Inferences

An inference is information that is implied but not directly stated. Sometimes we

can make more than one inference based on the information that we have.

Although it may seem to be a difficult task, we make inferences every day about
the world around us and have been doing so since a young age.

For example, if you are at a wedding and you see a little girl in a fancy dress
holding a bouquet of flowers, you would infer that she is the flower girl.

This is an inference because you have used observation, background knowledge

or logical reasoning to come to a conclusion; no one actually told you she was the
flower girl.

When we are reading, we make inferences by reading between the lines, and
determining what the author/writer is communicating to us without directly
telling us. It is an essential skill in reading comprehension.

Read the following sentences:

My wife and I tried to pack light but we made sure not to forget our bathing
suits and sunblock. I wasn't sure if I would get seasick again so I made sure
to pack some medicine for upset stomachs.

The following inferences can be made:

The author is married.

He and his wife are going on a trip.
They are going to be on a boat.
They will be around water.
They will be going swimming.
They have gone on a boat before.
The author has gotten seasick on a boat in the past.

Make one inference for each of the following sentences:

1. I need to actually go to the gym this week

2. I didn’t use to like that style of music.
3. Divers need to protect themselves from the great white sharks.
4. I fell down the mountain, bumped my head on a rock and nearly died.
5. I’m so upset! I just can’t believe that my parents actually want me to
enroll in music lessons after school!