Literal and Figurative language

What does it mean for language to be 'literal'?

• It uses words to mean something different than their dictionary definition.

• It means exactly what it says, without exaggeration or metaphor.

• It is only used in poetry and stories.

• It is always boring and lacks detail.

Answer explanation

Literal language is straightforward and means precisely what the words say. The other options describe figurative language or are incorrect statements.

Sort the following sentences into the correct categories based on whether they use literal or figurative language.

Groups:

(a) Literal Language

,

(b) Figurative Language

• My backpack weighs a ton.

• The soup is hot.

• The car is blue.

• He is a walking encyclopedia.

• The wind whispered through the trees.

• I need to finish my math homework.

Answer explanation

Literal sentences mean exactly what they say. Figurative sentences use expressions like hyperbole ('weighs a ton'), metaphor ('walking encyclopedia'), and personification ('wind whispered') to create a special effect.

When someone says, 'My brother is a couch potato,' what do they actually mean?

• My brother looks like a potato.

• My brother is very lazy and watches a lot of TV.

• My brother grows potatoes on the couch.

• My brother's favorite food is potatoes.

Answer explanation

The phrase 'couch potato' is a metaphor used to describe someone who spends a lot of time sitting on a couch, usually being inactive. It doesn't literally mean the person is a vegetable.

Match the figurative phrase (idiom) to its literal meaning.

• Good luck!

• I'm all ears.

• I am listening very carefully.

• It's raining cats and dogs.

• It's raining very heavily.

• Break a leg!

• You are talented and successful.

• You're a shining star.

Answer explanation

These common idioms have figurative meanings that are different from their literal words. The matches correctly interpret what each phrase means in everyday language.

Read the sentence: 'The new video game cost an arm and a leg.' Is this statement literal or figurative?

• Literal, because the person actually traded their limbs for the game.

• Figurative, because it's an exaggeration meaning the game was very expensive.

• Literal, because video games are often priced that way.

• Figurative, because it means the game was cheap.

Answer explanation

'Cost an arm and a leg' is an idiom, a type of figurative language. It's a hyperbole used to express that something is extremely expensive, not that it literally costs body parts.

Which of the following best defines figurative language?

• Language that follows all grammar rules perfectly.

• Language that is clear, direct, and means what it says.

• Language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation.

• Language that can only be found in science textbooks.

Answer explanation

Figurative language uses figures of speech like metaphors and similes to go beyond the literal meanings of words to give readers new insights.

My little sister follows me everywhere I go. She is my little (a)   .

• shadow
• friend
• sibling
• annoyance

Answer explanation

'Shadow' is used as a metaphor to describe someone who follows another person closely, just like a real shadow. While other options could be true, 'shadow' is the best figurative choice.

The sentence 'The sun smiled down on the beach' is an example of figurative language because it:

• compares the sun to something else using 'like' or 'as'.

• gives a human quality (smiling) to a non-human thing (the sun).

• means exactly what it says.

• is a huge exaggeration.

Answer explanation

This is an example of personification, a type of figurative language where inanimate objects or abstract ideas are given human characteristics. The sun cannot literally smile.

The word 'heavy' can mean having great weight or being serious/sad. Sort these phrases into the correct category based on their meaning.

Groups:

(a) Literal (great weight)

,

(b) Figurative (serious or sad)

• a heavy box

• a heavy heart

• a heavy sigh

• heavy traffic

Answer explanation

'Heavy' is used literally to describe physical weight or density. It is used figuratively to describe emotions, sounds, or situations that feel burdensome or serious.

In a story, a character says, 'Her voice was music to his ears.' What is the author trying to convey?

• She was literally singing a song.

• Her voice was very loud and annoying.

• He found her voice to be very beautiful and pleasant to listen to.

• He was listening to music on his headphones.

Answer explanation

This metaphor compares her voice to music to express how pleasing it sounded. It doesn't mean she was actually singing or that her voice was a literal song.