Reading: Inference & Implied Meaning
B1 Lesson 3: Understanding Figurative Language
Before You Read 🧠
Key Vocabulary
Understanding these ideas is key to today's lesson.
Warm-Up Question
If someone says, "My brother is a pig," what do they probably mean?
- a) He is an animal.
- b) He is very messy.
The answer is (b). This is an example of figurative language!
Three Types of Figurative Language
Writers use figurative language to paint a picture in your mind. Let's learn three common types.
A simile compares two different things using the words like or as to make descriptions more vivid.
"The river water was brown like strong coffee."
(This compares the color of the river to the color of coffee.)
"The student is as quiet as a mouse."
(This compares the student's quietness to the quietness of a mouse.)
A metaphor also compares two things, but it says one thing is another thing. It does NOT use 'like' or 'as'.
"The winding road was a ribbon."
(This compares the road to a ribbon to show it was long and curvy.)
"Her smile is sunshine."
(This compares her smile to sunshine to show it is bright and happy.)
Personification gives human qualities, actions, or feelings to non-human things.
"The old building looked tired."
(A building cannot feel tired; this gives it a human feeling.)
"The wind whispered through the trees."
(The wind cannot whisper; this makes the sound seem soft and secret.)
Practice What You Learned 🎯
Quiz: Identify the Figurative Language
1. "The full moon was a bright lamp in the night sky."
What type of figurative language is this?
- A. Simile
- B. Metaphor
- C. Personification
→ Answer: B. Metaphor. It directly compares the moon to a lamp without using 'like' or 'as'.
2. "The old moto coughed and complained before it finally started."
What does this sentence mean?
- A. The moto can actually talk.
- B. The moto made strange, unhealthy sounds when it started.
- C. The driver was coughing.
→ Answer: B. Personification. The human actions "coughed and complained" describe the sound of an old engine.
Key Vocabulary Reference
- Figurative Language Creative language where words have a meaning different from their literal definition.
- Simile A comparison of two different things using the words 'like' or 'as'.
- Metaphor A direct comparison stating that one thing is another thing.
- Personification Giving human actions, feelings, or qualities to an object or idea.
- Literal Meaning The exact, dictionary definition of a word or phrase.
Your Reading Mission ⭐
Be a Creative Writer!
Complete the following sentences to create your own examples of figurative language.
- Create a Simile: The stars in the sky shine like __________.
- Create a Metaphor: The loud thunder was __________.
- Create a Personification: The old tree __________.
Share your creative sentences with the class!