Republic of the Philippines

ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY

R.T Lim Boulevard, Zamboanga City

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Senior High School Laboratory

ORAL COMMUNICATION

Using Contextual Clues

Introduction of the topic

In reading a material, it is common to come across unfamiliar words. Instead of inconveniently

using a dictionary to search for the meaning of words, it is better to use contextual clues in the
sentence.

Context clues are the words, phrases and sentences that would help you to decipler the meaning
of difficult words in the selection. Apart from knowledge in sentence structure, context clues also
require activation of the reader’s prior knowledge or past experiences in connection to the unfamiliar
word.

Content of the topic

 Use of synonyms as Context Clues

Word having the same meaning or nearly the same meaning are called synonyms. They are easily
recognized on the manner they appear in a sentence.

Synonyms appear in a sentence in the following ways:

a. By dashes

Example: She finds salace – comfort – in the country – side

a. By common to separate the appositive

Example: The advocates, supporters, of anti – mining formed a picket outside the building

a. By parenthesis

Example: The local residents are among the hordes (a large group of people) who lined up to take
their chance in the contest.

Use of Antonyms as Context Clues

Antonyms are words having opposite meaning. They do not give the definition but provide an
idea about the unfamiliar word. Antonyms are recognized in a sentence through any words which
presents opposite meaning like but, although, despite, instead, in contrast, unlike, however,
even though, on the contrary, conversely, etc.

Examples:

1. His siblings are generous and giving but she is so stringy.

a. Generous is the antonym of stringy.
b. Stringy, then, means unwillingness to share to others.
1. As an optimist, Lara looks for a brighter future. However, there are times due to problems
she cannot help but to become a pessimist.
c. Optimist is the antonym of pessimist.
d. Pessimist means a person who expects the worse in everything.

Use of Examples as Context Clues

Examples are the list of illustration which make the unfamiliar word clearer. In order to desire the
meaning of word, you have to analyze the examples given and find a common trait or characteristics.

Examples:

1. is on a diet. However, she still ate a portion of everything served like a small piece of meat,
a small piece of bread, and a small piece of cake.
b. Portion- anything of small serving.
3. Nutritious- any food that makes the body healthy.
 Use of Comparison as Context Clues

Comparison involves identifying the similarities and differences of two or more things, place, or
events. It is indicated by words such as:

like the same as

similar to in comparison to

as (good) as both

similarly alike

likewise also

too so is

while but

Examples:

1. Laura gets easily perplexed by the brain teasers but Kim figures them out easily.

a. Laura is different from Kim in terms of figuring out the brain teasers.

b. Perflexed means very puzzled

2. Manuel determined to prove his innocense. His mother is resolute as well.

a. Manuel is similar with his mother determination to prove his innocense

b. Resolute means determined.

Use of Derivation or Structural Analysis as Context Clues

This technique looks into the root word, affixes, or inflectional endings of the unfamiliar
word. The root word is the base form of the word. An affix is a letter, sound, or a syllable added to
the initial (prefix) or last (suffix) part of the word to form another word. An inflectional endings is
also added to a word but only at the end.

Examples:

1. Affix (prefix)

ab ( away from ) - absent

ante (before) - antecedent

 1. Affix (suffix)

1. Inflectional endings

dancing, danced, dances

A word can also be formed by combining two root words to form a compound word.

Below are the word which can be formed:

Root word: place

Root word + inflectional endings: places

Root word + prefix: replace

Root word + suffix: placement

Root word + prefix + suffix: replacement

Root word + root word: place holder

Use of Sense of Sentences as Context Clues

In getting the meaning of a unfamiliar term, you have to consider the meaning, nature, or
significance of the whole sentence.

Example:

1. The weak group will not be out of the game, leaving only relatively robust group in the game.
a. It was stated that the robust group still be in the game while the weak group will be out.
b. Robust means strong
2. It is important to clean the colon by eating fruits and vegetables to rid the body of toxins.
a. It is important to rid the body of toxins.
b. Toxins means anything harmful to the body.

Names of Members and Section

Gracell S. Paytone Stem 11 - D

Jennifer Dumolop

Anna Bea P. Comighod