What is Context?
Most Americans can speak only one
________. Europeans, however,
________ several. As a result,
Europeans think ________ are
unfriendly and unwilling to
communicate with them.
Try to figure out the missing words.
What is Context?
Most Americans can speak only one
language. Europeans, however,
speak several. As a result,
Europeans think Americans are
unfriendly and unwilling to
communicate with them.
How did you do? How did you
figure out the missing words?
What is Context?
Use the words surrounding the
unknown word to help determine
the unknown word’s meaning.
“Phobias, such as fear of heights,
water, or confined spaces are
difficult to eliminate.”
Context Clues: Definition
Unknown word is
defined immediately
following its use
brief definition, synonym,
or restatement using
punctuation-commas,
parentheses or dashes.
“Be” verb shows the
two ideas are the
same. X = Y
A chemical
bond is a
strong force
that holds two
or more atoms
together.
A dialect is a
form of speech
from a specific
region.
Synonyms
A writer often choose a more
familiar word or words with the
same meaning to make the
difficult word understandable
Ballet students appear so lithe; they
are so limber and flexible.
The cataract was spectacular; the
steep waterfall dropped abruptly
eighty feet.
Restatement
Close to a synonym, restatement
differs in that a difficult word is
usually restated in a simpler
form—usually set of by commas.
The poetry was sublime, lofty and
moving, and brought tears to my eyes.
The village was depopulated, most of
the residents dead or moved, but the
livestock remained untouched.
Contrast
Antonym, a
word of opposite
meaning (notice
the restatement)
Contrast clue
words: but,
however, in
contrast to, on
the other hand
The gentleman
was portly, but
his wife was thin.
The mayoral
candidate praised
the town
council,but the
mayor
deprecated it.
Explanation
Similar to a definition clue
Generally longer than a
definition
Usually found in one or more
different sentences
Context Clues:
Explanation
The chrome is beginning to corrode. It shows
signs of pitting and of being eaten away
gradually.
It was a martial parade: signs of the military
were everywhere. Everyone was in uniform;
guns, cannon and tanks were on display, and
jets flew overhead.
Context Clues:
Explanation
NOTE: Sometimes the explanation is
presented first.
The puppy was a complete bother
and an annoyance to all the
neighbors. It was a continual
nuisance.
Example
Examples that the
reader may know to
help explain a new
and unfamiliar
concept or term
Note the
punctuation clues:
commas or hyphens
Signal words—such
as, for example, for
instance, to
illustrate,
specifically
Legumes, such as
peas and beans,
produce pods.
Forest floors are
frequently covered
with fungi—molds,
mushrooms, and
mildews.
Inference
Use reasoning
and prior
knowledge
Your experiences
provide commonsense clues to
the meaning of a
word
This context clue
is often a little
harder to spot
Since Reginald was
nervous, he brought his
rabbit foot talisman
with him to the exam.
His alibi was upheld
when John’s friends
offered personal
testimony, letters of
documentation, and
three videotapes
showing that he was
present at the party.
Limitations of
Context Clues
1. Context clues only give the
immediate definition for that
particular context.
2. Context clues seldom lead to a
precise, complete definition.
3. Sometimes the passage will not
contain clues to the meaning of the
unfamiliar word.