What do you do when you

can’t fully understand a text?

One technique to
improve reading
comprehension and
reading pace is using
context clues.
 Context clues are words,
phrases, and sentences that
surround an unfamiliar word
that can help you recognize
the meaning of the unknown
word.
 COMMON TYPES OF CONTEXT
CLUES
Synonyms
Synonyms are used when the text has
words or phrases that are similar in meaning
to the unknown word.
COMMON TYPES OF CONTEXT
CLUES
Synonyms
Synonym clues may be signalled by the
following words: “like” or “as”.
 Humpty Dumpty took great
pleasure in obfuscating the
poem’s meaning for Alice. His
explanations about the poem were
confusing and complicated.
 Alice envisaged the
Jabberwock in her mind. She
imagined its sharp claws and
jaws, and then shivered in fright.
The narrator in the poem was
euphoric at his son’s victory,
for he cried out triumphantly
when the boy came home.
 COMMON TYPES OF CONTEXT
CLUES
Antonyms
An antonym is a word that reveals the
opposite meaning in relation to the unknown
word.
 COMMON TYPES OF CONTEXT
CLUES
Antonyms
May be signalled by: although, but,
despite, instead, in contrast, unlike,
however, even though, and conversely.
 The boy in the poem
surreptitiously set out to find
the monster. He did not tell
anyone about his plans because
he did not want them to worry.
 The Jabberwock was
relentlessly pursued by the boy,
unlike the others who gave up
easily when they heard how
terrifying the creature was.
The hero in the poem did
not give in to trepidation;
rather, he bravely slayed the
Jabberwock with his sword.
COMMON TYPES OF CONTEXT
CLUES
Examples
Examples are specific details in a text
that are used to clarify the meaning of a
word.
There are many
eccentric creatures in
the forest, such as mome
raths and borogoves.
 Only a few weapons are
truly nifty in hunting
monsters, like the vorpal
sword.
 The boy’s father was ecstatic when
he found out that the Jabberwock was
conquered by his son. His behaviour
included laughing, cheering, and hugging
his son.
 COMMON TYPES OF CONTEXT
CLUES
Explanations and
Definitions
Explanations may be given as clues to
describe an unknown term, while definitions
may follow an unfamiliar word.
 COMMON TYPES OF CONTEXT
CLUES
Explanations and
Definitions
Explanations: because or that is.
Definitions: is, means, is defined as, and
refers to.
Humpty Dumpty told Alice that
“brillig” means the same thing as
four o’clock in the afternoon,
because that is when people
started broiling things for
dinner.
 Hearing someone “outgrabe” –
which means he is whistling,
bellowing, and sneezing all at once
– can be a funny sight.
 Alice thought that “toves”
were curious creatures, since
they were part-badger, part-lizard,
and part corkscrew.