Context Clues (Vocabulary Skills) Sandra Sembel Uphenglishclasses.weebly.com

Learning Targets Context Clues What? Why? How?

What? Word Surrounding text text Clues (Pointers) in the surrounding text that can help us to guess the meaning of a word in a sentence text text text Word text text text

Context Clues: How? Definition Examples Explanations Synonyms Antonyms Indirect clues

1. Definition Clues Formal Definition Punctuation Formal Definition is normally introduced by words/phrases such as: Is/are … that is … Or … Means … i.e Definitions with punctuation use: Parenthesis Dash commas

1. Formal Definitions Some spiders spin silk with tiny organs called spinnerets Hyperopia or far sightedness occurs because there is a defect in vision in which parallel rays come to focus behind the retina.

2. Definitions with Punctuations Parenthesis  ( ) Jane’s father who was a haberdasher (a men’s shop keeper) started his own business after he resigned from the military. Dash  — Tom’s father was a haberdasher—a men’s shop keeper. Commas  , Tom’s father was a haberdasher, a men’s shop keeper.

2. Examples Look for examples of the word in the sentence e.g. The English language has lots of homophones, such as two/too, bear/bare, him/hymn, and soar/sore.

3. Explanation Katie is always infallible in math class because she had never gotten a problem wrong. Never wrong Never right Wrong Incorrect

4. Synonym Look for a word or phrase in another part of the sentence that has a similar meaning to the word you don’t know. For example: Gary was astonished when he won the lottery, and James was just as surprised.

5. Antonyms Look for word or phrase in another part of the sentence that has the opposite meaning of the word you don’t know. e.g. Tom was anxious about the test, but Tina was calm. Jason was told to be respectful to his teachers; however, he is often insolent.

6. Indirect Clues (Inference) Analyze the language around the unfamiliar word. e.g. The professor was a favorite among the students at the college. His sagacity was helpful to them as they pursued their degrees. The professor was known to make the lectures interesting by using his experience, insight, and common sense.

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Types of Context clues Sentences Definition Haberdashery, a place that sells man’s clothing, is becoming more common today. Example In that shop you can find haberdashery items, such as ties, cuff links, hat, shirt, or pants for men. Synonym People go to a special shop for menswear or haberdashery. Antonym Peter wanted to go to the haberdashery, while Ann wanted to shop at a boutique. Indirect Clues (Inference) Peter went to the haberdashery to buy a male suit to wear on his uncle’s wedding.