Figurative Language
Metaphor-
The teacher left the classroom for a minute, and when she came back in, it was a zoo in there.
What does this sentence mean?
It is saying that the classroom IS a zoo.
Today he swims. Yesterday he _______.
swam
People kept coming over to visit Rachel's family. They brought food and gifts. Many of the visitors asked Rachel how she liked being a big sister.
Why were so many people coming to visit Rachel's family? How do you know?
Rachel has a new baby brother or sister.
Clues: people brought food and gifts, they asked if Rachel liked being a big sister
Mom lit three candles. "There, that's better," she said. Claire turned off her flashlight. The house was super quiet except for the sound of the wind blowing through the trees outside.
Why did Mom light candles? What makes you think so?
It sounds like the electricity has gone off in the house, possibly because of a storm.
Clues: Wind blowing through trees, Claire had to use a flashlight, quiet inside the house which means no electronics are working like the t.v. etc.
Jenna has just had her hair done. Her friend says, "You look beautiful! Where did you get your hair cut?"
Was her friend being sarcastic or serious? How can you tell?
In this situation, her friend is being serious. She really DOES think Jenna's hair is beautiful.
Clues: Tone of voice
Amelia won the prize, because her desk was the __________ in the class.
A. neat
B. neater
C. neatest
C. neatest
Many people were telling rumors about the new student, Abigail. But, Chad knew to never judge a book by its cover.
How does Chad feel about the new student? What does never judge a book by its cover mean?
Even though Chad has heard rumors, he doesn't want to judge the new student, Abigail, because he hasn't even met her yet. He wants to give her a chance.
Today she makes a Valentine. Yesterday she _______ a Valentine.
made
Cody knew he was in big trouble. He looked glumly at the math test on the desk in front of him. The door opened, and Mr. Anders came into the office. "I've called your parents and they are on their way," he said.
Why is Cody in trouble? What makes you think so?
It's possible that Cody is in trouble because he cheated on the the math test.
Clues: Cody is in an office and his parents have been called.
Sasha handed the book to the librarian. The librarian opened the book and found crayon scribbles on almost every page. "I'm really sorry," said Sasha. "I should have kept the book in my room"
What happened to Sasha's library book? How do you know?
It sounds like Sasha left her library book in reach of her younger brother or sister who then colored all over the pages.
Clues: Crayon scribble (younger kids often scribble with crayons)
After coming in very last in the race, George's friend says, "they should name you the cheetah!"
Was his friend being serious or sarcastic? How do you know?
His friend was being sarcastic.
Clues: Cheetahs are very fast, George came in last, tone of voice.
Kendra bought the ________ lollipop in the whole store.
A. bigger
B. biggest
C. big
B. biggest
Simile -
Even though it stormed all night, Ken said he slept like a baby.
What does this sentence mean?
It means that even though it was very loud outside due to the storm, Ken was able to sleep through all of it and never wake up.
Ken is being compared to a sleeping baby.
Today she takes a nap. Yesterday she _______ a nap.
Susie looked down at her beautiful dress. She looked like a princess! The music started to play. She held the flowers tightly and started to walk slowly towards the front. Everyone smiled as she walked by.
Where is Susie? Why do you think so?
Susie is a flower girl in a wedding.
Clues: She is wearing a dress, has flowers, there's music, and everyone is looking at her walk to the front.
The bus was full of children. Everyone was laughing and talking. Ben scratched a mosquito bite on his leg. It had been a fun week, but he was glad that tonight he would be sleeping in his own bed instead of a sleeping bag.
Where was the bus coming from? How do you know?
The bus is probably coming from a campsite-possibly a summer camp.
Clues: mosquito bite, sleeping bag
Joan tells her sister that they are going to clean out the rabbit cage in 30 minutes. Her sister says, "I can hardly wait!"
Was her sister being serious or sarcastic? How do you know?
Her sister was being sarcastic.
Clues: Cleaning a dirty cage doesn't sound too fun, tone of voice. If we saw the sister in person, we could also possibly tell from her body language (eye rolls, motion with arm/hands, etc.)
The gray and white kitten is the ______ one in the pet store.
A. cutest
B. cute
C. cuter
A. cutest
Idiom-
Olivia was so glad to get off the hook for babysitting this weekend.
How did Liviana feel about babysitting this weekend? What does get off the hook mean?
Olivia did not want to babysit this weekend. When an actual fish gets off a hook, it means it got free!
She is glad she is free and doesn't have to babysit.
Today she writes a letter. Yesterday she ______ a letter.
wrote
It was May 10th. Jason shut the door to his bedroom. Then he found the present he had hidden in the back of his closet. He wrapped it carefully in pink paper. "Only three days until Sunday!" he thought.
Who will Jason give the present to? Why?
Since he hid the present in the back of his closet, the present is probably for someone who lives in his house with him, and he doesn't want this person to find it-maybe his sister or mom.
Clues: Hidden in closet, pink paper
Cara tried not to fidget in her new dress. There were at least a hundred people in the audience. What if she messed up? She heard her name and for a moment, she could not move. The girl next to her gave her a gentle push, and she walked onto the stage and toward the piano.
What was Cara feeling? What makes you think so?
Clues: fidgeting, "what if she messed up?", she could not move
Fiona puts on a new dress and walks out of her room. Her mom's eyes widened and she exclaimed, "You're a beauty queen!"
Was her mother being serious or sarcastic?
Her mother is being serious.
Clues: Mom's eyes widened, tone of voice
Rachel thinks that chocolate is the _______ kind of ice cream.
A. delicious
B. more delicious
C. most delicious
C. most delicious
Cora needed to make a decision this week about where to go to college. This decision was really weighing on her mind.
What does this sentence mean?
Cora was having a very tough time deciding where to go to college.
Today he sleeps. Yesterday he ________.
slept
Mr. Jones stood on his front porch watching the boys run away down the street. He walked slowly to the sidewalk and picked up the bat that was laying there. Then he looked at the broken window on his house and sighed.
Why were the boys running away. How do you know?
It looks like the boy probably broke Mr. Jones' window while playing baseball. They were running away because they were scared and didn't want to take responsibility.
Clues: a bat was laying on the sidewalk, there was a broken window
Dad and Krystal were finishing up a project in the garage together. "Can we paint the roof red?" asked Krystal. "Sure," said Dad, "then when the paint dries, we can find a place to hang it in the back yard." "We also need to get some seeds!" Krystal added.
What do you think Dad and Krystal are moving? How do you know?
Clues: Red roof, hang it in backyard, seeds
Ted drops eggs all over the floor. "Well, that's exactly what the recipe told me to told," he says to himself.
Was Ted being serious or sarcastic? How do you know?
Ted is being sarcastic.
Clues: Tone of voice, a recipe would realistically never say to throw ingredients on the floor.
Ben's volcano was the ________ project at the science fair.
A. most popular
B. popular
C. more popular
A. most popular