Context clues

###What are context clues?

If you’re struggling to understand a word or phrase in a passage, **context clues**—other nearby words and details—can help you figure out what the word or phrase means.

>Example: Cesário had __risotto__ for dinner.

>Even if you don't know what risotto is—it's a delicious Italian rice dish—there's a clue in the sentence that can help you out. Since Cesário had the risotto "for dinner," you can tell that it's a kind of food.

Using context clues to determine word meanings isn’t foolproof! In fact, details in the passage may sometimes point you to an incorrect meaning. Always check to make sure the meaning makes sense in the sentence or paragraph. And keep in mind that a print or online dictionary is the most reliable source for determining the meaning of a word or phrase.

###Show me some more examples!

**As you read the sentences, use context clues to help determine the meaning of each underlined word.**

“__Lachrymose__ music is so depressing,” Isabella said. “Let’s listen to something cheerful and upbeat instead.”

[[☃ explanation 1]]

When Ms. Rodriguez announced that there would be a pop quiz, Byron immediately __absquatulated__, leaping out of the classroom window and running all the way home.

[[☃ explanation 2]]

The wicked queen was __pulchritudinous__ and cruel.

[[☃ explanation 3]]

##Remember!

Context clues, or information and details that are near a word you don't know, can help you determine the meaning of that word. However, context clues don't always lead you to the correct meaning; when in doubt, use a dictionary.

###How can you use parts of speech to help you understand word meanings?

Noticing patterns in how different parts of speech are formed can help you build your vocabulary and figure out the meanings of unknown words.

Related words may have the same [[☃ definition 1]] or [[☃ definition 2]] but have different endings that show each word’s part of speech. If you know the meaning of one form of the word, you can often figure out the meaning of a form with a different ending.

[[☃ explanation 3]]

For example, consider the word infect, a verb that means “to give someone an illness or disease.” If you know what infect means, you can determine the meanings of other forms of the word:

Word | Part of speech | Definition

• | - | -
  infect | verb | to give someone an illness
  infection | noun | an illness; the act of catching an illness
  infectious | adjective | able to cause an illness
  infectiously | adverb | in a way that can cause an illness

###Show me a quick example!

Read the passage:

Ethics can help us differentiate between right and wrong, especially when faced with difficult situations. By thinking about how our actions affect others, we can make responsible and fair decisions.

You may not be familiar with the word differentiate—but you almost certainly know the word different.

• Different is an adjective. It means “unlike something else; not the same.”
• The word ending -ate is often used to form a verb.
• So differentiate is probably a verb that has to do with recognizing or understanding how things are different.

We can double-check our reasoning by putting this meaning back in the sentence:

Ethics can help us recognize the difference between right and wrong…

Our definition checks out!

##Remember!

Recognizing common endings for different parts of speech can help you build word knowledge and figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words.