1. USING
METAPHORS
By Sheilah Espinoza

2. Using metaphors makes your writing INTERESTING and FUN TO READ!

3. METAPHOR A SENTENCE OR PHRASE THAT COMPARES TWO UNLIKE THINGS,
BY SAYING THAT ONE THING IS SOMETHING ELSE.

4. LET’S CREATE METAPHORS!

5. My mom gets really angry when I don’t clean my room.
Read this sentence:
My mom gets really angry when I don’t clean my room.
To create a metaphor, we must first think about things the mom can be compared to.
What other things are angry?
Kaljhfka kmankf;anklfm dla fal’d fa

6. My mom gets really angry when I don’t clean my room.
BAD COMPARISONS
Not everyone can relate to them.
They are not what most people will think of when they hear the word “angry.”
-They don’t provide vivid mental pictures of things that are angry.
my dad
my teacher
things that
are angry
my friend
my coach

7. My mom gets really angry when I don’t clean my room.
a beast
a bear
things that
are angry
a raging bull
BETTER COMPARISONS
-Most everyone can relate to them.
-They provide vivid mental pictures of things that are angry.
-They are very different from a mom.

8. USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”
My mom gets really angry when I don’t clean my room.
a beast
a bear
things that
are angry
a raging bull
USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”

9. My mom gets really angry when I don’t clean my room.
My mom is a beast when
I don’t clean my room.

10. USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”
My mom gets really angry when I don’t clean my room.
a beast
a bear
things that
are angry
a raging bull
USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”

11. My mom is a bear when I don’t clean my room.
My mom gets really angry when I don’t clean my room.
My mom is a bear when I don’t clean my room.

12. USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”
My mom gets really angry when I don’t clean my room.
a beast
a bear
things that
are angry
a raging bull
USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”

13. My mom is a raging bull when I don’t clean my room.
My mom gets really angry when I don’t clean my room.
My mom is a raging bull when I don’t clean my room.

14. METAPHOR A SENTENCE OR PHRASE THAT COMPARES TWO UNLIKE THINGS,
BY SAYING THAT ONE THING IS SOMETHING ELSE.

15. Let’s use “IS” to create more metaphors!

16. My friend knows everything when it comes to solving math problems!
Read this sentence:
My friend knows everything when it comes to solving math problems!
To create a metaphor, we must first think about things the friend can be compared to.
What other kinds of people can figure out math problems? What kinds of things can be used to solve math problems?
Kaljhfka kmankf;anklfm dla fal’d fa

17. My friend knows everything when it comes to solving math problems!
BAD COMPARISONS
Not everyone can relate to them.
They are not what most people will think of when they think of things that are good in math.
They don’t provide vivid mental pictures of things that are good in math or things that can be used to solve math problems.
my mom
my sister
people/things
that are good
in math
my uncle
a workbook

18. My friend knows everything when it comes to solving math problems!
BETTER COMPARISONS
-Most everyone can relate to them.
-They provide vivid mental pictures of people that are good in math or things that can be used to solve math problems.
a mathematician
a genius
people/things
that are good
in math
a calculator

19. USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”
My friend knows everything when it comes to solving math problems!
a mathematician
a genius
people/things
that are good
in math
a calculator
USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”

20. My friend knows everything when it comes to solving math problems!
My friend is a mathematician when it comes to solving math problems.

21. USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”
My friend knows everything when it comes to solving math problems!
a mathematician
a genius
people/things
that are good
in math
a calculator
USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”

22. My friend knows everything when it comes to solving math problems!
My friend is a genius when it comes to solving math problems.

23. USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”
My friend knows everything when it comes to solving math problems!
a mathematician
a genius
people/things
that are good
in math
a calculator
USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”

24. My friend knows everything when it comes to solving math problems!
My friend is a calculator when it comes to solving math problems.

25. METAPHOR A SENTENCE OR PHRASE THAT COMPARES TWO UNLIKE THINGS,
BY SAYING THAT ONE THING IS SOMETHING ELSE.

26. My brother’s bedroom is so messy.
Read this sentence:
My brother’s bedroom is so messy.
To create a metaphor, we must first think about things the bedroom can be compared to.
What other things are messy?
Kaljhfka kmankf;anklfm dla fal’d fa

27. My brother’s bedroom is so messy.
my hair
my backyard
things that
are messy
my desk
my closet
BAD COMPARISONS
They are not what most people will think of when they hear the word “messy.”
-They don’t provide vivid mental pictures of things that are messy.

28. My brother’s bedroom is so messy.
a pig pen
a junkyard
things that
are messy
a garbage can
BETTER COMPARISONS
-Most everyone can relate to them.
-They provide vivid mental pictures of things that are messy.

29. My brother’s room is so messy.
a junkyard
a pig pen
things that
are messy
a garbage can
USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”

30. My brother’s room is so messy.
is a junkyard.

31. My brother’s room is so messy.
a junkyard
a pig pen
things that
are messy
a garbage can
USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”

32. My brother’s room is so messy.
is a pig pen.

33. My brother’s room is so messy.
a junkyard
a pig pen
things that
are messy
a garbage can
USE “IS.” DO NOT USE “LIKE” OR “AS.”

34. My brother’s room is so messy.
is a garbage can.

35. METAPHOR A SENTENCE OR PHRASE THAT COMPARES TWO UNLIKE THINGS,
BY SAYING THAT ONE THING IS SOMETHING ELSE.

36. METAPHORS My mom is a beast when I don’t clean my room.
My friend is a calculator when it comes to solving math problems.
My brother’s room is a pigpen.

