UNIT 02

GUESSING MEANING FROM THE CONTEXT

Guessing meaning from context is an important technique that will improve your reading skills
and the speed with which you can read. Obviously you do not have a dictionary, so there are
likely to be a lot of words from the reading text that you do not understand and you cannot
check.
No matter what level you are in, you will often come across difficult words in texts you are
exposed to. Therefore, guessing meaning from context is a strategy which is worth developing.
Guessing meaning from context
Guessing from context refers to the ability to infer the meaning of an expression using
contextual clues. These clues may be purely linguistic or situational:
Linguistic context: the linguistic environment in which a word is used within a text.
Situational context: extra linguistic elements that contribute to the construction of
meaning this may involve background knowledge of the subject.
What this amounts to is that learners should be able to infer the meaning of an unknown word
using:
1. the meaning of vocabulary items that surrounds it;
2. the way the word is formed (part of speech);
3. background knowledge of the subject and the situation (clues).
Take a look at this example:
It had been raining hard through the night so It had been raining which means the ground
the ground was saturated. must be wet. It was raining 'hard' so this
means the ground is probably very wet.
 What part of speech is “saturated”?
 What does 'saturated' mean? saturated = completely wet (adjective)

By doing this you are guessing meaning from context and you should try and use this technique
for words you do not know. It may not always be clear from the actual sentence and you may
have to look at other sentences around the word.

Strategies for guessing

This handout gives you some strategies for guessing the meaning of words from their contexts.
When you guess the meanings of words, you are like a detective. You need clues to help you
solve the mystery. This handout shows you how to use the following kinds of clues:
HINT EXAMPLE EXPLANATION
Often you can guess the The cacophonous rattling A noise that would make you
meaning of a word just by made Maria cover her ears. cover your ears would be
using your own knowledge of unpleasant or jarring.
the world and how things
work.
Some sentences set off the  Origami – Japanese paper Dashes -, Parentheses (),
definition for a difficult word folding – is a family fun. coma,.
by means of punctuation.  Fibrin, elastic threads of
(Punctuation Clues)
protein, helps blood to

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A word’s meaning is often
given by including its
definition in the sentence.
(Definition Clue)
Because some sentences give
example for a new word, you
can build a definition.
(Example Clue)
clot.
 A cane resembles a
walking stick.
 Giggling involves laughing
in a silly way.
Select a periodical from
among the following: Time,
Reader’s Digest, or
Seventeen.
Helping words: is, was, are,
means, i.e. (that is), involves,
is called, that is and
resembles.
The sentence doesn’t say
that a periodical is a
magazine, but you can figure
that out from example.

Comparison clues show that Washing windows is a Words like similar, as well as,
two or more things are alike. tedious job. Similarly, both and likewise show that
cleaning the oven is very comparison is possible.
boring.
With contrast clues, you use Although some old people Connecting words like
the opposite of known abhor change, most of them however, yet, on the other
information to figure out the enjoy new things and hand, instead of, but, while
meaning of an unknown and although are used to
experiences.
word. show that meanings are
opposite.
Referent clues is when an She yelled out the window at Synonyms often follow words
unknown word is referred to her neighbor’s dog. Then she like this, that, these, those, or
(mentioned) again using a said to her husband, “That the.
synonym or explanation of
hound is always waking me
the word.
up at night with its barking.
Tomorrow I’m going to
complain.”

