Guessing Meaning from Context

What are we learning today?

You will learn how to guess the meaning of a new word from the words around it.

Explanation

• The words around a word are its context.
• Read the whole sentence. Look for clues.
• Look at the situation and the question.
• Guess first. Then check in a dictionary.
• Do not stop listening because of one new word.

Examples

1. "It's got a pool where we can swim and sunbathe." Pool and swim are clues. Sunbathe means to lie in the sun.
2. "The park closes in November but reopens in December." Re- means again. Reopen means to open again.
3. "I bought a souvenir for my mum." A souvenir is a small thing that helps you remember a place.

Remember!

• Do not translate every word.
• Look at the whole situation before you guess.

Check yourself

1. What does "sunbathe" mean in "We sunbathe on the beach."?
2. What does "re-" mean in "reopen"?