouns, synonymous adjectives are used for different situations and contexts. In this example, sentence 1 is more everyday and casual whereas sentence 2 is more formal.
Activity 6
In this activity, learners will look at more examples of adjective synonyms. Make sure learners copy down the words as they will need them in the next task. Ask learners to pair together the synonyms, and then check as a whole class by using the interactive activity. Makes sure to put the worders in order (1-2) or the activity will be marked as incorrect.
After pairing the synonyms, move on to the next slide. Learners must use the adjectives from the previous activity to fill the gaps in the sentences. Ask learners to try individually and then check in pairs or small groups. Use the next slide to check the answers as a whole class.
Discuss why each word was chosen for each sentence. Is it possible to swap with another synonym? Does the meaning or emphasis change? Finish by asking learners to write a definition of each adjective, using a dictionary to help.
Activity 7
Explain to learners that verbs can also have antonyms. Show them the list of six verbs and ask them to write an antonym for each. Check the answers on the next slide and accept any reasonable alternatives.
Finally, ask learners to write pairs of sentence for each verb and antonym. Share the best with the whole class and discuss how the words are used for different contexts and purposes.
This lesson is adapted (with permission) from Words and Meanings: A Systematic Guide for the Teaching of English Vocabulary, by Gabriele Stein.
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Synonymy 1
Activity 1
A synonym is a words that has the same, or a very similar, meaning to another.
Take for example the word argument.
How many words can you think of that have the same or a very similar meaning?
For the word argument, some synonyms are quarrel or row.
The words quarrel and row have the same general meaning.
Is the meaning exactly the same? Or are there any subtle differences?
Every word has its own particular connotations. It's rare to find two words which have the exact same meaning and can be used interchangably in every context. For example:
- A quarrel is an argument over a small issue between people who are on good terms with each other.
- A row is an argument that is very serious and maybe becomes noisy or violent.
Activity 2
In the next activity, you will see a collection of nouns to organise into synonym pairs.
Copy down the words and try pairing them as a whole class.
Next, drag and drop the cards. Place them side-by-side to connect, and double click to unpair.
Synonyms share the same general meaning, but there is always a difference in how the words are used, who uses them and in what situation.
For example, some words are more common than others. Some are used in particular countries or regions, while others are for different contexts.
Look at these three synonym pairings from the last activity.
Which of the two words do you use more often? In what contexts might you use the other?
- glasses - spectacles
- holiday - vacation
- job - occupation
Glasses, holiday and job are the more neutral or everyday words we use in the UK.
- Spectacles is an archaic or literary word we might see in a Victorian novel.
- Vacation is more commonly used in the USA.
- Occupation is used in formal contexts like filling in forms
Activity 3
Look at this list of eight words.
For each one, find a synonym and decide which is more everday and which belongs to a special context.
- Zucchini
- Bunny
- Spine
- Steed
- Choo choo
- Elevator
- Looking glass
- Belly
- Zucchini - Courgette
- Bunny - Rabbit
- Spine - Backbone
- Steed - Horse
- Choo Choo - Train
- Elevator - Lift
- Looking glass - Mirror
- Belly - Stomach
In the next acivity, place the words in the most appropriate column.
Is each word one you use normally, or is it reserved for a special context?
You should have two words in the first four columns, and eight in the last.
Look back and choose five pairs of synonyms from today's lesson. Write two sentences for each, and discuss with a partner how they are used differently.
E.g.
- The train will be delayed at the next station.
- My little cousin's favourite toy is his choo choo.
Synonymy 2
Activity 5
Just like with nouns, there are also many synonyms which are adjectives. These have the same, or very similar, meanings to each other, and are used in different contexts.
What does the term adjective mean? What examples can you think of? Can you think of any synonyms?
Find the synonymous adjective in these two sentences:
- There's a nice, old bloke who lives next door to us.
- The government will do more to support elderly people.
Why are different words used? What diferent implications do they have?
Activity 6
In this activity, match together the pairs of adjective synonyms. Make a note of them, as you will need them for the next task.
Drag and drop the cards. Place them side-by-side to connect, and double click to unpair.
Use the adjectives from the previous activity to complete the ten sentences:
- The judge surprised everyone with the _______ sentence he passed.
- Her dog isn't eating enough and is starting to look _______.
- He used to be ______ when he was younger and exercised more.
- The doctor certified that the criminal was ________.
- It's _______ she wasn't happy with the present you gave her.
- All the kids go ______ when Father Christmas arrives.
- The rise in the cost of living has been plainly ______ for many years.
- Be careful in the sun if you have _______ skin on show.
- Is it okay for children to play ______ at the beach?
