What is Context?
Context refers to the surrounding information or circumstances that help clarify the meaning of a word, phrase, or situation. In language, context can include the words that come before and after a particular term, the overall theme of a text, or the specific situation in which a conversation takes place. Understanding context is crucial for accurate interpretation and comprehension.
Five Strategies for Using Context Clues
- Definition Clues: Look for definitions or explanations of the unfamiliar word directly in the sentence or nearby sentences.
- Synonym Clues: Identify synonyms or similar words that can provide hints about the meaning of the unfamiliar word.
- Antonym Clues: Recognize words or phrases with opposing meanings that help clarify what the unfamiliar word does not mean.
- Example Clues: Look for examples provided in the text that illustrate the meaning of the unfamiliar word.
- Inference Clues: Use logical reasoning to infer the meaning based on the overall context or the situation described in the text.
What is a Morpheme?
A morpheme is the smallest grammatical unit in a language that carries meaning. Morphemes can be a word or a part of a word. They can be classified as free morphemes (which can stand alone as a word) or bound morphemes (which cannot stand alone and must attach to a free morpheme).
A Free Morpheme Can Stand on Its Own as a Word.
An example of a free morpheme is "book."
How Does a Prefix Change a Word?
A prefix alters the meaning of a base word by being added to the beginning of it. Prefixes can indicate negation, direction, time, or other qualities.
How Does a Suffix Change a Word?
A suffix modifies the meaning or function of a base word by being added to the end of it. Suffixes can change the part of speech of a word, such as from a noun to an adjective or a verb.
Adding the Prefix "im." to the Word "proper" Changes the Meaning to Mean Not Proper.
The new word "improper" indicates something that is not proper or suitable.
Adding the Suffix "-ly" to the Word "proper" Changes the Part of Speech from a Noun to an Adverb.
The new word "properly" describes how an action is performed, indicating that it is done in a proper manner.