CONTEXT CLUES

You can figure out the meaning of a word by looking at its context (words and phrases around it)

These words can provide clues to the word’s meaning.

DESCRIPTION CLUES

He did not trust the woman not to trust him. And he did not want to be mistrusted now.

Descriptionà  that represents something in words.

Which words tell us what the meaning of mistrusted is?

DEFINITION AND RESTATEMENT CLUES

Words that restate unfamiliar word’s meanings.

•       They tell you the meaning of other words (in a simpler language)

•       Restatement clues may be signaled by commas or by words like as, or, that is, in other words, and also.

EXAMPLE

•       Roger looked as though he were frail. In other words, he looked weak and thin in his tennis shoes and jeans.

EXAMPLE CLUES

Illustrates another words’ meaning by providing examples. Words like including and such as often signal example clues.

EXAMPLE:

Mrs. Jones wanted Roger to do things to make him presentable for dinner, such as washing his face and running a comb through his hair.

COMPARISON AND CONTRAST CLUES

Comparisonà illustrates a words’ meaning with a comparison to a more familiar word or idea.

Example:

Mr. Lucas was as portly as a large bear.

Contrastà involves a writer’s idea pointing out differences between words or ideas. They may be signaled by although, but, however, yet, and in contrast

Example:

Zebra at first thought the stranger seemed menacing, but Wilson turned out to be kind and firendly