Inferring and Context Clues

Inferring meaning of borrowed words and content specific words

by JOAN LALES

After studying this module, you should be able to infer meaning of borrowed words and content specific words using context clues, affixes and roots, and other strategies

(EPP terms).​

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Open Ended

What did you do last holiday vacation?

Multiple Choice

There are a lot of famous festivals which people celebrate in the different provinces.

What is a synonym for festivals?

• fiestas

• ceremonies

• vacations

• breaks

Identify the clues that will give the meaning of the underlined word/s.

Multiple Choice

The spaghetti sauce splattered and scattered all over the stove because it

was meant to simmer not boil.

• splattered

• scattered

• not boil

Multiple Choice

I have a recipe of chocolate cake. I made this procedure to add a little twist.

• made

• procedure

• twist

Multiple Choice

Pour over the marinade into the chicken cuts. This mixture of vinegar, spices and herbs enhances the aromatic flavor of the dish.

• mixture

• enhances

• flavor

​You can enrich your vocabulary through reading. But there are times that you meet words which are difficult to understand and a dictionary is not on hand or available for its meaning.

Meaning of difficult words can be unlocked by context clues and structural analysis.

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​1. Context clues

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Context clues are hints that an author gives to help define a difficult or unusual word within a book.

There are at least four kinds of context clues that are quite common.

2. Structural analysis

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Structural analysis is the process of breaking words down into their basic parts to determine word meaning. When readers break difficult words into familiar prefixes, suffixes, and root words, it can improve fluency and comprehension.

Activity ​

Figure out the word/s from the text that could define the underlined word.

Multiple Choice

1. The trade tools needed by a carpenter in making cabinet and other carpentry jobs are hammer and saw while an electrician used screwdrivers and wire strippers in their job.

What are the clues in the sentences?

• carpentry jobs

• hammer, saw, screwdrivers, wire strippers

• carpenter, electrician

Multiple Choice

2. Iah Bantang Seraspi, a fisherman’s daughter was the second top placer in the 2015 Licensure Examination for Teachers. Teaching as a livelihood enables her to secure the basic necessities in life.

What are the clues in the sentences?

• second top placer

• Licensure Examination

• enables to secure basic necessities

Multiple Choice

3. During this Covid 19 pandemic many become jobless. Consumers failed to pay

goods and services for their own consumption.

What are the clues in the sentences?

• Covid-19 pandemic

• goods and services

• people who pay for goods and services

Multiple Choice

4. Tony Tan Caktiong is a successful entrepreneur. He organizes and operates the

well-known business- Jollibee Food Corporation.

What are the clues in the sentences?

• Jollibee

• organizes and operates business

• well-known business

Multiple Choice

5. In global arena, employers hire workforce not only versed academically but with

vocational competence by providing skills through education and training that

prepare workers for a job.

What are the clues in the sentences?

• versed academically

• providing skills through education and training

• employers hire workforce