Presentación: Guessing the meaning of vocabulary from context (language)


Guessing the meaning of vocabulary from contextVersión en línea Awaiting source documents por Robin Sneath 1 Guessing the meaning of vocabulary from context Word structure If you see a new word, you can look at the word parts to guess the meaning. Prefixes – a beginning part that change the meaning of the word (e.g. un-, re-, dis-) Root – the basic meaningful part of a word (e.g. act, view, port) Suffixes - an ending that changes the word type and/or the meaning (e.g. -able, -tion, -er) 2 Examples Example 1: uncomfortable Prefix: un- = not Root: comfort = feeling good Suffix: -able = able to 👉 uncomfortable = not able to feel good → "not feeling good" Example 2: predictable Prefix: pre- = before Root: dict = say Suffix: -able = can be 👉 predictable = can be said before → "easy to guess" Example 3: reheated Prefix: re- = again Root: heat = make hot Suffix: -ed = past tense verb 👉 reheated = make hot again → "heated again” 3 Prefixes Common Prefixes Prefix Meaning Example Please look at page 2 of the work sheet 4 Suffixes Common Suffixes Suffix Meaning Example Please look at page 3 of the work sheet 5 Task 1 Task 1: For each word below, break it down into prefix / root / suffix. Use the lists above to help you. Reusable Prefix Root Suffix Meaning Unbelievable Prefix Root Suffix Meaning Misunderstand Prefix Root Suffix Meaning Impossible Prefix Root Suffix Meaning Reader Prefix Root Suffix Meaning 6 Types of context clues Definitions or restatements: the word is directly explained in the sentence A habitat, or natural home, is where an animal lives. 👉 habitat = natural home When people contravene or break the law, they might be arrested by the police. 👉 contravene the law = break the law Synonyms: a word with a similar meaning is used The child was elated about her birthday gift - she looked really delighted. 👉 elated = happy (delighted) Antonyms: a word with the opposite meaning is used Unlike his hostile attitude yesterday, today he was friendly and kind. 👉 hostile = unfriendly Examples: examples are given to explain the word Bats, owls, and hedgehogs are mostly nocturnal creatures. 👉 nocturnal = active at night Celestial bodies, such as the planets, moon, and stars, can be seen in the night sky. 👉 celestial = related to the sky or space 7 Task 2: Identify the types of context clues and guess the meaning of the underlined words. Many aquatic animals, such as fish, dolphins, and whales, live in the ocean. Type Meaning The arid desert had little rainfall and almost no vegetation. Type Meaning He is very frugal—unlike his brother, who spends money carelessly. Type Meaning Unlike his usually neat and tidy appearance, today he looked completely unkempt. Type Meaning She is very sociable, always surrounded by friends and enjoying conversations. Type Meaning 8 More ways to guess meaning from context Look at other words in the sentence Sometimes the sentence doesn’t have a clear definition, synonym, or example, but the words around the unknown word give clues. Example: He stood at the edge of the diving board, gripping the railing tightly and glancing nervously at the water in the pool below. His friends shouted, “Come on, you can do it!” but he didn’t move. It was clear he was reluctant to jump. 👉Words like "gripping the railing tightly", “glancing nervously”, and “didn’t move” suggest he didn’t want to dive because he was nervous. Therefore, you can guess that “reluctant” means hesitant to do something (being slow to act because you don’t want to do it). Use what you already know Use your background knowledge or real-world knowledge to help. Example: After the earthquake caused damage to many homes, some families stayed in temporary shelters. 👉 If you know what can happen during earthquakes, you can guess that "temporary shelters" are places to stay for a period of time after homes are damaged. 9 Read the sentences. Use the strategies to guess the meaning of the underlined word. The witch stirred the frog eyes and cat tails into the steaming cauldron smoking over the fire. Meaning: James, you need to cease tapping your pencil as other people are trying to concentrate. Meaning: You don't want to wrap your presents in plastic wrap - it’s transparent so everyone will know what you got! Meaning: 10 Task 4: Look at the sentences and guess the meaning of the underlined word "I think she's still pretty angry with me. I tried to start a conversation with her this afternoon, but she snubbed me. She just continued talking to her friend as if I wasn't there." Clue(s): Meaning: Many of the old buildings were demolished and replaced with more modern facilities. Clue(s): Meaning: When he asked her about her boyfriend, she looked quite flushed and couldn’t answer. Clue(s): Meaning: Many travel posts on social media show idyllic scenery, but sometimes the places are not so beautiful when you go there. Clue(s): Meaning: It’s always difficult to strike up a conversation with people on public transport: they might think you are weird. Clue(s): Meaning: Why do some students think they can plagiarise? It really drives teachers mad. Clue(s): Meaning:

Guessing the meaning of vocabulary from contextVersión en línea

Awaiting source documents

por Robin Sneath

Guessing the meaning of vocabulary from context

Word structure

If you see a new word, you can look at the word parts to guess the meaning.

