Meaning from Context

What are we learning today?

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

Explanation

• Do not give up at a new word.
• Find the key sentence and read the words near it.
• Think: is the word a noun, a verb or an adjective?
• Test your guess in the sentence.
• Do not translate a phrasal verb word by word.

Examples

1. "The sun goes down and it doesn't come up again until January." Come up means rise. It is the opposite of go down.
2. "The zebras are standing in the water." So the gazelles are on the river bank.
3. "Keep to the path" means stay on the path.

Remember!

• The sentences around a word give hints.
• Check your guess in the context.

Check yourself

1. What helps you guess a new word?
2. In "the sun goes down and doesn't come up", what does "come up" mean?
3. Does "keep to the path" mean "go anywhere" or "stay on the path"?