Literal/ Nonliteral Language

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What is Literal Language?

Back

Literal language means exactly what it says. For example, 'The sun is shining.' This means the sun is really shining.

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What is Non-Literal Language?

Back

Non-literal language means it does not mean exactly what it says. For example, 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.' This means the person is very hungry, not that they will eat a horse.

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Example of Literal Language: 'We saw the clowns at the circus.' What does it mean?

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It means that the clowns were actually seen at the circus.

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Example of Non-Literal Language: 'That noise was driving me up a wall.' What does it mean?

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It means the noise was very annoying, not that someone is literally going up a wall.

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What does it mean if someone says, 'I’m dying of boredom'?

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It means they are very bored, not that they are actually dying.

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Why do we use Non-Literal Language?

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We use non-literal language to express feelings, humor, or exaggeration.

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Can you give an example of a metaphor?

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A metaphor is a type of non-literal language. For example, 'Time is a thief.' This means time can take away moments from us.

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What is an idiom?

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An idiom is a phrase that has a meaning different from the literal meaning of the words. For example, 'Kick the bucket' means to die.

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What does 'It's raining cats and dogs' mean?

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It means it is raining very heavily, not that cats and dogs are falling from the sky.

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What is hyperbole?

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Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally. For example, 'I have a million things to do!'