You will notice that some opposite verbs have the same root verb, and add the prefixes mis-, dis-, or un- to express the opposite:

 

- I need to do my homework.

- I need to undo my mistake.

- The children are behaving well.

- The children are misbehaving today

 

There are no rules for which verbs take the prefixes mis-, dis-, or un-, so pay careful attention to the examples in this section.

 

Opposites of phrasal verbs keep the same root verbs, and use the opposite preposition:

- Please turn up the volume. 

- Please turn down the volume.

 

Notice how turn remains the same, but depending on whether up or down are used with the phrasal verb, the meaning changes. Here is another example:

 

- Don’t get in my way. 

- Can you get out of my way?

 

But sometimes, both the root verb and the preposition change to give the opposite meaning. For example:

 

- I need some help putting up a poster on my wall.

- I need some help taking down a poster from my wall.

 

Here are some more common verbs and their opposites with some example phrases:

- When I’m in my car, I go when the traffic light is green.

- When I’m in my car, I stop when the traffic light is red light.

 

- I fall asleep at night.

- I wake up in the morning.

 

- My grandmother lived until she was ninety years old.

- My grandfather died in the war.

 

- I pushed my shopping cart around the grocery store.

- The tow truck pulled my car behind it when I got a flat tire.

 

- I like to throw a ball to my dog.

- My dog likes to catch the ball in his mouth.

 

- If I get this question right I will pass this test.

- If I get this question wrong I will fail this test.

 

- I teach English to the students in my class.

- My students learn a lot.

 

- I like to sit on my couch when I watch television.

- I like to stand for the national anthem.

 

- Before I went to the beach I put on a bathing suit. - You should take off your shoes at the front door.

 

Funny films make me laugh.

Sad films make me cry.

 

- When there aren’t many people on the road, I often speed up to get home faster.

- When I’m driving near a school I always slow down to watch out for children.

 

- I buy vegetables at the farmers’ market.

- Farmers sell their vegetables at the market.

 

- I really love dogs a lot.

- I really hate cats a lot.

 

- I forgot my wallet, could you lend me some money?

- Here is some money you can borrow from me.

 

- The government is going to raise the metro fare from $3.00 to $3.25.

- The government is going to lower the metro fare from $3.25 to $3.00. 

 

- I need to increase my number of employees from 10 to 15 this year.

- I need to decrease my number of employees from 15 to 10 this year.

 

- It is not necessary to understand every single word in a sentence.

It is easy to misunderstand why someone else does something different from you.

 

- When you stop looking for your keys, they will appear.

- I’m sure that my keys were just here, but then they disappeared.

 

- I will send you an email tonight.

- I didn’t receive your email yesterday.

 

- When you leave your house you should lock the door.

- You use a key to unlock the door.

 

- Please don’t enter until I’m ready.

- Make sure to sign out before you exit.

 

- Can you call me before you arrive?

- You should leave early today because the traffic is really bad.

 

- I want to ask you a question.

- Could you answer my question, please?

 

Let’s practice!

 

Choose the correct opposite verb:

 

1. The opposite of borrow is ___________________.

(a) buy (b) sell (c) ask (d) lend

 

2. The opposite of teach is ___________________.

(a) student (b) think (c) learn (d) explain

 

3. The opposite of arrive is ___________________.

(a) land (b) leave (c) enter (d) sit

 

4. The opposite of rise is ___________________. (a) find (b) lose (c) increase (d) fall

 

5. The opposite of sink is ___________________.

(a) float (b) throw (c) shower (d) watch

 

6. The opposite of throw is ___________________.

(a) increase (b) raise (c) increase (d) catch

 

7. The opposite of repair is ___________________.

(a) break (b) hide (c) try (d) forget

 

8. The opposite of smile is ___________________.

(a) laugh (b) see (c) ask (d) frown

 

9. The opposite of buy is ___________________. (a) purchase (b) sell (c) stand (d) fall

 

10. The opposite of find is ___________________.

(a) discover (b) ask (c) tell (d) lose

 

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