Reading

When you read, you may come across a new word in a sentence. A dictionary is a helpful tool to find the definitions of words; however, you may be able to use some words or phrases found nearby to help you understand the unfamiliar word.

Context clues are hints found in a sentence, or in surrounding sentences, that help define an unfamiliar word.

These are some common types of context clues:

1. Synonym - A word with the same meaning helps define an unfamiliar word. A synonym often immediately follows an unfamiliar word and is preceded by the word "or" or "like."

The child let out a plaintive, or sad, cry when her puppy ran away.

In the sentence above, "plaintive" is followed by the synonym "sad." The word "or" suggests that "plaintive" and "sad" have the same meaning.

2. Antonym - a word with the opposite meaning helps define an unfamiliar word

My wife wanted to purchase an ornate sofa, but I preferred a more plain design.

In the sentence above, "ornate" describes the sofa. If a plain sofa is the opposite of an ornate sofa, "ornate" can be defined as "very decorative."

3. Explanation - an unfamiliar word is followed by an explanation

It was going to be tough to migrate to the United States. My family has never lived in another country.

The explanation that follows the first sentence helps the reader determine that "migrate" means "move to another country."

4. Example - examples are given to define an unfamiliar word. Often, words "such as," "including," or "consists of" indicate that examples are going to be listed.

The farmer grew a wide variety of legumes, such as peas, beans and lupines, and sold them to local grocers and florists.

The word "legumes" is followed by the words "such as" and a list of examples (peas, beans, lupines). The examples indicate that legumes are types of plants grown for their food or flowers.