Eduqo
English Grammar›Ch 12: Error Spotting & Improvement›Synonyms and Antonyms Strategy
Master vocabulary through root words and smart elimination
Success in vocabulary depends on pattern recognition rather than rote learning. Use roots to eliminate options and identify the tone of the word. Decoding prefixes and suffixes helps in guessing meanings of unknown words accurately.
Memory Hooks for Roots
| Root Word | Meaning | Example Word |
|---|---|---|
| Phil | Love | Philanthropist |
| Bene | Good/Well | Benevolent |
| Mal | Bad/Evil | Malevolent |
| Chron | Time | Chronic |
Benevolent
(Focused on Good)
Focused on Good
He is a benevolent leader.
Malice
(Trapped in Bad)
Trapped in Bad
She felt no malice.
Chronic
(Over long time)
Over long time
He has chronic back pain.
Philanthropy
(Driven by Love)
Driven by Love
Philanthropy helps society.
Same meaning but different part of speechMatch the part of speech
If the question is an Adjective, the answer must be an Adjective.
Choosing the most common synonymChoosing contextually fit word
Sometimes a word has multiple meanings; check the sentence context.
Ignoring prefixes like 'in-' or 'un-'Prefixes change the entire meaning
Invaluable does NOT mean not valuable; it means very valuable.
Q1.Select the most appropriate SYNONYM of 'Benevolent'.
Q2.Select the most appropriate ANTONYM of 'Chronic'.