Introduction

What do a couple of car mechanics, a college professor, a 'descript' woman, and some Latin words have in common in this activity? It's all part of the word play in this exploration of some 'no-no's' (!?) in the English language.

As you answer these questions, you'll also fulfill some 7th Grade California Reading standards in vocabulary-building.(1.0, 1.2, and 1.3)

Questions

1. -What is the pronunciation for 'nonchalant?' Write it down.
   
   
2. -Write at least 2 synonyms and 2 antonyms for the word 'disconsolate.'
   
   
3. -Take a quiz! How many negative prefixes can you correctly add to their root words?
   
   
4. -What do two car mechanics in Massachussetts say about double negatives and double positives?
   
   
5. -Write at least two synonyms and two antonyms for the word 'disgruntled.'
   
   
6. -What were the original meanings and spellings of the words 'affix,' 'prefix,' and 'suffix?'
   -Write at least three other words using the same prefixes as the above words
   
   
7. -Many expressions in English are generally used only in their negative forms. This whimsical piece, however, takes a positive spin. Write down at least 10 expressions from this piece--but do so in their usual negative form.
   
   

The Internet Resources

• Negative Prefixes
• Word Formation Basics
• Merriam-Webster.Online
• Thesaurus.com
• Positives & Negatives
• Dictionary.com
• 'How I Met My Wife'

The Big Question

By the time you finish with this site, can you use at least ten new negative terms in an original story of your own? Of course you can! So...do it!