- Don't worry: the spices in this dish are very ______.
- The judge surprised everyone with the lenient sentence he passed.
- Her dog isn't eating enough and is starting to look thin.
- He used to be slim when he was younger and exercised more.
- The doctor certified that the criminal was insane.
- It's obvious she wasn't happy with the present you gave her.
- All the kids go crazy when Father Christmas arrives.
- The rise in the cost of living has been plainly evident for many years.
- Be careful in the sun if you have bare skin on show.
- Is it okay for children to play naked at the beach?
- Don't worry: the spices in this dish are very mild.
Look back at your ten sentences. What happens if you swap the synonym pairs? Does it sound unusual or inappropriate?
Note down a definition of each word, noting the distinctions between synonyms. Use a dictionary to help and check your answers.
Activity 7
As well as nouns and adjectives, we can also see synonyms of verbs.
Think of a synonym for each of these six verbs:
- to begin
- to end
- to eat
- to ring
- to post
- to buy
Even though they have the same general meaning, each word is used in a slightly different way or context. Discuss the differences between each pair with a partner.
- to begin - to commence
- to end - to stop
- to eat - to consume
- to ring - to call
- to post - to send;
- to buy - to purchase
Write two sentenes for each synonym pair (12 sentences in total). Make sure each word is used in the appropriate context and bearing in mind subtle differences of meaning.
E.g.
1.a)The match is about to begin!
1.b)The parade will commence at 10am.
Compare your sentences with a partner and discuss if you are using the verbs appropriately.
Polysemy
Activity 1
Explain that the word polysemy refers to the idea that words can have more than one meaning.
Ask the learners to think of more than one meaning for the words football and mouse and discuss with a partner or small group. Show the next slide to reveal some possible answers.
As an extension, see if learners can come up with any other words with multiple meanings.
Activity 2
Show the learners the list of adjectives. First, ask them to come up with a concrete noun that each adjective could describe in a literal sense.
Next, do the same exercise, but this time apply the adjectives to describing people in a metaphorical sense. Ask learners to discuss how the level of temperature relates to the description of emotions (i.e. hotter = 'angry'/'enthusiastic', cold = 'indifferent', 'cruel').
To check learner understanding, try the next exercise. For each of the sentences, learners decide whether the adjective is being used to describe emotion or temperature. Ask learners to try individually, then share answers in pairs, before completeing the task as a whole class.
Activity 3
Show the learners the list of adjectives. In the same way as the previous activity, ask learners to discuss how these words describe literal size and also human characteristics. The next slide has a useful explanation of how words can be used in literal and metaphorical senses.
Next, learners identify which of the sentences are using the adjectives in each way.
To finish the lesson, ask learners to choose five (or more!) adjectives from the lesson and to write new pairs of sentences in both the literal and metaphorical sense. Learner could also think of other adjectives to try.
This lesson is adapted (with permission) from Words and Meanings: A Systematic Guide for the Teaching of English Vocabulary, by Gabriele Stein.
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Polysemy
Objective
To understand how polysemy applies to different word classes.
Activity 1
Some words may have only one meaning, but most tend to have more.
Let's take for example the words football and mouse.
How many meanings can you think of for each?
football can mean:
- a large, round ball that is kicked in games
- the game with two teams that use this ball
mouse can mean:
- a small rodent
- a piece of computer equipment
Activity 2
Look at this list of adjectives. They each have a general meaning related to temperature. What concrete nouns could these adjectives describe? E.g. a hot cup of coffee.
- hot
- warm
- lukewarm
- cool
- cold
- icy
We could also use these adjectives to describe people.
- hot
- warm
- lukewarm
- cool
- cold
- icy
How does the temperature relate to the description of emotions?
In each sentence, is the adjective used to mean temperature or emotion?
Answers
Activity 3
Here's another list of adjectives. They each have a general meaning, related to how an object looks or feels. What kinds of things could these adjectives describe? E.g. a deep valley.
- deep
- narrow
- hazy
- hard
- shallow
We could also use these adjectives to describe people.
How does the description of physical qualities relate to aspects of people?
When we use these adjectives to describe the physical quality of an object or place, we are using it in a literal sense, e.g. a deep valley.
When we use these adjectives to describe a person or idea, we are using it in a metaphorical sense, e.g. a deep thinker.
In each sentence, is the adjective used with a literal or metaphorical meaning?
Answers
Choose five adjectives from this lesson. Write a sentence for each, with some using the adjective in a literal and others in a metaphorical sense.
Swap your sentences with a partner and ask them to work out the sense of each adjective.
Extension:
Can you think of any other adjectives that we can use in both senses?
Try to come up with at least three. Write two sentences for each and explain both uses.