SALUS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

CABULIJAN, TUBIGON, BOHOL

S.Y. 2020-2021

ENGLISH 7

Quarter IV (week 2)

Concept Notes:

Literal and Figurative Language

Differences among people can be seen in many ways. Even in one’s speech, it can be observed
that some use plain, direct, literal language while others prefer to use something figurative.

Literal language means exactly what it says. It gives the dictionary meaning of the words, and
the ideas/ thoughts it expresses do not deviate from their accepted meaning. This kind of language is
used in scientific, technical and legal writing.

On the other hand, figurative language is more elaborate and employs literary techniques like
figures of speech such as simile, metaphor, hyperbole, and personification. Words and expressions used
in figurative language have meanings different from its literal interpretation. This type of language is
associated to literature.

Study and compare the following sentences.

Literal Language Figurative Language

It was raining hard, so I stayed for another two
hours in school.
I am so hungry. I could eat a lot of food.
She did not realize the opportunity being offered
to her.
She moves very fast.
It was raining cats and dogs, so I stayed for
another two hours in school.
I am so hungry I could eat a horse.
She did not realize that opportunity was knocking
at her door.
She moves as fast as a cheetah

Below are some examples of commonly used figurative language.

1. Metaphor – compares two unlike things/ objects/ actions
Examples: The world is a stage. (Shakespeare)
Love is fire. 
2. Simile – compares two unlike things/ objects/ actions using the word as or like.
Examples: Her eyes are as blue as the ocean.
Fear fell from us like steel armor.
3. Personification – giving human characteristics to inanimate objects.
Examples: The wind whispered my prayer to God.
The trees of the forest watched sympathetically over the lost child.
4. Hyperbole – expressing something in an exaggerated manner.
Examples: I will give you the moon to prove my love for you.
I Love You to the moon and back.
5. Onomatopoeia –the process of creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the
sound that it describes.
Examples: The large dog said, “Bow-wow!”
Plop plop fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is
We heard the vroom of the car’s engine as it whizzed by and screeched around the corner.
Activity 1
Direction: Read each sentence and determine if it uses figurative or literal. Write L for literal language
and F for figurative language.
_______ 1. Juliet volunteers to participate in the feeding program of the government.
_______ 2. My sister is like a turtle. She’s always late to school.
_______ 3. My paper work has piled as high as a mountain.
_______ 4. I love watching my sons perform on stage.
_______ 5. The little child is like an octopus, grabbing all the toys that he wants his mother to buy for
him.

Activity 2
Direction: Identify whether what figurative language is used in the following sentences.
_____________ 1. Her voice was like water bubbling from a silver jar.
_____________ 2. The shopping cost me a million dollars.
_____________ 3. Children are the most beautiful flowers of all.
_____________ 4. Ticktock, ticktock… the sound of the clock was all that could be heard in the hospital
waiting room.
_____________ 5. I’m dying of laughter.
_____________ 6. The books fell on the table with a loud thump.
_____________ 7. Jenny cooked the candy too long. When she took it out of the oven it was hard as a
rock.
_____________ 8. Your shadow is sunlight on a plate of silver.
_____________ 9. After a week without rain, the flowers begged to be watered.
_____________ 10. The old car woke reluctantly from its overnight sleep. Coughing and sputtering, it
finally broke into a loud roar.