Figurative & Descriptive Language

A simile uses “like” or “as” to compare two things. Examples: The pavement is as hot as a stove. He is as nervous as a cat in a roomful of rocking chairs The lake is like a mirror. The old car is like a smoke machine.

A metaphor compare two things without using like or as. Examples: Television is a window to the world. The pavement is a frying pan. His closet is a garbage dump. The big city is a concrete jungle.

Hyperbole is figurative language that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point. Examples: I rode my bike faster than a rocket ship. My history book weighs more than my dad. The movie was so sad, I cried for days. The car cost an arm and a leg.

Personification is when something non-human, takes on the quality of a person. Examples: The heavy rain smacked me in the face. The road pointed the way to the future. My new jacket hugged me tight. The moon swept the day away.

Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of two or more words for effect. Examples: Peter, Peter, Pumpkin eater... The birds dove and danced in the dark, dark night. Terrified and trembling, he toiled and toiled. Wishing and waiting, we wallowed along.

I was hungry as a wolf. Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Personification Simile

The flowers fluttered in a field, fanciful and free. Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Personification Simile

Meg was so thirsty she could drink an ocean. Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Personification Simile

The heart is a lonely hunter. Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Personification Simile

The D on his science test was a wake up call. Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Personification Simile

The empty rowboat sat sad and lonely in the quiet lake. Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Personification Simile

The moon was like a beacon in the sky. Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Personification Simile

Keith is so tall he needs binoculars to see the ground. Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Personification Simile

The baby dreamily dozed about his delightful day. Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Personification Simile

The fireflies danced around the streetlight. Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Personification Simile

My little cousin Amelia is an angel. Alliteration Hyperbole Metaphor Personification Simile

The show was boring. Simile: That new cartoon was as interesting as a chunk of dirt. Metaphor: The news was a snooze fest. Hyperbole: That talk show was so boring the whole audience went to sleep. Personification: The dull show sang me a lullaby.

The test was hard. Simile: That test was tough as nails. Metaphor: That math test was a bear. Hyperbole: That test was the hardest test in the history of the world. Personification: The test really smacked me in the face.

It smelled bad. Simile: Metaphor: Hyperbole: Personification:

It was heavy. Simile: Metaphor: Hyperbole: Personification: