CONTEXT CLUES
When you are reading things in English, say a passage, you will often find words that you
do not know. Context clues can help you to figure out the meaning of unknown words in
sentences. So rather than using dictionaries every time you’ve got the unfamiliar words, you can
try to identify unfamiliar words by studying the words around the sentence (the sentence
context). The words will give you clues to find the meaning of the words you don’t know.
Example:
Phobia, such as fear of heights, water, is difficult to eliminate.
From the sentences, you can tell that phobia means ‘fear of specific object or situation
The couple finally secured a table at the popular, crowded restaurant
You can figure out that secured mean ‘got’.
The types of context clues
1. DEFINITION
The meaning of the unfamiliar word is sometimes defined in the same sentence. It may be
signaled by one of these expressions:
is/ are
called
refers to
are called
means
These expressions are called DEFINITION SIGNALS
Examples :
A. Amphibians are animals that can live both on land and in water
unknown
word
definition
signal
B. Animals which can live both on land and in water are called amphibians
definition
signal
unknown
word
C. Over population means many people living in a small place
unknown
word
signal
definition
Example :
Look for the meaning of the unknown word. Draw a line joining the meaning to new
word. Next, mark the signal. Then write the meaning of the new word on the line given.
1. Even today, some people wear ornament, called charms, to keep away bad
spirits.
‘charms’ = _____________________________________________
2. A journalist is a newspaper writer
‘journalist’ = __________________________________________
3. A small meal between breakfast and lunch, or lunch and dinner is called a
snack
‘snack’ = ______________________________________________
4. Animals that eat other animals of their own kind are called cannibals
‘cannibals’ = ___________________________________________
5. The most deadly animal in the world is a jellyfish called the sea wasp
‘sea wasp’ = __________________________________________
6. A gosling is a young goose
‘gosling’ = ___________________________________________
2. RESTATEMENT
The writer sometimes repeats the unfamiliar word by using some other words that are
familiar to readers. In doing this he may use one of the following expressions as signal
or
that is to say
in other words
that is
Example:
A.
My brother earned or got his bachelor degree last year
unknown
word
restatement
signal
B. Interpersonal relation, that is, relation between people are important
unknown word
restatement
signal
The writer sometimes uses the following marks to signal what he repeats
Marks as signals
,
(
-
,
)
-
commas
parentheses
dashes
Examples:
A. The electorate – people who have the right to vote – will never let bad man as the
governoor
restatement
unknown
word
signal
B. The edifice , the large building , over there was built last year
restatement
unknown
word
signal
Exercise:
Look for the meaning of the unknown word in each of the following sentences. Draw a
line from the meaning to the unknown word. Next, circle the signal. Then write the
meaning of the unfamiliar word on the line given.
1. The locust (a kind of grasshopper) is still a big problem to farmers.
‘locust’ = ___________________________________________
2. All the children liked to hear Peter tell anecdote – short funny stories – about
his days in the university.
‘anecdote’ = _________________________________________
3. Mr. Anderson is willing to relinquish – give up – all control over the shop to
his son.
‘relinquish’ = _________________________________________
4. Mrs. Smith loved the tranquility, the peace and quite, after her children had
gone to school.
‘tranquility’ = ________________________________________
5. When I visited New York last February, the weather was frigid, that is, very
cold.
‘frigid’ = ____________________________________________
6. Every year meteorites, pieces of stone or metal from space, hit the earth.
‘meteorites’ = ________________________________________
3. EXAMPLES
One way to help the readers understand the unfamiliar word is to give examples. The
examples given in the sentence clarify the new word. Usually the examples follow the
expressions like:
such
like
for example
including
such as
especially
for instance
Example:
A.
She likes to listen to the stringed instruments like violin, banjo, harps.
unknown
word
examples
signal
B.
A study of homonyms, for example, ‘meat’ and ‘meet’ help build your vocabularies
unknown
word
examples
signal
Exercise:
Read each of the following sentences. Draw a line from the example to the new word. Next,
circle the signal. Then choose the meaning of the word.
1. When Tommy’s parents learn that the hazards of the trip were many, for
example, the lack of water, the unbearable heat, the presence of wild animals
and poisonous snakes, etc, they decide not to let him go.
The word ‘hazards’ means …….
a. pleasure
b. sufferings
c. danger
d. conveniences
2. We get an alloy by melting two or more metals together; for example, brass is
an alloy of bronze and zinc.
An alloy is ……..
a. a kind of bronze or zinc
b. a kind of brass
c. a metal made by melting two or more metals together
d. anything that is made from bronze or zinc.
