Learning how to Guess the Context of the Words Appearing within a Text

As you read through texts in English, there will be a number of words that you will come across for the first time. Making a habit of stopping and checking every new word in a dictionary may slow one's reading pace, and consequently understanding of reforms into main concepts. For English learners, one useful strategy for tackling the difficulties of English is to guess a word from the surrounding words. Contextual clues are certain expressions within one's sentences or paragraphs that allow that particular reader to comprehend the definition of a word without the need of a dictionary. To make reading more comprehensible and easy for you, try to learn how to use these clues. This article focuses on the different types of context clues and the strategies used to make educated guesses on similarly unfamiliar words.

How to Use, Why it Worked – The Essentials of Context Clues

There are several types of context clues that you can use to understand unknown words. Each provides unique hints to help you grasp the meaning of a word in its surrounding context. These types are better known because one can also be able to spot and use them.

1. Diagnosis or Definition of Problem Words

Some cognates of the English language that are likely to be unknown to many learners, tend to be provided with short or longer explanations in a word from some context. Furthermore, their meanings are usually conveyed via such words as is, are, means, refers to, etc.
Example: "A nocturnal animal, like a bat, is one that is active at night."
In this sentence, the word nocturnal is directly defined as 'one that is active at night' so as to aid the understanding of the term as being night time. Such an explanation presumes that, by night time, is the period between dusk and dawn of the following day.

2. Extension Clues

Umphrey… reported that many times a word lettered may even bear some resemblance with common words, or with near synonymous words that are used to support the word in its definition - for example, or in other words, or that is.
Example: "The lawyer's response was concise, or brief, showing that he preferred to use fewer words."
In this case, at one point in time, we had a brief and concise recollection at an event and both recollections hinted at this event, brief and concise were both particularly focusing on the same event, that of which had fewer words.

3. Context Clue Using Contrast

We come across a word that we do not know, and it happens to be in the same sentence along with an idea that is opposing or contrasting. This type of context can often be seen in conjunction with the following words: but, however, yet, unlike, etc.
Example: "Mark, on the other hand, is rather quiet in contrast to his affectionate brother who enjoys parties."
In this sentence, the group of words sociable and gregarious can be said to have opposite meanings with the group of words quiet and reserved. Which gives the assumption that the word reserved in this case means quiet and not sociable.

4. Context Clue Using An Example

Context clues using an example will define the unknown word with a specific example or instance regarding it. This is often preceded by: for an example, such as, for example and even including.
Example: "In tropical areas, there are some types of exotic fruits such as dragon and mangosteen."
The phrase 'dragon fruit' and 'mangosteen' helps to clarify the exotic term to refer to fruits that are rare and unique and are not found in every corner of the world.

5. Inference or General Sense Context Clue

In some occasions there is no direct context that might have a synonym, antonym or even a definition, but instead the surrounding arguments provide some indications. One can make an educated guess from the knowledge that is familiar to him or her combined with the attitude of the surrounding text.
Example: "Maria experienced exhaustion after long hours of work without rest. That, in turn, made it impossible for her to prepare dinner."
In the scenario, although they are tired, the phrase "couldn't find the energy" is suggesting, in relation to the person's lack of energy.

Using Context Clues Approach To Guess

As it stands, there are certain strategies that one can utilise in order to benefit from context clues to word meaning. Mastering and making use of these techniques often will be of great help in reading and comprehending texts in the English language.

1. Search Other Words That Are Around The Word That Has Not Been Heard Before

When pencilled in some words that have never been heard before, read through the sentence to find some extra context clues which might not have been obvious at first. yu. You should also see where the unknown word links when spoken – or, such as, like, or even though.

2. Read The Sentence That Comes Before The Unknown Word And The One That Comes After

More often than not, the meaning of a word across two sentences gets lost in translation. It could also be that the context around the unknown word could be illuminating as well. Multi-sentence contextual framing is something that authors do quite a lot, especially for terms which are likely to be problematic.
Example: "The storm was so terrible that several houses were swept away and nothing was left except for their ruins."
If any portion of the word, such as, or the word demolished remains a mystery, then nothing but debris and ruined foundations should suggest to the reader that the word means destroying.

3. Incorporate your previous experiences

You must first think about what you already know. Let's say the text is on cooking, and you see the word "sauté." Considering the context, you could infer that it's a type of cooking method. It also assists in expanding the range of meanings that a concept can encompass, even when its scope isn't contemplated.

4. Deconstruct the word

In the English language, on the other hand, there are many words that consist of a root, a prefix, and one or more suffixes. As a rule of thumb, when taken apart, a word tends to give hints about its meaning. Consider the word reconstruct for example, which has the prefix re, which means again and the word construct which means to build. Together the words denote the meaning of "to erect anew"
Common prefixes and suffixes include:
• Prefix: un- (not), re- (again), pre- (before)
• Suffix: -ful (full of), -less (without), -able (capable of)

5. Think About What Else the Word Can Mean

In some situations, it is sufficient to ask yourself what seems to fit. Take a sentence that mentions how a person feels after he/she has received some good news, it can be assumed that the unfamiliar word thrown in that sentence conveys something nice.
Example: "Once she heard the news of the promotion, Linda got exuberant."
Since Linda has just received positive news, jubilant in all likelihood means she was elated or excited.

Use of Context Clues Worksheets

Attempting to use context clues will help you get accustomed to new words. Here are practice examples to help you enhance this skill:

Exercise 1: Identify the Clue Type

Follow the instructions provided and try to focus on the context of the word which determines the type of the context clue. For instance:
"Even when extremely tired, Sarah was still strong and proceeded to do her work."
Here, even when extremely tired is a contrast clue suggesting that strong has the meaning of enduring or being inactive for a long period.

Exercise 2: Guess The Meaning

Take a paragraph consisting of at least 2 words which you think can be hard for you and guess their meanings from the surrounding context. After that, review how close your estimates were to the right meanings.

Exercise 3: For Yourself Construct Sentences

Construct sentences using a newly acquired term you have encountered and try to give out some context clues explaining the word. For example: The bush was dry where so many plants were visible, but little water could not be seen.

Advantages of Context Clues

It is pretty easy for those who will be learning English to work out the meanings of new words from the context.

1. It Enhances the Reading Efficiency:

You will not have to keep looking up the meanings in dictionaries affecting clerical endeavours ensuring your reading flow continues.

2. Supports Word Learning:

In the beginning, for the first time those words and sentences will be learned with pictures in cases thus associating them with objects.

3. Enhances Understanding Skills:

Emphasis on context clues increases understanding as it becomes easier to focus on the main ideas.

4. Increases Ability:

Eventually, being able to make meaning on your own increases your reading vocabulary knowledge and confidence levels.