Use context to identify the meaning of a word
7th U.4 Use Context To Identify The Meaning Of A Word by Delta publications
Key Notes:
| What are Context Clues? |
Context clues are hints found within a sentence, paragraph, or passage that a reader can use to understand the meanings of new or unfamiliar words. Think of them as detective tools! They help you infer the meaning without having to immediately reach for a dictionary.
| Types of Context Clues |
| Definition/Explanation The word’s meaning is directly stated in the sentence. | Example: The arachnid, a creature with eight legs, includes spiders, scorpions, and mites. |
| Synonym/Restatement Another word with a similar meaning is used nearby. | Example: Her melancholy mood, her sadness, was obvious to everyone. |
| Antonym/Contrast A word with the opposite meaning is used nearby. | Example: Unlike his gregarious brother, who loves parties, Mark is quite shy. |
| Example The meaning is suggested by examples. | Example: Various plants such as sunflowers, roses and tulips grew in the garden. |
| Inference/General Knowledge The meaning is not directly stated, but can be inferred from the surrounding sentences and your own background knowledge. | Example: The chef used a cleaver to chop the vegetables with precision and speed. (We can infer a cleaver is a type of knife.) |
| Tips for Using Context Clues |
- Read the whole sentence and paragraph: Don’t just focus on the unknown word.
- Look for signal words: Words like ‘such as’, ‘or’, ‘in other words’, ‘unlike’, and ‘but’ often indicate context clues.
- Think about the overall meaning: What is the author trying to say?
- Substitute your guess: Replace the unknown word with your guess to see if it makes sense in the sentence.
- Don’t be afraid to guess! Even if you’re not 100% sure, an educated guess is better than skipping the word entirely.
| Practice Makes Perfect! |
The more you practice using context clues, the better you’ll become at understanding new words. Keep an eye out for them while you read! If you’re struggling with a word, try to use the context clues to figure out its meaning. Have fun becoming a word detective!