3. Fossils, such as the hardened remains of skeleton and shells of sea animals
and fish, have been found high up in the mountain
A fossil is ……
a. a sea animal that live long ago
b. a kind of wild animal
c. the remains of the shell or skeleton of an animal of long ago
d. the mountain
4. CONTRAST
Sometimes the writer expresses two different ideas in a sentence or sentences. He uses
two words or expressions with opposite meanings. If he thinks that one of the words or
expressions is unfamiliar to the readers, he may help them to get the idea by using the
words or expressions that the readers know, to express the contrast. The signals that help
to locate contrasting expressions are:
but
although
on the other hand
Example:
yet
even though
however
A. Tom loves playing football but John despises it.
signal
unknown word
contrasting
idea
B.
Although Mr. Brown was disgruntled, his wife was pleased
signal
unknown
word
the contrasting
idea
Exercise:
Look for the meaning of the unknown word in each of the following. Underline the
contrasting idea. Next, circle the signal word. Then write the meaning of the unknown
word on the line given.
1. I like an interesting job, but not tedious ones
‘tedious’ = __________________________________________
2. During the meeting, Mrs. Brown’s students were quite, but Mrs. White’s students
were boisterous.
‘boisterous’ = _________________________________________
3. My sister loatehes durian even though every one in the family likes them.
‘loathe’ = _____________________________________________
4. Betty said that the movie was dreary, yet her sister said it was exciting.
‘dreary’ = _____________________________________________
5. Alice is an optimistic, but her sister is one who is always gloomy and expect the
worst to happen.
‘optimistic’ = ___________________________________________
5. CAUSE AND EFFECT
The writer also uses cause and effect relationships to help his readers understand figure
out the meaning of an unknown word. The signal words might be one of these
expressions:
because
consequently
so
due to
as a result
as such
Example:
A.
John tore his jacket, so his sister mended it
signal
effect (unknown word)
cause
B. John was energetic enough to work sixteen hours at the hospital because
effect (unknown word)
signal
he had a restful week end.
cause
Exercise :
Read each of the following sentences or groups of sentences. Draw a line from
then unknown word to the word that show the cause or effect. Next, circle the signal
word(s). Then choose the meaning of the unknown word, or write it on the line given.
1. Mary’s eyes had been sore for almost a week, so her mother decided to take her to
an oculist for a treatment.
‘oculist’ = __________________________________________
2. The puppy was so pert and active that we could hardly control him.
‘Pert’ means …..
a. unhappy
b. lively
c. fat
d. fierce
3. We had to physically restrain the dog so it couldn’t reach the child. To ‘restrain’
is to ….
a. hug
b. hold back
c. punish
d. drive away
4. Because the woman was desperate for food, she sold her favoutite neclace to get
money to feed her children. A person who is desperate ……
a. is happy
b. has a lot of money
c. enjoys eating
d. is without hope
5. The doctor told Billy to take the medicine because it was certain to remedy his
bad cold
a. cure
b. rest
c. break
d. lose
6. After swimming for over two hours, Nida and Pim were so exhausted that they
could hardly keep their eyes open
a. strong
b. tired
c. active
d. hungry
6. MODIFIERS
The writer may explain an unknown word by using a phrase or a clause after it. The
phrase or the clause modifies the word.
Example:
A. They have a city manager, who runs all the service department of the
unknown word
modifier (a clause)
government and take charge of buying, for the city
B. An illiterate person, being unable to read or write, is often cheated
unknown word
modifier ( a phrase )
Exercise :
Read each of the following sentence or group of sentences. Underline the clause or
phrase that modifies the unknown word. Then write down the meaning of the word.
1. The man was given metabolism tests, which measure the speed of chemical and
physical process going on in the body
‘metabolism test’ = _______________________________________
2. Today we are having simulated meatball that look and taste just like the real
thing, evn though they are made of nonmeat products
‘simulated’ = __________________________________________
3. A typical English breakfast might begin with corn flakes. After that you could
have egg and bacon or egg and kipper which are smoked fish and you would have
toast and jam and tea or coffee
‘kipper’ = ___________________________________________
7. SENTENCE OR PARAGRAPH
The meaning of unknown word is sometimes given in the sentence that come before or
after the sentence that it appears. The unknown word may also be clarified in the
paragraph that comes before or after the paragraph that in which it appears.
Example :
A.
At six on Easter morning the bell in the church began it sonorous ring.
unknown word
The full, deep, rich ring of the bell could be heard in the empty streets
the sentence that gives the meaning
as the sun came up.
B.
Mr. Copra owns the drug store where we used to go every day after
School. Although we didn’t mean any harm, he was certainly a
disagreeable man. I don’t know why he was always angry and not nice
unknown word
the sentence that gives meaning
Exercise :
Read each of the following paragraph. Underline the sentences or part of the sentences
that clarifies the unknown word in the paragraph. Then write the meaning of the word in
line given:
1. Last year we had a blizzard. It snowed for five days. That was the worst
snowtorm in our history.
‘blizzard ‘ ________________________________________________
2. Mona gave a report about Florida in school. She said that Florida is a
peninsula. She explained why by pointing to map. Florida is a body of land
nearly surrounded by water. The Gulf of Mexico is on its west coast and the
Atlantic Ocean is on its east coast
‘peninsula’ _______________________________________________
II. PUNCTUATION
Punctuation is an important aid to understanding sentences. It can be a guide, or marker,
for the location of sentence core parts. It may also separate the core parts of sentence from other
words and phrases in the sentences.