Exercise - 1
The words underlined in each of the following sentences may have a meaning that you do not
know. Try to use hints in the sentences in order to make up a definition. Do not use dictionary!
1. The reporter talked to many auto-industry executives, e.g. company presidents and vice-
presidents.
2. Her tea was tepid, so she put it in the microwave.
3. The deluge, a flood of rain, threatened to drown the little town.
4. John was so hungry that he didn't leave a single particle of the muffin on the plate.
5. Breaking even involves making enough money to pay for business costs but no more.
6. Many new businesses go bankrupt, which means they lose everything.
7. Entrepreneurs are people who start their own businesses.
8. The teacher stopped the students after she observed them wrestling.
9. Despite the risks, new businesses are expanding everywhere, from natural resources,
manufacturing, construction, real estate, retail trade and – especially – service industries
such as consulting and tourism.
10. The Big Three are designing radical new cars including vehicles that use radar and advanced
computers.
11. The podiatrist told the woman to take the medicine for 5 days and call him if she didn’t feel
better.
12. Because he had such good friends and family, Malcolm considered himself fortunate.
13. Even though John had a good job and a nice family, he yearned for more.
14. Since it was a school day, Denise thought it was peculiar that she saw no children on the
street during her drive to work.

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15. Small enterprises are usually defined as businesses with fewer than 50 employees and less
than $2 million in annual (yearly) revenues.

Exercise – 2
The words underlined in each of the following sentences may have a meaning that you do not
know. Try to use hints in the sentences in order to make up a definition. Do not use dictionary!
1. Alex was excited by the tremendous monster trucks at the show. They were bigger than he
had ever seen.
a. powerful b. very small c very big d. brightly colored
.
2. Emily is going to get her vision tested because she can't see the board at school.
a. how well a person sees c. how well a person hears
b. what color eyes a person has d. how strong a person is
3. The voracious team members ate one pizza each after the swim meet.
a. funny b. starving c. satisfied d sleepy
.
4. If you gaze long enough at that picture of an old woman, she will seem to turn into a young
woman.
a. throw things b shout c. look d listen
. .
5. Although Antonio still had plenty of time to get there, Antonio dashed from his house to
the field for baseball practice.
a. show b. move quickly c. delighted d move slowly
.
6. You need to put on some pants instead of those shorts. It is too cold to go outside with
your bare legs showing.
a. not having any covering c. happy
b. a big furry animal d. shaved
7. Edward asked, "Liam, are you aware that your shirt is on backwards?" "Thanks for telling
me. If I had known, I would have changed it by now." Liam replied.
a. present b. silly c know of d. dog
.
8. My uncle is a scholar of American History. He has spent the past 20 years researching
American History. He has written a number of books.
a. an uneducated person c. a person of great knowledge
b. teacher d. writer
9. The new student on our soccer team is a novice because they are just learning how to play.
a. expert b. skilled c. beginner d. energetic
10. Aaron is a wonderful piano player, but Sophia is more versatile; she sings, acts, paints and
writes poetry, and also plays the piano.
a. boring b. exciting c. skillful d. skinny
11. Ms. Hallett did not have lunch or breakfast, so she was famished by dinnertime.
a. dizzy b. tired c. full d. hungry
12. The teacher was appalled, or disgusted, by the honey covered homework the student
turned in.
a. pleased b. surprised c. frustrated d. disgusted
13. Since Amanda deferred her vacation, she was able to accomplish more at work first.

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 a. advanced b. cancelled c. delayed d. expedited
14. Unlike my frugal mother, I don't bother shopping at sales or clipping coupons.
a. careful b. thrifty c. careless d. wasteful
15. The woman loved her occupation as a teacher. She hardly thought of it as work!
a. vacation b. principal c. teacher d. job
16. The big roller coaster frightened the boy. His legs started shaking as he stepped on the ride.
a. calmed b. scared c. very cold d huge
.
17. Jaki is a wonderful piano player. But Emily is more versatile; she sings, acts, paints and
writes poetry, and also plays the piano.
a. many abilities b. cleaver c. not skilled d. exciting
18. Animals live in diverse and varied communities. What is the meaning of the word DIVERSE?
a. very different b. the same c. weird d muggy
.
19. Tristin couldn’t see the school building; it was shrouded by smoke and dust.”
a. covered b. ruined c. bounced d invisible
.
20. We thought that Mrs. Kerner would be very distraught when told that Antonio broke
Ms.Pate's pointer; however, she took the news very calmly. Incorrect
a. anxious b upset c. happy d fearful
. .

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