Making InferencesReading between the lines . . .

What Are Inferences?

Inferences are educated guesses you can make about what is happening in a story.

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Making Inferences

What you read

+ What you know

Your inference

How to Make Inferences About Characters

What you read1. Find these clues in the text:

• what the character looks like • what the character says and does• what the character thinks and feels• how other people react to the character

How to Make Inferences About Characters

What you know2. Connect the clues

• to real people who are like the character• to similar characters in other stories

How to Make Inferences About Characters

Your inference3. Combine what you read with what you know.

Let’s Practice

Ashley’s eyes followed the new boy as he strolled into the classroom. When he took a seat next to hers, Ashley nervously began to search for her homework in her backpack. “I wonder what his name is,” she thought.

She looked up to find him staring at her. “Do you have a pencil I could borrow?” he asked.

Ashley was slightly startled but thrilled that he was talking to her. “Sure,” she said, ducking her head to search for a pencil and to hide her red face.

“Thanks,” the new boy said, and he smiled.

Let’s Practice

What you read:

+ What you know:

Your inference:

Ashley has a red face. She acts nervous around the new boy, ducking her head. She wonders what his name is and feels thrilled when he talks to her. He smiles at Ashley.

People may get nervous or blush when they talk to someone new or someone they like. People are also eager to help a person they like.

Ashley likes the new boy.

On Your Own

Then inch by inch out of the grass rose up the head and spread hood of Nag, the big black cobra, and he was five feet long from tongue to tail. When he had lifted one third of himself clear of the ground, he stayed balancing to and fro . . . and he looked at Rikki-tikki with the wicked snake’s eyes that never change expression, whatever the snake may be thinking of. from “Rikki-tikki-tavi” by Rudyard Kipling

The End