Prefixes – a beginning part that change the meaning of the word (e.g. un-, re-, dis-)
Root – the basic meaningful part of a word (e.g. act, view, port)
Suffixes - an ending that changes the word type and/or the meaning (e.g. -able, -tion, -er)

Examples

Example 1: uncomfortable

Prefix: un- = not
Root: comfort = feeling good
Suffix: -able = able to
👉 uncomfortable = not able to feel good → "not feeling good"

Example 2: predictable

Prefix: pre- = before
Root: dict = say
Suffix: -able = can be
👉 predictable = can be said before → "easy to guess"

Example 3: reheated

Prefix: re- = again
Root: heat = make hot
Suffix: -ed = past tense verb
👉 reheated = make hot again → "heated again”

Prefixes

Common Prefixes

Prefix Meaning Example

Please look at page 2 of the work sheet

Suffixes

Common Suffixes

Suffix Meaning Example

Please look at page 3 of the work sheet

Task 1

Task 1: For each word below, break it down into prefix / root / suffix. Use the lists above to help you.

Reusable

Prefix

Root

Suffix

Meaning

Unbelievable

Prefix

Root

Suffix

Meaning

Misunderstand

Prefix

Root

Suffix

Meaning

Impossible

Prefix

Root

Suffix

Meaning

Reader

Prefix

Root

Suffix

Meaning

Types of context clues

Definitions or restatements: the word is directly explained in the sentence

A habitat, or natural home, is where an animal lives.

👉 habitat = natural home

When people contravene or break the law, they might be arrested by the police.

👉 contravene the law = break the law

Synonyms: a word with a similar meaning is used

The child was elated about her birthday gift - she looked really delighted.

👉 elated = happy (delighted)

Antonyms: a word with the opposite meaning is used

Unlike his hostile attitude yesterday, today he was friendly and kind.

👉 hostile = unfriendly

Examples: examples are given to explain the word

Bats, owls, and hedgehogs are mostly nocturnal creatures.

👉 nocturnal = active at night

Celestial bodies, such as the planets, moon, and stars, can be seen in the night sky.

👉 celestial = related to the sky or space

Task 2: Identify the types of context clues and guess the meaning of the underlined words.

Many aquatic animals, such as fish, dolphins, and whales, live in the ocean.

Type

Meaning

The arid desert had little rainfall and almost no vegetation.

Type

Meaning

He is very frugal—unlike his brother, who spends money carelessly.

Type

Meaning

Unlike his usually neat and tidy appearance, today he looked completely unkempt.

Type

Meaning

She is very sociable, always surrounded by friends and enjoying conversations.

Type

Meaning

More ways to guess meaning from context

Look at other words in the sentence
Sometimes the sentence doesn’t have a clear definition, synonym, or example, but the words around the unknown word give clues.

Example:

He stood at the edge of the diving board, gripping the railing tightly and glancing nervously at the water in the pool below. His friends shouted, “Come on, you can do it!” but he didn’t move. It was clear he was reluctant to jump.

👉Words like "gripping the railing tightly", “glancing nervously”, and “didn’t move” suggest he didn’t want to dive because he was nervous. Therefore, you can guess that “reluctant” means hesitant to do something (being slow to act because you don’t want to do it).

Use what you already know

Use your background knowledge or real-world knowledge to help.

Example: After the earthquake caused damage to many homes, some families stayed in temporary shelters.

👉 If you know what can happen during earthquakes, you can guess that "temporary shelters" are places to stay for a period of time after homes are damaged.

Read the sentences. Use the strategies to guess the meaning of the underlined word.

The witch stirred the frog eyes and cat tails into the steaming cauldron smoking over the fire.

Meaning:

James, you need to cease tapping your pencil as other people are trying to concentrate.

Meaning:

You don't want to wrap your presents in plastic wrap - it’s transparent so everyone will know what you got!

Meaning:

Task 4: Look at the sentences and guess the meaning of the underlined word

"I think she's still pretty angry with me. I tried to start a conversation with her this afternoon, but she snubbed me. She just continued talking to her friend as if I wasn't there."

Clue(s):

Meaning:

Many of the old buildings were demolished and replaced with more modern facilities.

Clue(s):

Meaning:

When he asked her about her boyfriend, she looked quite flushed and couldn’t answer.

Clue(s):

Meaning:

Many travel posts on social media show idyllic scenery, but sometimes the places are not so beautiful when you go there.

Clue(s):

Meaning:

It’s always difficult to strike up a conversation with people on public transport: they might think you are weird.

Clue(s):

Meaning:

Why do some students think they can plagiarise? It really drives teachers mad.

Clue(s):

Meaning:

Puedes integrar el juego en un LMS compatible con LTI 1.1 o LTI 1.3 como Canvas, Moodle, o Blackboard. De esta manera podrás guardar las puntuaciones automáticamente en el libro de calificaciones de esa plataforma.

Guessing the meaning of vocabulary from context

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Guessing the meaning of vocabulary from contextVersión en línea

por Robin Sneath

Guessing the meaning of vocabulary from context

Examples

Prefixes

Suffixes

Task 1

Types of context clues

Task 2: Identify the types of context clues and guess the meaning of the underlined words.

More ways to guess meaning from context

Use what you already know

Read the sentences. Use the strategies to guess the meaning of the underlined word.

Task 4: Look at the sentences and guess the meaning of the underlined word

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