Word guessing strategies

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo t, mavo, havo
• Leerjaar 2-4

Welcome to English class!

HT3D

After today's class

You can explain what strategies to use when you do not know a word and when to use them.

You are able to use each strategy when necessecary

Do you look up every word you do not know in a reading text?

YES!

NO!

Guess the meaning of a word from the immediate context

Although the company's income from sales was higher than expected, its high costs in the form of salaries and other overheads put it in a disadvantageous position.

Guess the meaning of a word from the wider context

Although the company's income from sales was higher than expected, its high costs in the form of salaries and other overheads put it in a disadvantageous position. This was one of the main reasons why the company folded. This put all two hundred of its employees out of work.

Guess the meaning of a word from the prefix, suffix, root

Although the company's income from sales was higher than expected, its high costs in the form of salaries and other overheads put it in a disadvantageous position.

dis- is the prefix; advantage is the root and -ous is the suffix.

it is probably an adjective, because it ends in -ous, which is a common suffix for adjectives

it is probably negative, because it begins with a negative prefix dis-

its meaning is probably opposite to the root of the word, advantage

He loved her so much for being so kind to him. By contrast, he abhorred her mother
What is the meaning of the word 'abhorred'?

When he made insolent remarks towards his teacher they sent him to the principal for being disrespectful.
What is the meaning of the word 'insolent'?

I think it's a bit disrespectful to the other participants.
What is the meaning of the word 'disrespectful'?

Fines are meaningless to guys earning millions.
What does the word 'meaningless' mean? How do you know?

He was disrespectful towards other members. That’s why he was sent off and penalized.
What is the meaning of the word 'penalized'?

Let's practise your reading skills!

go to test-english.com

When finished

work on the extra word guessing excercises on TEAMS/bestanden