Context Clues

• context clues are words or sentence something the unfamiliar word that give hints on its meaning
• context clues will help you know the meaning of a word without consulting the dictionary
• types of context clues : example or explanation clues, synonym or definition clues, antonym or contrast clues, inference or general clues
• example/explanation clues - uses examples to help the reader infer the meaning of the vocabulary word
• signal words for example/explanation clues are as like, for example, for instance and as an illustration
• synonym/definition clues - the meaning of an unfamiliar word is given in the sentence if a similar word is also used to make the meaning clearer
• signal words for synonym/definition clues are or, in other words, that is, by this we mean, that is to say, and also known as
• antonym/contrast clues - opposite word is used to suggest the meaning
• inference/general clues - making sense of a word's meaning by largely depending on your common sense and requires you to use your knowledge and experience
• 3 parts of word structure : prefix, root word, suffix
• prefix means "to attach before a word"
• pre means "before" and fix means "to attach"
• suffix is a letter or group of letters, which is added to the end of a word
• root word - these are many in english that originated from latin greek and other languages. these languages may be hard to spot
• denotation - it refers to the real meaning of the word
• positive connotation - it will evoke warm feelings
• negative connotation - will make someone feel less than pleasant