USING CONTEXT CLUES Figuring Out What Words Mean:

What do you do when you are reading, and you come across a word you don't know?

What started out as a little rain began to turn into a big problem.The sky began to turn dark green, and lightning and thunder started crashing all around the mountains.The wind was fiercely tearing at the leaves in the trees so hard that branches started to crack and fall.Then the rain turned to hail. That’s when the boys knew they had to find better shelter from the storm.

Roughly? Angrily? Violently?

What started out as a little rain began to turn into a big problem. The sky began to turn dark green, and lightning and thunder started crashing all around the mountains. The wind was fiercely tearing at the leaves in the trees so hard that branches started to crack and fall. Then the rain turned to hail. That’s when the boys knew they had to find better shelter from the storm. Roughly? Angrily? Violently?

What started out as a little rain began to turn into a big problem. The sky began to turn dark green, and lightning and thunder started crashing all around the mountains. The wind was fiercely tearing at the leaves in the trees so hard that branches started to crack and fall. Then the rain turned to hail. That’s when the boys knew they had to find better shelter from the storm. Roughly? Angrily? Violently?

There are different types of clues that are provided by context. Knowing the types of clues helps you figure out what the word means.

 Sometimes when the author uses an unusual word, he or she provides a definition for that word in the text. For example:  Jenny was staring agape, standing there with her mouth hanging open.  Luke’s family lived out on the reservation, the land that had been given to the Indians by the government.  The men were told to abandon the ship. They jumped in the water and began to swim to the island.  Hint: When the unusual word is followed by a comma, the definition may be right after that comma. Sometimes the definition is in the following sentence.

 After some unusual words, authors sometimes use a more common synonym for that word. For example:  There are about 200 different species, or kinds, of reptiles that live in this forest.  The snake was rattling its tail and suddenly, it lunged at Mary, springing forward in the blink of an eye.  With a code, the soldiers could send transmissions, or messages, the Germans couldn’t understand. These transmissions were very important in helping us win the war.  Hint: If the unusual word is followed by a comma and the word “or,” then the words that follow are likely synonyms.

 Similarly, sometimes an unusual word is followed by an antonym that can help the reader figure out what the unusual word means. For example:  I love amusing movies, but I also like sad movies.  Outside the air was frigid, but inside it was warm and comfortable.  Brian is usually gregarious, although sometimes he does like to be alone.  Hint: Look for context key words – but, not, although, however, on the other hand, in contrast, & instead.

 Occasionally an author will restate an unusual word or explain it. For example:  Mark left the field in despair. He was sure he would never be able to play baseball again, and that thought make him so sad he wanted to cry.  The village seemed to be completely uninhabited. Victor looked in every home, but he couldn’t find a single person anywhere.  Hint: The restatement or explanation may be in a different sentence. Read the sentences before and after the unusual word.

 Sometimes authors give a concrete example that helps the reader know what an unusual word means. For example:  In addition to fish, there are many mammals in the ocean, such as dolphins, whales, and sea lions.  The wizard waved his hands, and suddenly the table was full of cakes, cookies, and other delicacies.  After the storm, people needed provisions like medicine, clothes, water, and food.  Hint: Look for context key words – such as, and other, like, & for example

 Most of the time, unfortunately, the reader must simply depend upon background knowledge to make inferences about the meaning of an unusual word. For example:  The soup had a color and a smell that was very appetizing to the hungry children.  There was glass all over the street, and the children could not ride their bike through it without getting a punctured tire.  Hint: Read to the end of the paragraph, then come back and try to think of another word that you know that would make sense instead of the unknown word.

Whenever you come across a word you don't know, do your best to figure it out? Is there an explanation of that word near-by? Is there a synonym? Or an example? Try it on your own and see if you can do it.