In the following discussion, the comma, the semicolon, the colon, and the dash will be discussed.
1. COMMA
1. The comma (Introductory Use)
The comma can be used to separate introductory, beginning, or opening parts of the
sentence. Sentences often begin with some type of introductory phrase that connects what
will be said in one sentence with what has been already said in a previous sentence ; or it
sets the scene or time reference; it offers some qualifying information or conditions.
Example:
b. To my surprise, most people attending the party were over thirty years.
c. At the age of thirteen, he began to play tennis
d. Despite the heavy rain, the farmer continued gathering in the harvest
e. If it rains, we’ll get wet
f. Although they were tired, they continued working
2. The parenthetical use
The comma can be used to separate additional information from the main part of the
sentence. Writers occasionally interrupt the core sentence to add some extra
(parenthetical) information which is important, but not crucial, to the sentence meaning.
They use comma before and after this parenthetical information.
Examples:
b. My sister, Mary, plans to go to Bali next month.
c. Dolphins, as a matter of fact, are very friendly creatures
d. The captain, Mr. John smith, was generally liked by all the members of the crew.
e. Presidents F. Mitterand, host of the three – day conference, described the signing of
the charter as a “moment without precedent”
f. Ricardo (Baby) Lopa, an Aquino brother in law who controlled a profitable Nissan
auto assembly plant and 38 other companies before they were seized by the Marcos
regime in the early 1970s, was allowed to buy the firms back for only $ 227.000
within days after Aquino became president
3. The serial use
Commas can be used to separate several items presented in a list, or series. Single words
such as nouns or adjectives as well as clauses and phrases are all separated by commas
when they are part of the list. When many items are separated by commas, it may be
expected that they are series of related facts or ideas.
Examples:
b. They bought a lot of apples, oranges, and bananas.
c. Please run upstairs, go into my bedroom, and get me my dictionary
d. After I saw the film, I was bored, tired, and angry
e. Each state retained its “sovereignty”, freedom, and independence.
f. Social adjustment refers to the ability of the individual to maintain himself
independently, to be gainfully employed and, to conform to social standards set by
the community
4. Related ideas
The comma can be used to join two closely related and complete ideas within a single
sentence. When used in this way, the comma must be used with, a conjunction and, or,
nor, but and for. This use of comma also indicates that there are two sets of core parts
within the sentence.
Read the examples below. Notice how the first sentence in each example can be divided
into two separate, complete sentences.
Examples:
a. We walked two miles into the woods, but we did not see a single wild animal
or
b. We walked two miles into the wood. We did not see a single wild animal
c. Divorce is increasing in popularity and acceptance, but many negative feeling about it
continue to be expressed
or
d. Divorce is increasing in popularity and acceptance. Many negative feelings about it
continue to be expressed
2. SEMICOLON
The use of the semicolon (;) is like the use of the comma. It separates two closely related
ideas. The difference is that a conjunction such as and or but must be used along with comma,
but the semicolon can be used alone.
Examples:
a. Any good actor has to spend a lot of time in classes where he studies human emotions,
such as sadness, happiness, or anger; in these classes, he concentrates on methods to
express these emotions to the audience in the theatre.
b. You might work for a few months on a movie in Hollywood or a play in New York; then
it’s time to look for new work.
c. The framework of the airplane is made of aluminum ; therefore it is very light
d. The earthquake shook the whole city even where we lived; the earth trembled
e. If the weather was fine, the men would go the sea; if not they stayed at home.
3. THE COLON
The colon is used to introduce a list of things, statement, explanation or example of
previous material, and quotation. The colon also serves as a marker indicating that the sentence’s
core parts precede the colon.
Examples:
a. The ingredients are as follows: eggs, sugar, flour, butter, salt, and milk
b. Finally, Chomsky described two levels of language: one underlying or deep structure
involved with meaning, and a surface level produced and heard in ordinary conversation
c. Perhaps 85 percent of an actor’s work is looking for work: you have to send out letters,
meet people who might be able to offer you work, and so on .
d. I have a special rule for travel: never carry a map
e. Oscar Wilde once said: “Experience is the name everyone gives to his mistake”
4. THE DASH ( - )
The dash is most commonly used to separate unessential or parenthetical elements from the
core sentence. This usage also helps readers in separating core parts from supporting
information.
Example:
a. At least three sports – basketball, football, and tennis – are continually gaining television
fans
b. The first public showing of a motion picture – on May 22, 1891, at Thomas Edison’s
workshop in New Jersey – consisted of a polite bow the audience, smiled, waved, and
took off his hat
c. Even Western physicians agree that patients with deep faith – belief in God, their doctors,
the drugs they take, images, or symbols will regain their health faster than patients with
little hope.