Language in Context
Reading clues
When you meet a new word, the sentence around it often holds clues to its meaning.
1 Observe
Read each clue type. Which small words or marks point you to the meaning?
- Definition clue The sentence explains the word, often after 'is', 'means' or a comma.
- Synonym clue A word with a similar meaning nearby, often after 'like' or 'also'.
- Antonym clue An opposite nearby, after 'unlike', 'but' or 'not'.
- Example clue Examples follow 'such as', 'like' or 'including'.
2 Discover
You can be a word detective. When you see a hard word, look at the words around it. Sometimes the meaning is right there after a comma. Sometimes an opposite or an example gives it away. These hints are called context clues.
In the Gerund course: Unit 24 Vocabulary in Context
3 Apply
'Our new classroom is spacious, unlike the cramped room we had last year.' What does 'cramped' mean?
'Fatima loves citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons and mosambi.' What are citrus fruits?
Which signal word usually points to an opposite meaning?
4 Create
Pick a new word. Write a sentence that explains it with an example clue using 'such as'.
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Example: Ananya was elated, not sad at all, when her painting went up on the school wall.
5 Explore
Open the context-clue cards. Try to guess each hard word before you read its meaning.