37. HELPFUL TIP:
It’s a good idea to add a sentence before or after your metaphor to make the meaning more clear to the reader.

38. Adding sentences: My mom is a beast when I don’t clean my room.
Her face turns red with anger, and she starts yelling really loudly.
My friend can add and subtract faster than anyone in our class.
She is a calculator when it comes to solving math problems.
My brother’s room is a pigpen.
There are stinky socks and toys all over the place.

39. Now it’s YOUR turn to practice with metaphors!

40. Create a metaphor using “IS”to compare these 2 unlike things
My cousin loves carrots! He eats them with every meal.
My cousin is a rabbit! He eats carrots with every meal.
The extra sentence helps make the meaning of the metaphor more clear.

41. Create a metaphor using “IS”to compare these 2 unlike things
The boy likes to climb trees and swing from the branches. He plays in the trees all day long.
The boy likes to climb trees and swing from the branches. He is a monkey!
The extra sentence helps make the meaning of the metaphor more clear.

42. Create a metaphor using “IS”to compare these 2 unlike things
Janet can finish ten books in one day. She loves to read!
Janet can finish ten books in one day. She is a bookworm!
The extra sentence helps make the meaning of the metaphor more clear.

43. Create a metaphor using “IS”to compare these 2 unlike things
That room was really cold! I was shivering, and my teeth were chattering!
That room was a refrigerator! I was shivering, and my teeth were chattering!
The extra sentence helps make the meaning of the metaphor more clear.

44. Create a metaphor using “IS”to compare these 2 unlike things
Joe makes me laugh a lot! Everyone who knows him loves his goofy jokes.
Joe is a clown! Everyone who knows him loves his goofy jokes.
The extra sentence helps make the meaning of the metaphor more clear.

45. Create a metaphor using “IS”to compare these 2 unlike things
Mary’s front yard has so many trees! There is a beech tree, an oak tree, and an elm tree.
Mary’s front yard is a forest! There is a beech tree, an oak tree, and an elm tree.
The extra sentence helps make the meaning of the metaphor more clear.

46. More practice with metaphors!

47. Wow! That man is a tree! I bet he can easily touch the ceiling!
Read the metaphor:
Wow! That man is a tree! I bet he can easily touch the ceiling!
The man is being compared
to a tree because:
The man and the tree both have leaves.
The man and the tree are both in the house.
The man and the tree are both tall.
The man and the tree are both strong.

48. Read the metaphor: The bedroom is being
After lying to her mother, Anna was grounded for two weeks. Her bedroom was a jail cell.
The bedroom is being
compared to a jail cell because:
They both have bars on the windows and doors.
Anna was not allowed to leave her room.
They are both small rooms.
There is someone guarding the door.

49. Read the metaphor: John is being compared to a pig because:
John is a real pig when he eats spaghetti. He always slurps his noodles and gets sauce all over his shirt.
John is being compared
to a pig because:
John is a messy eater.
John makes pig noises while he eats.
Pigs also love to eat spaghetti.
Pigs get food all over people’s clothes.

50. My mother buys me any video game I want. She is an ATM!
Read the metaphor:
My mother buys me any video game I want. She is an ATM!
The mother is being compared
to an ATM because:
The mother works at the bank.
The mother has buttons.
The mother loves video games.
The mother gives him money.

51. METAPHOR A SENTENCE OR PHRASE THAT COMPARES TWO UNLIKE THINGS,
Review:
METAPHOR
A SENTENCE OR PHRASE THAT COMPARES TWO UNLIKE THINGS,
BY SAYING THAT ONE THING IS SOMETHING ELSE.

52. Take out a pencil and a piece of paper…
Now it’s YOUR turn!
Take out a pencil and a piece of paper…

53. angel rock snake hibernating bear fish bolt of lightning bird
Directions: Choose a word from the word bank to complete each metaphor below.
WORD BANK
angel rock snake hibernating bear fish bolt of lightning bird
My dad sleeps all day long. He is a_________.
The man was so sneaky. He is a_________.
She is a _________ when she sings. Her voice is so beautiful!
That cat is a_______. He moves so fast!
The candy was a ________. I almost broke my tooth when I bit into it.
Brian never gets in trouble. He is an_____________.
Sue is a__________. She’s the best swimmer I know!

54. Now, come up with your own metaphors to enhance the sentences below
Now, come up with your own metaphors to enhance the sentences below. (Remember, do not use “like” or “as”)
metaphors
The soap was a/an_________. It kept slipping out of my hands.
The classroom of students was a/an_________. No matter what the teacher did, they would not behave.
Monica is such a/an _________. She hates to share and cries when she doesn’t get her way!
The garden was a/an_______. There were flowers of every color!
The teacher was a/an ________. He was so strict and mean that no one dared to talk.
The diamond was a/an_________. It sparkled like nothing I’d ever seen!
She is a/an________. No one can change her stubborn mind.

55. METAPHOR A SENTENCE OR PHRASE THAT COMPARES TWO UNLIKE THINGS,
Review:
METAPHOR
A SENTENCE OR PHRASE THAT COMPARES TWO UNLIKE THINGS,
BY SAYING THAT ONE THING IS SOMETHING ELSE.