Synonyms and antonyms

AQA

GCSE

Proficiency in synonyms and antonyms is the primary differentiator between basic competence and advanced fluency in Modern Foreign Languages. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to avoid repetition by substituting high-frequency verbs and adjectives with precise, register-appropriate alternatives to convey nuance. This lexical agility is critical for meeting 'Range of Language' criteria in production tasks and for decoding inference in reception tasks where questions often employ synonymy to test comprehension rather than direct word matching.

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Synonyms and antonyms

Key Terminology

Adjectival Nuance and Intensity: Moving beyond generic descriptors (e.g., 'gut', 'schlecht') to specific evaluative terms (e.g., 'ausgezeichnet', 'furchtbar', 'atemberaubend') to express precise opinions.

Verbs of Communication and Motion: Replacing generic verbs (e.g., 'sagen', 'gehen') with descriptive alternatives (e.g., 'behaupten', 'flüstern', 'schlendern', 'rennen') to enhance narrative vividness.

Semantic Opposition and Negation: Using antonym pairs and prefixes (e.g., 'un-', 'miss-', 'los-') to construct counter-arguments and express contrast without relying solely on grammatical negation (e.g., 'nicht').

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