What are different context clues?
Context clues are the hints embedded in the text that help you figure out what an unknown words mean. There are four common types of context clues: synonym, antonym, explanation and example. A synonym, or word with the same meaning, is used in the sentence. For instance: My opponent’s argument is fallacious, misleading – plain wrong. A word or group of words that has the opposite meaning reveals the meaning of an unknown term. For example: Although some men are loquacious, others hardly talk at all. Or the unknown word could be explained within the sentence or in a sentence immediately preceding. A good example would be: The patient is so somnolent that she requires medication to help her stay awake for more than a short time. Specific examples are used to define the term. In the following sentence, if you did not know what celestial bodies meant, you could guess accurately by the examples given: Celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon, and stars, are governed by predictable laws.
