Basic inference

Reading between the lines

Authors do not tell you everything. Sometimes they leave clues and expect you to figure things out. When you use clues to work out something the author did not say, you make an inference.

Read this:

Ella looked out the window and frowned. She put her soccer ball back in the closet and sighed.

The author never says it is raining, or that Ella is sad. But you can infer that Ella cannot play soccer, maybe because of bad weather, and that she is disappointed. You used clues!

The inference formula

An inference is like a math problem:

Clues from the text + What I already know = My inference

What you already know is called your background knowledge. It comes from your life, from other books and from school.

Why inferences matter

Good readers make inferences all the time, often without noticing. Inferences help you:

• Understand how characters feel.
• Figure out why things happen.
• Understand jokes and surprises.
• Enjoy stories more, because you become a detective!

Kinds of inferences

How a character feels

Jamal’s hands were shaking as he walked onto the stage. He took a deep breath.
Inference: Jamal is nervous.

Where or when something happens

The waves crashed. Sand stuck to Mia’s toes, and seagulls squawked overhead.
Inference: Mia is at the beach.

What just happened

There were muddy paw prints across the kitchen floor, and the dog’s tail was wagging.
Inference: The dog came in from outside and walked through the kitchen.

What will happen next

Guessing what will happen next is a special inference called a prediction.

Dark clouds filled the sky. Thunder rumbled. Max had forgotten his umbrella.
Prediction: Max is going to get wet!

How to make an inference

1. Read carefully. Notice details in the words and pictures.
2. Find clues. What does the character say, do or look like?
3. Think about what you know. Have you seen or felt something like this?
4. Put it together. Make your smart guess.
5. Prove it. Point to the evidence, the words or pictures that support your inference.
6. Stay flexible. If new clues show you were wrong, change your thinking.

Sentence starters for inferences

• I think … because the text says …
• The clues tell me that …
• I can tell that … because …
• Probably …

Let’s try some examples

Example 1: Grandpa put on his heavy coat, a hat, a scarf and two pairs of gloves.
Clue: lots of warm clothes. I know people wear warm clothes when it is cold.
Inference: It is very cold outside.

Example 2: Lily blew out the candles while everyone sang. Then she tore the paper off a big box.
Inference: It is Lily’s birthday.

Example 3: The vase was in pieces on the floor. The cat was hiding under the couch.
Inference: The cat knocked over the vase.

Example 4: Sam’s stomach growled. He kept looking at the clock. “Is it lunchtime yet?” he asked.
Inference: Sam is hungry.

Common mistakes

• Guessing without clues. An inference must be based on evidence. Ask, “What in the text makes me think that?”
• Only using what you know. You need clues from the text too.
• Only saying what the text already says. If the text says “Ben was sad,” that is not an inference. That is stated.
• Refusing to change your mind. If new clues appear, update your inference.

Practice with pictures

Inferences are not only for words. Look at a picture in a book with no words. Ask: Who are these people? Where are they? How do they feel? What happened just before? Pictures are full of clues.

Try it yourself

1. The boy wiped his forehead. His shirt was soaked. He grabbed a big glass of water. What can you infer?
2. The flowers in the garden were drooping, and the soil was dry and cracked. What can you infer?
3. Mom smiled and put a gold star on the fridge next to Tim’s test. How did Tim do?
4. What clue helped you in question 3?

Answers: 1. He is hot and thirsty, maybe from exercise. 2. The garden needs water; it has not rained. 3. He did well. 4. The smile and the gold star.

Tip for families

Play “What’s my clue?” Describe a person without saying how they feel (“She is stomping her feet and crossing her arms”) and ask your child to infer. While reading, pause and ask, “How do you think the character feels? What makes you think so?” The “what makes you think so” part is the key.

Quick recap

• An inference is a smart guess using text clues plus what you know.
• Authors leave clues instead of telling everything.
• Use evidence from words and pictures to support your inference.
• A prediction is an inference about what will happen next.
• Change your inference if new clues appear.